The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-04-20

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latlon of our insane asylums
The brain Is the organ which evolves
the thoaght To perform It's functions
Il requires 10 be supplied with sum
cent quantity Of good blood. la this
respect il does not differ from any 9TH
er organs 81 the body II the liver BE-
deprived Of blood, the secretion Of
bile stops, 4 the vital fluid be cut oil
from the stomach, there viii be no more
gastric lulce; il the renal vessels be tied
oI divided, the action Of the kidneys is
at once arrested
Now, within certain limits, the more
blood there is in the brain, the more
energeticauy does il work in the pro-
duction Of thought II the proper lin
it, however, be passed, and especially il
the blood bo ''black. or noo.Wreated,
the manifestations Of mental action be-
come abnormal, and many altogether
cease through the stupor caused by
congestion. In all these respects the
brain is submitted TO the same laws
that govern the other organs. A mod
crate increase ia the activity Of the cir
cnlation in the gastric vessels leads to
an augmentation in the quantity Of gas
trio juice. and thus digestion is acceler-
ated A like cause acting upon the liy-
er promotes the secretion Of bile, and
so on for the other organs. Let the
Rubicon Of healthy activity be passed,
and the vessels become unduly over
loaded, and we have bad gastric juice
or bile, as the case may be, and per
haps, none at all
Mankind have found ont certain
ways Of increasing the amount Of blood
in their organs, and thus Of producing
results which they deem beneficial or
necessary.
But the blood in the brain may be
increased by its own action. Intense
and long continued thought, anxiety,
grief, and other emotions, have this ef-
feet. 1t may be laid down as a law ad
mitting Of no exception, that when an
organ is kept in condition of great
activity, there is an augmented flow Of
blood to its substance; and the organ,
whatever it is, increases somewhat in
size when an increase is possible. Take
for an example, the arm OF a black
smith Here the excessive use to which
the muscles are put causes an inereas-
ed bow to the part, and tie consequent
formation of new matter in greater pro
portion than il is consumed
There can be no muscular action, ex-
cept as the consequence Of the disinte-
grafton OF certain amount of muscu-
lar tissue. No gland can oct without
its substance becoming decomposed to
some extent, and no thought can be
conceived by the brain without the de-
struetion Of definite amount OF the ee-
rebral matter.
During wakefulncss, the brain is con
stantly in action. There is not mo
ment during which it is entirely quies-
cent II our thoughts are active, or if
strong emotions act upon us, the blood
flows in increased amount to the head
in order that new matter may be de
POSTED to take the lace Of that which
has been used, for all new substance,
whether Of the heart, or the lungs, or
the brain, or the muscles, or the nerves
comes from the blood
In the ordinary course Of our lives
the supply is equal to the demand. ~
But it is possible SO to use our brains
that the substance is destroyed in a
greater proportion than the blood can
supply Men engaged in the ieyerish
aud anxious occupations Of life rarely
stop to think that they are using their
brain capital, instead Of merely con
suming the interest, as they ought to
do. Tho end for all such is not far dis
tant. 1t il as certain as the result Of
spending peeuniary capital instead of
living upon the income. The one will
inevitably lead to insanity; the other
to pauperism and the alms-house.
Now, what has all this TO do with the
question, Why DO we sleep? Simply
this: sleep is the rest Of the body, and
especially Of the brain During this
condition the brain is at its minimum
Of activity. Certain faculties, such as
the Imagination, appear to be in full op-
eration, but tits in appearance only,
for those facnlties which regulate it
when we are awake have their actions
suspended All other organs have
their periods Of rest during wakeful-
ness, except the brain. Sleep is essen
italy the condition IL which tie noblest
organ Of the body reposes from its la
bors. 1t is then that the blood depos-
IFS new cerebral matter faster than il is
used. aud thus prepares The brain for
Ifs new duties when We awake.
II we take the hours which should be
devoted 70 sleep, and nse them 10 men
tal sctiylty, We are robbing our brains
nf tho nnnnrtnnitr for regeneratlon