Case XCIII

The following details were communicated by a minister worthy of belief to the Editors of the Magasin Psy-chologique. The lady, to whom they relate, reasoned well on every subject but that of her visions. We prefer quoting her own words: "When I was four years old, and playing like other children of my age, I had placed the Bible under my feet, in order more conveniently to dress my doll, when I heard a voice whisper in my ear: 'Put that Bible in its place.' As I did not obey, thinking I was mistaken, the same order was re-peated. At seven years old, my sister and myself were frightened, by the sight, in the room, of a large, clear flame, in the midst of which we saw a child about six years of age. Our cries attracted our parents, who scolded us for our unfounded fears; but the event was engraven on our memories.

"In 1770, my husband and myself quitted Strasbourg on account of the dearness of provisions. During the voyage, the Lord appeared to me in a dream, and talked with me for half an hour. In the following year, after severe domestic troubles, I saw one morning, on waking, a man about sixty years of age, of celestial countenance, dressed in a robe of blue. His face was as clear as the purest crystal. He looked with tenderness on me, and said: 'Persevere, persevere, persevere!' I was ignorant to what it alluded, when a young person, by his side, as beautiful as an angel, said to me: 'Persevere in prayer, in faith, in works.'

"While they were talking to me, a light shone into the chamber, and then disappeared. At the same moment, it seemed to me that they were dragging me about by the hair; the pain, however, was endurable. The light reappeared, and the pain ceased; when darkness again succeeded, I thought they were pulling off my flesh with pincers. After several alternations of darkness and violent pains, I saw the devil come out from behind the bed, with his back towards me. All that I could distinguish was his arm and his tail about two inches thick. I had no time to examine further, for the angel shoved him out with his elbow.

"The light again appearing, the two persons contemplated me with a melancholy air. The young man then said: 'Lord, that is enough;' which he repeated three times. 1 looked attentively at him, and saw two large white wings on his shoulders, by which I knew him to be an angel. Darkness reappearing, peace again came to my heart; I arose, it was about five o'clock in the morning. The year following, I was again favored with the appearance of the Lord.

"In 1773, having returned to my husband, my life became so unhappy that I thought only of death. One morning, on waking, I looked up to heaven, and saw a sea-dog sailing in the air. When he had passed, the clouds descended towards me, and my eyes contemplated the most varied objects. The house of God was in the midst, surrounded with a clear blue cloud, and resplendent with colors unknown upon the earth. In every color were thousands of men, whose robes were tinted with the same hue; all their faces were turned towards the habitation of the Most High. - A charming woman dressed in dazzling clothes, with a crown on her head, came out. She was accompanied by three angels, one on the right, the other on the left, and another stood behind her; they pointed to a crown, that reflected the most brilliant colors.

"The heavens closed, and opened again; but the woman and the angels had disappeared. Our Lord then came with a long train of attendants, and descended in his glory. They all smiled on me; they were robed in white, and surrounded by a halo. When near enough for me to touch his feet, I was seized with fear, and awoke.* The greater number of these visions occurred in sleep, or at the moment of waking."

The recollection of dreams may be so entirely effaced, as to drive from the mind the sense of having slept. Probably some of the stories of second sight are only dreams of this nature. It is thus that Abercrombie explains the case of Ferriar, which we have already mentioned, and which Hibbert has criticized. The reasons which the former of the three physicians has advanced, appear to us very forcible and probable.

Sleep with monomaniacs has always been a source of important indications. Esquirol, convinced of this, has often passed the night in listening to them, and, more than once, his patience has been rewarded by the patient exhibiting, in his sleep, the cause of his delirium.