Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-01-17
..PlERRE SOuLE."
SLEEP.


From Hnfeland'S can of Prolonged life" re-
Gently published by Tlckuer, Reed & Fields, we
copy the following chapter on sleep:
have alteady shown that sleep is one Of the
wiSeSt regulations of Nature, to check and mode
rate, ut fixed eTiodS, the inceSSant and impetuOuS
stream OF vital consumption 1t forms, as 1t were,
stations for orr physical and moral existence; and
we thereby obtain the happiness. OF being daily
born, and of passing every morning through a
state off humiliation, into refreshed life.
Without this continual change, this inceSsnnt reno
walton, how wTetched and inSiPid would life be;
and how depressed our mental as we'll as physical
sensation! The greatest philosopher of the pres
ent age says, therefore, with jusriCe-tHke from
man hope and Sleep aud he will lie the most wretch
ed beirg on earth.
How unwisely then do those act who imagine
that by taking us little sleep possible they pro-
long their existence. They obtnn their end neither
in intensive nor extensive life. They will, indeed,
spend more hours with their eyes open; but they
never will enjoy life in the proper sense of the
word, now that freshness and energy Of mind
which are the certain consequences Of sound and
sufficient sleep, and which stamp like character
on all our undertakings aad actions. .t H.
But sufficient sleep is necessary, not only for
extensive life, but also for extensive, regard to
its support and duration. Nothing accelerateS con-
sumption much, nothing wastes us so much be-
fore the lime aud renders us old rs n want of it.
The physical effects Of sleep are, that it retards
all the vital movements, collects the vital power
and restores what has been lost in the course of
the day; and that it separates from US what is
useless and'Pernicious. 1t is as 1t were, adaily
crisis, during which all SecretonS are performed in
the greatest tranquility, and with the utmost peE
fiction.
Continued watching unites all tie properties de-
sLructive OF life; Incessant wasting ot the vital
power and of the orgnns, acceleratiUn OF conSump-
lion, and prevention of restoration.
We must not, howeye. on this account, believe
that too long continued sleep is ONE OF the best
means Tor preserving life: Long sleep accumulates
too great an abundance of pernicous Juices, makes
the organs too faced, and unfit for use, and inf
this nIanneT can shorten life also,
In a word, no one should sleep less than six, nor
more than eight hours. This may be established
us a general lie. rs fs&t sts.FsE
To those who wish TO enjoy sound ard peaceful
Fepose, aud TO obtain the whole end of sleep,
recommend the following observations:
list. Tile place where one sleeps must be quiet
and obscure. The less our senses are acted upon
by extsrdal impression, the more perfectly can the
soul rest. One may see from this how improper
the custom is of having candle burning In ones
bed-chamber during the night.
ID. People ought always TO reflect that their
bee. chamber is place in which they pass a great
part OF their lives; at least, they do not remain IN
any place so long in the same situation. II IS OF
the utmost Importance, theteiore That this place
should have pure fresh air. Asleeping apartment
must consequently, be Foomy and high; neihe Ill
habited nor heated during the day. and the win
dows ought always to he kept open, except IN the
3D.: One should eat little, and only cold food for
supper, and always hours before going to bed.
4th. When a-bed, one should lie, not IN forced
or constrained posture, but almost horizontaj the
head excepted, which ought to be little raised
Nothing is more preiudicial than to be in bed
half .lIiing. The body then forms an angles cir
cnation in the stomach is checked and the spine
is always very much compressed. BY this CUSTOM
one of the principal ends OF sleep, free and un-
interrupted circulation Of the blood, is drfestsdi
aud, in infancy and youth, deformty and crooked
ness are often its consequence
5ih. All the cares ind burden OF Tie day must
be laid aside with one clothes, none of them must
lie cAElied TO bed with us; and in this respect one
by custom may obtain very great power over The
thoughts. ~ .-..