[K] S. 398, 1st Session XLVIIIth Congress.
A TRIP TO THE LAND OF DREAMS.
BY ROBERT R. DOHERTY.
It is strange how soon we all turn into redoubtable adventurers, after the “soft dews of kindly sleep” have fallen. Not Marco Polo, fresh from the glories of the Cathayan court; nor Orellana, with his glittering lies about Dorado; nor Hans Pfaali, big-mouthed with the wonders of his voyage to the moon; not even Baron Munchausen himself, could tell more astonishing tales, than can the prosiest among us on his return from Dreamland.
Dreams were believed by the ancients to be vehicles of supernatural communication with mortals. Homer says that they come from Jove; Mohammed tells us that Allah sends them; and according to Job, “God speaketh in dreams.” Milton, on the other hand, pictures Satan, “squat like a toad close at the ear of Eve,” assaying by his devilish art to reach the organs of her fancy, and with them to forge phantoms and dreams. So deep-seated was the belief in the supernatural origin of night visions, that the law of ancient Rome required those who dreamed of public affairs to report to the augurs, so that an authoritative interpretation might be promptly given to the rulers. There was hardly a governor or general of antiquity, but had a number of professional augurs in his retinue; and the course of events was often modified by the meanings they attached to their patrons’ dreams. Professor Creasy has written a unique volume on the “Fifteen Decisive Battles of History,” and has suggested another, on the dozen or more “Decisive Love Affairs.” As many fateful dreams could easily be selected, around which, as on a pivot, the destiny of the world has seemed to turn. The most ludicrous, and in many cases wicked interpretations were given to dreams; and Cato—himself an augur—said it was strange how two augurs could meet without laughing in each other’s face.
Even at the present day belief in the prophetic character of dreams is widely prevalent, and many lists of “interpretations” are in circulation among the credulous. When Rory O’More assured us that dreams go by contraries, he followed current superstition. Tears are supposed to indicate joy, and laughter, woe. Dream of the dead, and you may expect tidings of the living; dream of the living, and unlooked for danger—perhaps death—is imminent. Many of the interpretations printed in the “guide books” are, however, exceedingly natural, as, for instance, that visions of gold foretoken wealth, and orange blossoms, marriage.
Let us place in contrast with such fanciful absurdities a tabulation of some of the veritable indications of dreams, as made by a modern scientist. Lively dreams, according to Dr. Winslow, are a sign of the excitement of nervous action; soft dreams, of slight irritation of the brain, often in nervous fever announcing the approach of a favorable crisis; frightful dreams, of determination of blood to the head; dreams of blood and red objects, of inflammatory conditions. Visions of rain and water are often signs of diseased mucous membranes and dropsy; distorted forms frequently point to disorder of the liver. Dreams in which the patient sees any part especially suffering indicate diseases of that part. Dreams about death often precede apoplexy, which is so connected with determination of blood to the head. The nightmare, with great sensitiveness, is an indication of determination of blood to the chest.