"SOME
DREAMS
NOTES ON AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE.''1
Sir George H. Savage, M.D., F.R.C.P.
I have
promised to read a paper at this your local meeting, and I will keep my promise, though I feel more practical gain would follow investigation of the actual treatment of mental disorders at Brislington House. The subject I selected wasSome Dreams and their Significance." Many of you know "
1
Read at the
Meeting
of the Local Branch of the
Medico-Psychologic^1
Association, held at Brislington House, April 18th, 1912.
ON SOME DREAMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
157
already that I very experienced student of dreams. I hardly ever close my eyes without dreaming, and it has therefore a
am
been
111
a
the
sane and in the
diagnosis First,
me
to
insane,
to trace the nature of dreams
if
see
they
can
assist
us
in
our
treatment.
or
I must
prefer this
sleep
of interest with
subject
one:
give "
some
are more or less
sort of definition of
activities which
Mental
recalled
on
awaking."
a
dream.
I
occurring during Everyone tells
y?u that the lower animals dream, and refer at once to their ^??? who moves his feet as if pursuing when asleep on the
hearth-rug. admits,
?n
That mental action is
but
we
taking.
s?me sort is
^eath. acts
cannot tell if the
I take it that as
near
the
P?int of consciousness. To proceed with the
of
ttiental
^Pileptic
on
during sleep
one
any memory of this
all believe that mental action of
heart's action, and continues until must have seen evidences of this in automatic
constant
Most of us
performed
we
going dog has
point
of
death, but
a
dream rises to
a
dreams may assist in diagnosis the classical description of the
subject,
Since
disorder.
old
as
who
always saw someone approaching her lady, knock her down with a crutch before a fit, we all recognise *hat dream aura may precede a fit. I have met with cases in ^vhich there was always the same dream, and this dream may be ^"?
?followed by ^Uch
automatic action with
complete
mental obli\ion.
of the persons who are picked up provide in the streets, and though rare, yet it is established that criminal acts depending on a dream may follow
cases
some
pandering believe
ring the automatic stage. I have met with certain ?erSons who have had definite hallucinations following
lmPressions.
I
many of
insane dream
know the
hypnotic halluarise on awakening and the persistence of a which k^ations ?f mental after-image. I have frequently talked to Persons who have been recovering from delirium, and they have whether such and such a thing has taken place, only to fancy
^sked that the idea arri
e^ical friend -e
m
who
was was
us
mistake.
One I remember well, a much puzzled at the confusion which a
his mind from the
recalling
of dream memories and
158
DR. GEORGE H. SAVAGE.
others which
passing that
from
some
were a
of events which
delirious to
cases
really occurred,
normal state.
a
about which I have been
I
am
upon erotic dreams in adolescence
occurring
I have traced
various delusions.
a
middle-aged
may be in this way. spinster, has one or
women.
which rape,
Dream5
to may lead number of sexual delusions
periods
and ideas of moral fault to dreams which have been
vivid in
in
or even
in adolescents.
at critical
or
he was
convinced
consulted,
there have been accusations of indecent assault
depended occurring
as
The
origin
A woman, often
a
and
widow
or
unusually
development middle-aged
distressing dreams with sense gratification. given rise in some to the feeling that the ideas are evil, and that they are in the hands of the Devil. In one very distressing case a lady of high birth and of very narrow religious views, after such a dream, was persuaded that the Devil, in whom she fully believed, had during the night visited her, and that she was pregnant of a devil. It is hardly necessary to do more than to point out how more
very
of full sexual
This has
such dreams may affect an unstable mind. I have seen several elderly men who had arterial
degenera-
dreams with
persistent hypnotic patient would wake with a dream that persons were in his room making use of his toilet things, and he would have the vision so clearly before his eyes on waking that he would jump up to drive them awayThese and similar dream started fancies passed into true visual and lasting hallucinations. I now pass to the dreams which have been of the same type> but which have preceded attacks of insanity not allied epilepsy. One lady, whose case I have described elsewhere, had tion who had very
hallucinations.
after
a
good deal
disturbing
Thus in
one
the
case
of domestic strain
a
vivid dream that she saW
her brother with his throat cut, and that she felt in some way
she had been the almost
cause
immediately by
of this.
an
which the dominant idea
This dream
attack of was
that
profound
was
followed
melancholia,
in
she had caused endless
disgrace family. She recovered, and some a similar dream, followed by a like attack years later had trouble and
to her
OX SOME DREAMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
with j^ancholia, third ^
a
VVas
the old delusions.
mental
s^ght,
A third
breakdown, followed;
159.
dream, followed
but the last attack.
patient had learnt her lesson, and after the ^ream at once placed herself under treatment. I may say that j-his lady, having passed middle life, has now for many years en
au
stable.
perfectly
attack
^ext, never ?t
the
as
I have
of mania has followed as to the dreams of the
complain
of dreams ;
trustworthy.
several instances in which
seen a
dream of horror
insane.
many, in
Many state of
a
or
insane
terror.
patients
exaltation,
are
I have heard marvellous tales which I have
been able to accept, but from what I have been able to father the maniacal patient's dreams are of the confused and
^elirious
not much
type,
?rdinary
dreamer ; who have had
j*1611
previous
^
s
^
dreamt
developed
eams
j
that
ing,
are
few
a
These
impending.
are
prophetic dreams, in which persons some lung trouble, and pneumonia days. In melancholic patients the
and
they begin
In fact, I
was
had
miserable,
but when
PPy-
they
in
attacks of mania have been warned illness
an
some of the so-called Ve
incoherent than those of the
but I have met several instances in which
Certain dreams that
^
more
never
are
to
but
of
part
improve
the
morbid
the dream-life is
more
fail to ask about the dreams of the
melancholics, for I always expect to hear of peace and happiness first during sleep.
^lancholic patient
I think I may say that I
who had
begun
to dream
recover.
Such persons often say as all, they are so happy in their dreams.
^
may
occur in
^ave known n
spoken
a
mania,
maniacal
but this is
patient
to has said he
never
happily wish they they more
knew
who did did not
The
same
difficult to gauge. quiet, and
who has become
dreamt of home and felt
more
C?ntented.
revA?d rsi?ns
now to sum up.
*
taking
5?n Jackson
^
thought by some to be primitive thought ; insanity has been said to be dream, and dream a sleeping insanity. Hughhngs Dreams
are
to
said,
"
Find out all about dreams, and you will know Find I leave with you
about insanity." These general aphorisms ^nsanity-" The your future digestion.
for^011^
DREAMS
NOTES ON AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE.''1
Sir George H. Savage, M.D., F.R.C.P.
I have
promised to read a paper at this your local meeting, and I will keep my promise, though I feel more practical gain would follow investigation of the actual treatment of mental disorders at Brislington House. The subject I selected wasSome Dreams and their Significance." Many of you know "
1
Read at the
Meeting
of the Local Branch of the
Medico-Psychologic^1
Association, held at Brislington House, April 18th, 1912.
ON SOME DREAMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
157
already that I very experienced student of dreams. I hardly ever close my eyes without dreaming, and it has therefore a
am
been
111
a
the
sane and in the
diagnosis First,
me
to
insane,
to trace the nature of dreams
if
see
they
can
assist
us
in
our
treatment.
or
I must
prefer this
sleep
of interest with
subject
one:
give "
some
are more or less
sort of definition of
activities which
Mental
recalled
on
awaking."
a
dream.
I
occurring during Everyone tells
y?u that the lower animals dream, and refer at once to their ^??? who moves his feet as if pursuing when asleep on the
hearth-rug. admits,
?n
That mental action is
but
we
taking.
s?me sort is
^eath. acts
cannot tell if the
I take it that as
near
the
P?int of consciousness. To proceed with the
of
ttiental
^Pileptic
on
during sleep
one
any memory of this
all believe that mental action of
heart's action, and continues until must have seen evidences of this in automatic
constant
Most of us
performed
we
going dog has
point
of
death, but
a
dream rises to
a
dreams may assist in diagnosis the classical description of the
subject,
Since
disorder.
old
as
who
always saw someone approaching her lady, knock her down with a crutch before a fit, we all recognise *hat dream aura may precede a fit. I have met with cases in ^vhich there was always the same dream, and this dream may be ^"?
?followed by ^Uch
automatic action with
complete
mental obli\ion.
of the persons who are picked up provide in the streets, and though rare, yet it is established that criminal acts depending on a dream may follow
cases
some
pandering believe
ring the automatic stage. I have met with certain ?erSons who have had definite hallucinations following
lmPressions.
I
many of
insane dream
know the
hypnotic halluarise on awakening and the persistence of a which k^ations ?f mental after-image. I have frequently talked to Persons who have been recovering from delirium, and they have whether such and such a thing has taken place, only to fancy
^sked that the idea arri
e^ical friend -e
m
who
was was
us
mistake.
One I remember well, a much puzzled at the confusion which a
his mind from the
recalling
of dream memories and
158
DR. GEORGE H. SAVAGE.
others which
passing that
from
some
were a
of events which
delirious to
cases
really occurred,
normal state.
a
about which I have been
I
am
upon erotic dreams in adolescence
occurring
I have traced
various delusions.
a
middle-aged
may be in this way. spinster, has one or
women.
which rape,
Dream5
to may lead number of sexual delusions
periods
and ideas of moral fault to dreams which have been
vivid in
in
or even
in adolescents.
at critical
or
he was
convinced
consulted,
there have been accusations of indecent assault
depended occurring
as
The
origin
A woman, often
a
and
widow
or
unusually
development middle-aged
distressing dreams with sense gratification. given rise in some to the feeling that the ideas are evil, and that they are in the hands of the Devil. In one very distressing case a lady of high birth and of very narrow religious views, after such a dream, was persuaded that the Devil, in whom she fully believed, had during the night visited her, and that she was pregnant of a devil. It is hardly necessary to do more than to point out how more
very
of full sexual
This has
such dreams may affect an unstable mind. I have seen several elderly men who had arterial
degenera-
dreams with
persistent hypnotic patient would wake with a dream that persons were in his room making use of his toilet things, and he would have the vision so clearly before his eyes on waking that he would jump up to drive them awayThese and similar dream started fancies passed into true visual and lasting hallucinations. I now pass to the dreams which have been of the same type> but which have preceded attacks of insanity not allied epilepsy. One lady, whose case I have described elsewhere, had tion who had very
hallucinations.
after
a
good deal
disturbing
Thus in
one
the
case
of domestic strain
a
vivid dream that she saW
her brother with his throat cut, and that she felt in some way
she had been the almost
cause
immediately by
of this.
an
which the dominant idea
This dream
attack of was
that
profound
was
followed
melancholia,
in
she had caused endless
disgrace family. She recovered, and some a similar dream, followed by a like attack years later had trouble and
to her
OX SOME DREAMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
with j^ancholia, third ^
a
VVas
the old delusions.
mental
s^ght,
A third
breakdown, followed;
159.
dream, followed
but the last attack.
patient had learnt her lesson, and after the ^ream at once placed herself under treatment. I may say that j-his lady, having passed middle life, has now for many years en
au
stable.
perfectly
attack
^ext, never ?t
the
as
I have
of mania has followed as to the dreams of the
complain
of dreams ;
trustworthy.
several instances in which
seen a
dream of horror
insane.
many, in
Many state of
a
or
insane
terror.
patients
exaltation,
are
I have heard marvellous tales which I have
been able to accept, but from what I have been able to father the maniacal patient's dreams are of the confused and
^elirious
not much
type,
?rdinary
dreamer ; who have had
j*1611
previous
^
s
^
dreamt
developed
eams
j
that
ing,
are
few
a
These
impending.
are
prophetic dreams, in which persons some lung trouble, and pneumonia days. In melancholic patients the
and
they begin
In fact, I
was
had
miserable,
but when
PPy-
they
in
attacks of mania have been warned illness
an
some of the so-called Ve
incoherent than those of the
but I have met several instances in which
Certain dreams that
^
more
never
are
to
but
of
part
improve
the
morbid
the dream-life is
more
fail to ask about the dreams of the
melancholics, for I always expect to hear of peace and happiness first during sleep.
^lancholic patient
I think I may say that I
who had
begun
to dream
recover.
Such persons often say as all, they are so happy in their dreams.
^
may
occur in
^ave known n
spoken
a
mania,
maniacal
but this is
patient
to has said he
never
happily wish they they more
knew
who did did not
The
same
difficult to gauge. quiet, and
who has become
dreamt of home and felt
more
C?ntented.
revA?d rsi?ns
now to sum up.
*
taking
5?n Jackson
^
thought by some to be primitive thought ; insanity has been said to be dream, and dream a sleeping insanity. Hughhngs Dreams
are
to
said,
"
Find out all about dreams, and you will know Find I leave with you
about insanity." These general aphorisms ^nsanity-" The your future digestion.
for^011^
