Case of Unilateral Hallucinations of Hearing, chiefly Musical; with Remarks on the Formation of Psychocerebral Images

Extract

In supplement to my paper on one-sided hallucinations in the Journal of Mental Science for April, 1901, the following case of a similar kind, but presenting special features, is, I think, of sufficient interest to be recorded. The patient is an inmate of the Glasgow Old Men and Women's Home, and is a man of some literary ability, as is shown by his still continuing to contribute articles from time to time to journals published in London. The Home, it need scarcely be said, is for people of sound mind, though many manifest indications of the ordinary mental decay incident to old age. The patient referred to is, however, acute and intelligent, and free from all suspicion of mental weakness or disorder. The account of his experiences, which he submits, may therefore be regarded as very reliable. It seems preferable to give it in his own language, only pruning it a little from unnecessary detail. The form in which it appears is due to his great deafness, on account of which the desired information could only be obtained from him as replies to written questions.