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ntly he will wander for hours through streets and fields； returning home and to bed without knowledge of anything having transpired。
The state of the eyes during somnambulism varies considerably。 They are sometimes closed； sometimes half…closed； and frequently quite open； the pupil is sometimes widely dilated； sometimes contracted； sometimes natural； and for the most part insensible to light。
Somnambulism seems to be hereditary。 Willis cites an example in which the father and the children were somnambulists； and in other cases several individuals in the same family have been afflicted。 Horstius gives a history of three young brothers who became somnambulistic at the same epoch。 A remarkable instance of somnambulism was the case of a lad of sixteen and a half years who； in an attack of somnambulism； went to the stable； saddled his horse； asked for his whip； and disputed with the toll…keeper about his fare； and when he awoke had no recollection whatever of his acts； having been altogether an hour in his trance。
Marville quotes the case of an Italian of thirty； melancholic； and a deep thinker； who was observed one evening in his bed。 It was seen that he slept with his eyes open but fixed and immovable。 His hands were cold； and his pulse extremely slow。 At midnight he brusquely tore the curtains of his bed aside； dressed himself； went to his stable； and mounted a horse。 Finding the gate of the court yard closed he opened it with the aid of a large stone。 Soon he dismounted； went to a billiard room； and simulated all the movements of one playing。 In another room he struck with his empty hands a harpsichord； and finally returned to his bed。 He appeared to be irritated when anybody made a noise； but a light placed under his nose was apparently unnoticed。 He awoke if his feet were tickled； or if a horn was blown in his ear。 Tissot transmits to us the example of a medical student who arose in the night； pursued his studies； and returned to bed without awaking； and there is another record of an ecclesiastic who finished his sermon in his sleep。
The Archbishop of Bordeaux attests the case of a young ecclesiastic who was in the habit of getting up during the night in a state of somnambulism； taking pen； ink； and paper； and composing and writing sermons。 When he had finished a page he would read aloud what he had written and correct it。 In order to ascertain whether the somnambulist made any use of his eyes the Archbishop held a piece of cardboard under his chin to prevent his seeing the paper upon which he was writing。 He continued to write without being in the slightest degree incommoded。 In this state he also copied out pieces of music； and when it happened that the words were written in too large characters and did not stand over the corresponding notes he perceived his error； blotted them out； and wrote them over again with great exactness。
Negretti； a sleep…walker； sometimes carried a candle about with him as if to furnish him light in his employment； but when a bottle was substituted he carried it； fancying that he had the candle。 Another somnambulist； Castelli； was found by Dr。 Sloane translating Italian and French and looking out words in his dictionary。 His candle was purposely extinguished； whereupon he immediately began groping about； as if in the dark； and； although other lighted candles were in the room； he did not resume his occupation until he had relighted his candle at the fire。 He was insensible to the light of every candle excepting the one upon which his attention was fixed。
Tuke tells of a school…boy who being unable to master a school…problem in geometry retired to bed still thinking of the subject； he was found late at night by his instructor on his knees pointing from spot to spot as though he were at the blackboard。 He was so absorbed that he paid no attention to the light of the candle； nor to the speech addressed to him。 The next morning the teacher asked him if he had finished his problem； and he replied that he had； having dreamt it and remembered the dream。 There are many such stories on record。 Quoted by Gray； Mesnet speaks of a suicidal attempt made in his presence by a somnambulistic woman。 She made a noose of her apron； fastened one end to a chair and the other to the top of a window。 She then kneeled down in prayer； made the sign of the cross； mounted a stool； and tried to hang herself。 Mesnet； scientific to the utmost； allowed her to hang as long as he dared； and then stopped the performance。 At another time she attempted to kill herself by violently throwing herself on the floor after having failed to fling herself out of the window。 At still another time she tried poison； filling a glass with water； putting several coins into it； and hiding it after bidding farewell to her family in writing； the next night； when she was again somnambulistic； she changed her mind once more； writing to her family explaining her change of purpose。 Mesnet relates some interesting experiments made upon a French sergeant in a condition of somnambulism； demonstrating the excitation of ideas in the mind through the sense of touch in the extremities。 This soldier touched a table； passed his hands over it； and finding nothing on it； opened the drawer； took out a pen； found paper and an inkstand； and taking a chair he sat down and wrote to his commanding officer speaking of his bravery； and asking for a medal。 A thick metallic plate was then placed before his eyes so as to completely intercept vision。 After a few minutes； during which he wrote a few words with a jumbled stroke； he stopped； but without any petulance。 The plate was removed and he went on writing。 Somnambulism may assume such a serious phase as to result in the commission of murder。 There is a case of a man of twenty…seven； of steady habits； who killed his child when in a state of somnambulism。 He was put on trial for murder； and some of the most remarkable facts of his somnambulistic feats were elicited in the evidence。 It is said that once when a boy he arose at night while asleep； dressed himself； took a pitcher and went for milk to a neighboring farm； as was his custom。 At another time he worked in a lumber…yard in a rain…storm while asleep。 Again； when about twenty…one； he was seen in a mill…pond wading about attempting to save his sister who he imagined was drowning。 The worst phase of his somnambulism was the impending fears and terrible visions to which he was subjected。 Sometimes he would imagine that the house was on fire and the walls about to fall upon him； or that a wild beast was attacking his wife and child； and he would fight； screaming inarticulately all the while。 He would chase the imaginary beast about the room； and in fact had grasped one of his companions； apparently believing he was in a struggle with a wild beast。 He had often injured himself in these struggles； and had often attacked his father； his wife； sister； fellow…lodgers； and while confined in jail he attacked one of his fellow…prisoners。 His eyes would always be wide open and staring； he was always able to avoid pieces of furniture which were in his way； and he occasionally threw them at his visionary enemies。 At the time of the murder of his child； in a somnambulistic