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Tryon, Thomas (1634-1703) A Treatise of Dreams & Visions.
[London: No Printer, circa 1689].
Octavo, variant with Tryon's name not listed on title, attributed instead to Philotheos Physiologus; signature trimmed from title with loss to the first word "A" of title; engraved label of Samuel Hirst, watchmaker of Leeds, pasted on verso of title, his ownership inscription to title; lacking initial blank; two leaves advertising other works by Tryon present after the text; bound in modern bonded leather, 5 5/8 x 3 1/2 in.
Tryon structures his work in two parts. The first is about the meaning and significance of dreams, and is followed by an appendix, "Shewing the cause of madness, and several observables relating thereunto." He makes an analogy between dreams and madness, and thereby approaches a description of psychosis. In this period, physicians still held strongly to humoralism and religious beliefs, but one can also see the scientific method at work, as these thinkers of good will approached a more modern understanding of and respect for people suffering from mental illness. Tryon talks about the pointlessness of drugging people with "stupifying medicines," and also cautions against "too much company, prating, and especially the Teazing of such distermpered People with unnecessary Questions." Here he mentions "New Bethlam" hospital, and begs the governors of the hospital to "restrain their inferior officers from admitting such swarms of people of all ages and degrees, for only a little paltry profit to come in there, and with their noise and vain questions to disturb the poor souls."
Wing T-3197; ESTC R221812 locating two copies in U.S. libraries and one in Britain.
