Time Relations in a Dream

Abstract

IT is commonly believed that a dream which appears to be of long duration lasts in reality for a short time only. Since precise knowledge on the point is difficult to get, the following observations may be of interest. Having fallen asleep again, after being called a few mornings ago, I dreamt I was visiting a strange laboratory. On entering I was aware of a deafening hammering noise which rendered conversation impossible. My host took me to another room, where the noise was inaudible, but on returning to the first room it continued, the blows being at about the same interval. I then noticed, what I had not seen before, some one striking a pipe in a shaft in the wall, but I reflected that the force used seemed quite insufficient to produce the sound heard.