From this description it will at once, I think, be perceived that there are striking analogies between “miryachit” and this disorder of the “Jumping Frenchmen” of Maine.  Indeed, it appears to me that, if the two affections were carefully studied, it would be found that they were identical, or that, at any rate, the phenomena of the one could readily be developed into those of the others.  It is not stated that the subjects of miryachit do what they are told to do.  They require an example to reach their brains through the sense of sight or that of hearing, whereas the “Jumpers” do not apparently perform an act which is executed before them, but they require a command.  It seems, however, that a “Jumper” starts whenever any sudden noise reaches his ears.

In both classes of cases a suggestion of some kind is required, and then the act takes place independently of the will.  There is another analogous condition known by the Germans as Schlaftrunkenheit, and to English and American neurologists as somnolentia, or sleep-drunkenness.  In this state an individual, on being suddenly awakened, commits some incongruous act of violence, ofttimes a murder.  Sometimes this appears to be excited by a dream, but in others no such cause could be discovered.

Thus, a sentry fell asleep during his watch, and, being suddenly aroused by the officer in command, attacked the latter with his sword, and would have killed him but for the interposition of the bystanders.  The result of the medical examination was that the act was involuntary, being the result of a violent confusion of mind consequent upon the sudden awaking from a profound sleep.  Other cases are cited by Wharton and Stille in their work on medical jurisprudence, by Hoffbauer, and by myself in “Sleep and its Derangements.”

The following cases among others have occurred in my own experience: 

A gentleman was roused one night by his wife, who heard the street-door bell ring.  He got up, and, without paying attention to what she said, dragged the sheets off of the bed, tore them hurriedly into strips, and proceeded to tie the pieces together.  She finally succeeded in bringing him to himself, when he said he had thought the house was on fire, and he was providing means for their escape.  He did not recollect having had any dream of the kind, but was under the impression that the idea had occurred to him at the instant of his awaking.

Another was suddenly aroused from a sound sleep by the slamming of a window-shutter by the wind.  He sprang instantly from his bed, and, seizing a chair that was near, hurled it with all his strength against the window.  The noise of the breaking of glass fully awakened him.  He explained that he imagined some one was trying to get into the room and had let his pistol fall on the floor, thereby producing the noise which had startled him.

In another case a man dreamed that he heard a voice telling him to jump out of the window.  He at once arose, threw open the sash, and jumped to the ground below, fortunately only a distance of about ten feet, so that he was not injured beyond receiving a violent shock.  Such a case as this appears to me to be very similar to those described by Dr. Beard in all its essential aspects.