Litchfield enquirer., 1857-06-18
The Phenomena Of Sleep.

The Phenomena Of Sleep.
Mr.. Dickens, of South Carolina, has recents
ly published a work on Life, Sleep, Pain and
D .ath, which contain some curious facts and
spceulations. The following facts are given in
relation to sleep, which is described to be the
| repose of the mind
| The necessary amount of sleep differs in
the various tribes, as we'll as in different indi-
viduals. The average proportion of time thus
employed Ey our race, is estimated ait one
! third. Sir John Sinclair, who slept eight
hours himself, says that in his researches upon
the suffice of longevity, he found long life un-
t der every circumstance aud every course of
habit-Sone old men being abstinent, others
Incorporate, some active, and some indoent--
but all had slept we'll and long Alfred the
Great sept eight hours day--Jercny Taylor
but three. Bonaparte, during the greater
part of his active life, was content with four or
five hours sleep. Old age and infancy sleep
much
Some boys slept from fatigue, on board of
Nelson's ship, at the battle Of the Nile. Among
! the impressive Incidents of Sir JOHN Moore's
disastrous +, treat to Coruuua ii, Spain not the
last striking is the recorded fact that many of
J his soldiers Steadily pursued their march while
this is not uncommon among soldiers. Frank
lin slept nearly all hour swimming on his back.
An acquaintance of Dr. D., travelling in North
Carolina with party, being greatly fatigued,
was observed to be sound asleep in his saddle.
His horse, being better walker, went far in
! advance of the rest. On crossing hill, they
found him on the ground snorting quietly. His
horse had fallen, as was evident from his bro
/ EcuE bod ic biS
head on hard surface without waking him.
Animals of the lower orders obey peculiar
laws in regard to sleep. Fish are said to sleep
the tench may be taken in this state, if ap
preached cautiously. Many birds and beasts
of prey take their repose in the day time.
When kept in captivity this habit undergoes a
change, which makes US doubt whether it was
not the result of necessity which demanded
that they should take advantage of the dark
ness, silence, and unguarded state Of their vic
Tins In the menagerie at Paris, even the by
ena sleeps at night, and is awake by day
They all, however, seek, rs favoring the pur-
pose, certain degree Of seclusion and shade,
with the exception of the lion, who, Burdach
Informs US, sleeps at MONDAY in the open
plain and the eagle and condor, which pose
themselves on the most elevated pinnacle of
rock in the clear bire atmosphere, and dazzling
sunlight. Birds, however, are furnished with
a nictitating membrane generally, to sh Ter
the eye from light Fish prefer to retire to
sleep under the shadow Of IA rock, or a woody
bank. OF domestic animals, the horse seems
to require the least sitep, and that he takes in
an erect posture.
Birds that rest in sitting posture, are fur
nished with a well adapted mechanism, which
keeps them firmly supported without voluntary
or conscious action The tendon of the claws
is so arranged as to be t:ghtencd by their
weight when the thighs are bent, thus contrac
ting closely, and grasping the hough or perch.
| In certain other animals which sleep erect, the
articulations of the foot and knee are desert
| ell by Dumer.l as resembling the spring of
pocket knife, which opens the instrument and
serves to keep the blade in lile with the
handle.
1t has been rrettily sa;l that, without HoTe
and Sleep, man would be inconvenently wretch
cd. The circumstances fayoring sleep, besides
Il quiet conscience, mind unexcited, and a
| body free from pain are. recumbcnt posture,
silence and darkness. When Ptolemy de-
,nandcd of a soothsayer-" What would make
one sleep we'll in the night" "The best
way" he replied, was to have divine and &C.
lcstial mcdtatons, and to use honest actions in
the daytime" Multer says he could to 81 ep
at will on assuming recumbent position. Bo-
naparte, during his grand career, required no
other condition bit darkness !; yet at st. Hell
cua, he suffered from slecplessness among his
other tortures Habit exercises an almost
o,nupotent influence in this matter. A dis
tinguislled watch maker, having retired from
business, was in danger Of rhrenitis for want
OF sleep. After several miserable weeks of
this priya'ion, some one suggested a return to
his old place Of abode: The experiment sue
ccedcd perfectly, for he fell asleep in his form
CT workshop at once, rejoicing in the loud tick
ing of scores of elocks and watches.
OF contrasted impressibiIily is the case Of
the old llarpist, given by Brands, who slept
the instant he left off playing but although
undisturbed by other sounds, woke up imme-
diately as any touched the strings Of his in
strument.
Deprived of sleep, man is inexpressibly
wretcIled, and eager and ceaseless has ever
been Ills search after the means Of procuring
this inestimabe blessing. Narcotics are every
where ihstinctivey sought and eagerly en-
ployed and stiihdlants, as indirectly narcotic,
have unfortunately become familiar beverages
Alas what picture of life is presented to
Us in the fact that Inconsistencies OF an IT.
se,,siblity to care and anguish constitute the
best boot that can be offered to suffering nu-
manty