Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 304, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1916 — CAUSES Of DREAMS NOT ALWAYS MYTHS [ARTICLE]

CAUSES Of DREAMS NOT ALWAYS MYTHS

ODD THINGS HAPPEN DURING HOURS OF SLEEP '**■ * - / Scientist Proves That Dreams Can Be Produced by Suggestive Eperiment. “Oh you dreamed it.” Such is the godd-natured rebuff one often receives when insisting that such and ouch a thing must be so, or must have some foundation if one cares to proceed with an investigation of the mystifying circumstance. The writer once dreamed he was be ing hit upon the head with a wooden mallet by a man who had presided at a ward caucus on the previous evening. A night or two later he dreamed that the same man was again punishing him in the same forceful manner. Investigation proved that a cleat had been pulled off from the corner of the house where the writer slept and when the night winds were strong enough the dangling cleat played an irregular game of “bang” on the outer wall of the sleeper’s bedroom.

Prof. Carl E Seashore recalls a number of interesting experiments with the causes of dreams, made by Alfred Maury, another scientific writer and thinker: First Experiment—He caused himself to be tickled with a feather on the lips and inside of the nostrils. He dreamed that he was subjected to a horrible punishment. A mask of pitch was applied to his face, and then roughly torn off, taking with it the skin of his lips, nose and face. Second Experiment—A pair of tweezers was held at a little distance from his ear and struck with a pair of scissors. He dreamed that he heard the ringing of bells. Third Experiment—A bottle of eau de cologne was held to his nose. He dreamed he was in a perfumer’s shop. Fourth Experiment— A burning luci'er match was held to his nostrils. He dreamed that he was at sea (the wind was blowing thru the window) and that the magazine of the vessql blew up. Fifth Experiment—He was slightly pinched on the nape of the neck. He dreamed that a blister was applied by a physician who had treated him in infancy. Sixth Experiment—A piece of redtot iron was held close enough to him to communicate a slight sensation of heat. He dreamed that robbers had got into the house and were' forcing the inmates, by putting their feet to the fire, to reveal where their money was. Seventh Experiment The word Leonore was spoken. On awakening he. recollected this word, and found that he'had attributed to one °* the persons who had conversed with him in his dream. - , Eighth Experiment A drop of water was allowed to fall on his forehead. He dreamed that he was in Italy, that he was very warm, and that ne was drinking the wine of Orvieto. Ninth Experiment—A light, surrounded with a piece of red paper, was repeatedly placed before his eyes. He dreamed of a tempest and lightning.