Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-23
SLEEP.

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sonable man should be contented with 7 This
is somewhat difficult question. Tall ant
bulky people require more sleep than shor
and thin people men than women; and al
animals sleep longer in winter than in sum
mer. Ace. constitution, climate, occupa
ton, and variety of incidental causes mus
be taken into consideration. During the
first three months of life nutrition and sleeI
constitute the whole sum of existence
the infant awakes when hungry to take
nourishment, when satisfied it falls ASLEEP
again. AS the development of the nervous
system. in particular, goes on at this period
with remarkable rapidity, the more it sleeps
the better. In extreme old age much sleeE
is also required. The famous DR.. Thomas
Parr, who died at the extreme old age o.
one hundred and ffty-two years and nine
months, latterly slept away the greater par
of his. existence. We knew an old lady ,one
hundred and five years of age, in Essex
who slept nearly twenty out of twenty-foul
hours. Youths and young adults sleep ha'
bitually very soundly and it is during this
period of life that lazy ard sluggish habits
are easily engendered. The faculty OF re-
naming longer asleep than is necessary can
not be indulged in without impalrllng the
strength both of the body and mind. Ihe
continued depression of the nervous system
and excessive Transportation occasion physl-
cal debility, while the intellectual, from con-
slant slumbering in state of inactivity, be-
come gradually enfeebled. Valengin relates
the case of young man, who, IN conse-
quence of too much sleep, became letharglc
and died at the age of twenty-three years.
Boerhaave gives an account OF physician
who, from excessive sleep, became mental
ly imbecile, and perished, miserably' IN
hospital. The somnolency of the lat boy
in Pickwick is, by no means, an exaggera-
ton. Persons have existed who have al
most dozed away their entire existence
One Elizabeth Oven, DR.. Macnish says, spent
three-fourths of her life in sleep. Another
woman, Elizabeth Perkins, would sleep for
ten or eleven days at time, and then spon-
taneously awake, and 60 about as usual -
The "Lady of Nismes'' (as she was called(
had attacks of somnolency which lasted
sometimes for days, and even months. Her
sleep was remarkable. During the briefinter
walls of her wakefulness she hurriedly swal-
lowed small quantities of broth, which was
kept prepared for her. When the somno-
lency had continued for six months, it left
her suddenly for six months, and then at
tackled her again, leaving another interval OF
six months. At length the affection gradu-
ally disappeared altogether, and she lived to
the age of eighty-one ,and eventually died OF
dropsy. Sleep, therefore-too prolonged
sleep-may become disease; nay more,
persons, from habit, may bring themselves
to sleep when they will and awake when
they will. Quin, the celebrated comedian;
Napoleon the philosopher Reid; and Capt
Barclay, the great pedestrian, are SAID to
have commanded this faculty.
On the other hand, some persous have
lived in constant state of wakefulness, land
scarcely sleep at all; we frequently, indeed,
meet with individuals of an active, nervous
temperament who habitually require very
little sleep. The celebrated General Elliott
never slept more than four hours out OF the
twenty-four his food consisted %hoiiy OF
bread, water and vegetables. Frederick the
Great of Prussia, and the eminent John
Hunter, never slept more than five hours
during the same period. DR.. Gooch gives
an instance of man who slept for only fit
teen minutes of the twenty-four hours. Sil
Gilbert Blanc states, that Gen. Plchegru In
formed him that, in the course of his cam
paigns he had for whole year not slept
more than one out of every twenty-foui
hours. There can be'no doubt that men.
tai activity, accompanied by anxiety, will
keep up an excitement of tho brain which
will produce state of constant watchtpl'
ness. Beorhaave says, that after ms
mind, on one occasion, had been greatly
over-worked, he could not sleep for sia
weeks; and it is well known that sleepless'
ness is one of the most extraordinary symp'
toms of insanity. In state of health the
amount of sleep required to restore the ner'
vous energy averages, we conceive, from SIN
to eight hours. Jeremy Taylor insisted thai
three hours sleep was sufficient; Baxter
four; and Wesley recommends the stan
dard to be limited to six out Of twenty-foul
hours. We believe that six hours is, witt
many, sufficient; it is so with the Duke o
Wellington, and few statesmen, engaged II
active business, allow themselves Longer
period of repose. Three or four hours, We
have heard, is all Lord Brougham, in hi
best days required, and he always rose suf
fciently refreshed; but literary men neet
more sleep perhaps than others
Whatever may be the quantity of sleel
required, early rising is essential to health
and promotes longevity. Almost all mel
who have distinguished themselves in Sci
ence, Literature, and the Arts have been, a
MIR. Macnish states, early risers. The IN
dustrious the active minded the enthusiast il
pursuit of knowledge or gain, are up betihe
at their respective occupations, whilst tn
sluggard wastes the most beautiful period @
life in pernicious slumber. Homer, VirgI
and Horace, are all represented as early ri
sers; the same was the case with Paley
Franklin, Priestly, Parlshurst and Button
!, the last of whom ordered his servant t
wake him every morning, ard compel hin
to get up by force if he evihced any relpc
tance for which service he was rewaFde
with a crown each day, which recompens
he forfeited if he did moi. obige his maste
TO cet out of bed before the clock struck sia
Bishops Jewel and Burnet rose every morn
inc at four o'clock. Sir Thomas More di
the same thing. Napoleon was an earl
riser: sowas Frederick the Great and Charle
the Twelfth. That early rising tends
prolong life, appears to be clearly provet
Lord Mansfield was at the pains of collectin
some curious evidence on this subject
Ixy, 1. ,s-:J,d IN his i,J,,;aJ ,cno cif