Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-09-11
SLEEP IN DISEASE.

Some OF cur old practitioners, espe-
oisls il the country. have been in the
habl ol having patients vskened every
tenor fifteen minutes. This we regard
As entirely wrong. and calculated but
y increase the nervous irritability, in.
tensiiy disease. and prolong the recoV-
cry. IN DR.. Wares tenth lecture on
General Therapeutics, published in the
Boston Medical and Surgical Journal
Tor January is. a few remarks are made
That have z bearing upon the point un-
der consideration. He says:
- in<lk kdarms and conditions OF dis.
ease, both acute and chronic. RE JFzfe
OF the patient as TO sleep is an important
consideration. both As.regards his COM
fort, and also asregards the satisfactory
progress of his case. The nature Of
this coEdi!iou Of animal life we do not
fully understand; we only know that il
is necessary one, and having vast
influence on the state Of the system.
It's purpose seems to be to afford an
opportunity. by the suspension Of GER
tain activities of the system which re-
quire the exhaustion Of those powers
that emsnste from the nervous sys-
tenn, for the reinforcement Of those
powers. 1t is also during sleep that
the repair of the tissues BY nutrition is
provided for. Not that all nutrition is
during our waking hours,
or that all waste is suspended during
sleep; but that in two states OF sleeping
and waking there is respectively large
predominsnee of the repair and the
waste. Sleep is not merely rest, as i.
has been sometimes considered, an en-
lire rest of all the organs at once; it is
something specifically different. Its q
,onditiOn of an entirely different ma
lure, and q condition for which rest is
not, In any sense, a substitute. The
mere facts Of existence, without exer-
Use. without fatigue-the simple going
,n Of life--implies a certain expenditure
'f force, which renders necessary, at
;ertain intervals, suspension Of the
brain and nervous system, which are
'ubservient to the phenomena OF mind.
II is possible that ordinary rest might
afford an opportunity for the nutrition
ofthese tissues, except those which are
The agents Of the mind. But it seems
10 be necessary, for the repair Of these,
hat the functions OF the mind should
also be suspended. OF the physical
of the brain in sleep, and
also concerning the peculiar state Of the
many theories which have been formed
Soaoesaing them, We know nothing with
and this is not necessary to
the practical management of the sick.
What should guide US is the knowledge
that certain amount Of sleep, at proper
intervals, is an absolute necessity, and
that its absence or deficiency is always
a great evil, and to be prevented by
every possible means. In acute dis
ease a sufficient amount Of quiet sleep is
at once favorable indication Of the ma
ture and issue of case, and also is sn
important agent in the promotion of q
favorable issue. Its absence, on the con-
trary, Is, prOtanto, an unfavorsble indi-
cation as TO the result, and also pro-
notes an unfavorable issue. Want of
sleep adds to the sufferings of the pa
tient, and also to his exhaustion, and
consequently interferes with the success
of the sanitary process and impsirs the
power Of recovery. In every point Of
view, then, the state of the patient in
this respect becomes the object Of spe-
cial attention. Salutary changes in the
condition of patient will be often found
to take place during sleep, and to mani
fest themselves most obviously on ava
king from that which has been sound
and refreshing"
DR.. Ware makes another practical
remark that we know it would often
times be prudent to put in practice,
aud yet we have reason to believe it ID
seldom thought Of by the physician, or
urged upon the attention Of the patient:
1t sometimes happens that, after
short nap on first going to bed, person
wakens without any known cause, and
then remains obstinately watchful for
many hours. In this case, ifhe rises,
washses his face, hands and feet, and
walks about briskly for awhile and re-
turns to bed, the charm may be broken,
and continued sleep will ensue. Or
be may rise and write or read, with the
same result. ."-Nsdieql Reporter.