FORMERLY OF H.M. INDIAN ARMY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY OF ST. PETERSBURG, AND OF THE NEW YORK MEDICO-LEGAL SOCIETY. quitur dictis, portaque emittit eburna." VIRGIL. EDINBURGH: BELL & BRADFUTE, 12 BANK STREET. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO., AND HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO. MDCCCLXXXIX. PREFACE. THIS HIS book is written in prosecution of the views stated in The Blot on the Brain." The historical and psychological studies may be considered as a continuation of the papers in that book on Mohammed, Joan of Arc, Mohammed Toghlak, and others. All the characters described in the present work, in my opinion, suffered from some mental derangement. They were led away by delusions or uncontrollable passions from the right comprehension of things, or the right line of conduct. In figurative language, they were visited by spectres which passed through the Ivory Gate. For those unlearned in Greek and Latin it may not be superfluous to observe that the earliest allusion to this fancy occurs in Book XIX. of the Odyssey, line 562, which is thus translated by Pope : "Immured within the silent bower of sleep, Two portals firm the various phantoms keep : Of winged lies a light fantastic train : The gate opposed pellucid valves adorn, And columns fair incased with polished horn, With visions manifest of future fate." VIRGIL, who delights to reproduce Homer's fine passages, makes Æneas pass from the Elysian fields out of the Ivory Gate (ÆNEIDOS, vi. l. 894): Sleep gives his name to portals twain, Through which authentic spectres gain Quick exit into day, And one which bright with ivory gleams, Whence Pluto sends delusive dreams." Conington's Translation. HORACE (CARMINUM, iii. Ode 27) makes Europa say: "Do I, in the waking state, deplore the baseness of my fault, or does some vain image, fleeing from the Ivory Gate, delude me innocent of any misdeed?" Amongst those who have furnished me with valuable information, or kindly supplied me with documents and other aids toward the composition of this book, I have to record my heartfelt thanks to Mr. CLARK BELL, New York; Dr. D. CLARK, Toronto; Dr. C. K. CLARKE of Kingston, Ontario; Dr. T. S. CLOUSTON; Mr. GEORGE R. R. COCKBURN, M.P., Toronto; Doctors J. L. ERSKINE, Deputy Surgeon-General; I. KERLIN of Elwyn, Pa.; H. KURELLA; M. LOVELL of Kingston, Ontario; J. A. SEWELL; W. PUGIN THORNTON of Canterbury; and HACK TUKE. In the course of the book, I take occasion to acknowledge information derived from other kind friends. WILLIAM W. IRELAND. SCHOOL FOR WEAK-MINDED CHILDREN, PRESTON LODGE, PRESTONPANS, EAST LOTHIAN, 20th September, 1889. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.--His Father-Bishop Jesper Swedberg-His Educa- tion-Swedenborg's First Visit to England, Holland, and France-Returns to Sweden- Charles XII. back from Turkey, CHAPTER II.-Conversations with Charles XII.—Swedenborg's Experiments in Mechanics-Assessor of Mines -and Member of the House of Nobles-An CHAPTER III.-Back to Holland-His Treatises on Anatomy--His Philosophical Views on the Nature of the Soul, and on the Correspondences of Nature, CHAPTER IV.-His Views on the Connection between the Soul and the Brain-His Theories on the Function of the Brain-The Chemical Laboratory of the Brain-How much Swedenborg Anticipated CHAPTER V.-Swedenborg's Merits as a Scientific Man-His CHAPTER VI.- What befell Swedenborg in London-His Intro- duction into the Spiritual World-Resigns his Assessorship The Nature of Delusional Insanity - His Theological Works - Cuno's Account of Swedenborg-Familiar Spirits-- Accounts by Robsahm and Harrison-Nature of his Ecstasies--His Trials and Temptations -Peculiarity of his Respiration, CHAPTER VII.-Summary of His Theology-The Spiritual World -Faith and Charity - The Formation of Character He sees the Spirits of Luther, Melancthon, Calvin, St. Paul, David, and |