SOMMERVILLE, Maxwell, American archmologist: b. Philadelphia, 1 May 1829; d. Paris, France, 6 May 1904. Having spent many years in the collection of precious stones and historical gems, he became an authority upon glyptography and allied subjects and in 1894 was appointed professor of glyptology in the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of 'Engraved 'Sands of (1901) ; a monograph entitled 'A Buddhist Temple' (1900), and other wnrIca All sometimes called noctambulism), pathologica y considered, is caused by persistent, strong, un conscious wishes of the individual which can not be inhibited but which must be carried out . without conscious knowledge of the sleeper. The acts are usually clothed in symbolism which mostly veils their real meaning events from the conscious onlooker. It is analogous to the hypnotic or mesmeric state. It is similar to somnilaquy or sleep-talking. Hippocrates, Aristotle and other ancient authors wrote upon it, and Galen is said to have been a victim to it. "The mind acts automatically under the dominance of some single idea. Sight, hearing and nearly all the avenues of sense are closed. The sleep-walker avoids obstacles and performs ordinary acts automatically, like an absent minded man, which in reality he is.)) His train of thought is in accordance with his single idea, continuous and logical. Portions of the brain usually involved in the physiological con ditions peculiar to sleep seem to be exempt.
The sleeper exerts powers which sleep usually annuls; the direction of voluntary movements in most trying circumstances is marvelous; he may be quite deaf to all ordinary auditory his eyes are usually insensible to they may be closed, partly closed or wide open; the pupils may be widely dilated, contracted or normal. The somnambulist has been known to walk from one part of the house to another, to climb steep roofs 9r walk along their ridges with ease, to solve intricate mathe matical problems, to write letters or work upon pictures, to attempt murder or suicide, etc. He is roused from this state with difficulty, when he remembers nothing of what has oc curred.
Somnambulism very frequently is found in certain highly neurotic families. This is prob ably due to imitation from parent to child. It often occurs at about the age of puberty where strong sexual wishes under strong repression, seek symbolic outlets. Usually the somnambulist should not be awakened until he is safely back in bed. To remedy the condition an adequate psychoanalysis should be carried out. It will tend not only to cure the condition, but also aid the individual in the neurosis which is almost an invariable accompaniment or in the making. Consult Jelliffe, (Technique of Phychoanalysis> (1918).