Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-08-06
SLEEP AND IT'S USES.

soL!pIFicATToN-tha is, the conversion of
blood MO the solid parts of the body--goes on
only during sleep. The chief end, indeed, and
object and Intention of Sleep would seem to be
this f!nal assimilation of our food-ths sodifica-
ton OF Blood into the several solid parts of the
body.
The accomplishment Of this miraculous change
seems TO have required the perfect concentration
OF all the energies Of thesystem upon itself It
seems 10 nave required, that the attention if
may speak so) OF the brain and nervous system
should not De distracted by any other object. IT
seems to nave required. that every thing both
within andwithout the body, should be hushed
into profound repose during the accomplishment
OF this mighty wonder, in order that nothing
might disturb or interfere with the exquisite and
mlrao ulonsprocess employed to effect it. 10 this
end, the rnrtais OF sensation are closea-the eve
sees not-she ear hears not the skin feels not
the very breathing is scarcely audible--the prlsa
tlons OF the heart scarcely perceptible all the
living energies are now concentrated into the
greatest possible intensity like rays of LIGHT into
focus and directed, with almost complete ex-
| cluslveness, towards this simple object
In the day, therefore, we make blood in the
night, that blood is converted into solid matter.
In the day. we garnerup the building materials
lnthe night, we repair the building The hour OF
rising, therefore, ought to be at the time at which
our physical strength is the greatest ana with
perfectly healthy persons this is the case. The
languor which sckly persons feel in the morning
arises from the process of repair not having been
fully accomplished the building had not been re-
paired, and therefore its strength has not been
restored. The apparent additional strength which
is ielt, during the day, after eating is only appa-
| rent; ii is merely excitement derived from the
stimulus of food: in the first instance in the
stomach land after the food has been assimiated
OF new blood in the system.
From all this, we learn two important truths
flfst thal we should take our severest exercise in
inc early part OF the day: secondly, we learn
how and why it is that late suppers are Improper
When you retire to bed with a full stomach. be.
fore the process Of qualification can commence
the food which the stomach contains must be as
simulated. The two operations Of qualification
and assimilation of food into blood cannot 90 on
together; because, as have Just shown vou. the
process OF qualification requires the concentration
OF ALL the living energies for its accomplishment
The commencement Of this process, therefore
must be postponed until the assimilation of the
supper to blood has been completed But all the
living energies, except that of qualification are
dlnnlsned i'll intensity during sleep The Sc.
cretlon OF gastric * other]uces therefore, neces
sary tor ASSIMILATION of the supper to blood will
go on but slowly and the completion OF the pro-
cess wall be exceedingly protracted and thus SC
much Of the season OF sleep will be employed in
the assimilation OF food, that sufficient portion
oflt will not be left for the assimilation Of blood
But this ig net all the miscl JET; for the process
OF assimilation Of the supper into blood has moi
only distracted from the process OF qualification
portion OF that season the season of sleep
which ought to have beenexclusvely devoted tt
its own accomplishment, but it has also robbed
tot portion Of those living energies, the whole
OF whlch We're due to itself VIZ, that portion
which has been consumed in the secretion OF
those juices necessary for the conversion Of the
supper into blood. When. therefore, the hour ct
rising arrives, it finds the body sill unpreIared
and unretreshed and the individual still over.
powered with sleep, and disncined to rise.
.iOlRSon