Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-02-23
On the Science of Sleep.

FROM ancient times sleep has been re- |
garded by philosophers and students of
nature with the deepest interest 1t is,
therefore, the more remarkable that until
very recently one of the most important
questions in connection with the theme
namely, the cause of sleep and the rea-
son of its periodical return, has been but
very imperfectly answered. Two years
ago Professor Pettenkofer, of Munich,
gentleman widely celebrated for his re-
searches into the cause of cholera, in the
course of his experiments upon the ex-
change of gases in the human system,
gave perfectly satisfactory reply to the
inquiry.
1t has long been known that the oxygen
taken in during the act of breathing plays
very important part, inasmuch as through
its union with the substance of our bodies
the vital forces are generated. In every
process of life, however insignificant,
certain quantity of oxygen is consumed.
1t is in sense, the steam power by which
the living machine is driven, and the
amount used can be measured by the quan-
tity of carbonic acid generated and set free
in the act of expiration. For this purpose,
Pettenkofer, assisted by Volt, has con-
| trived an apparatus, and has thereby
brought to light the unexpected fact that
during the day, even with the slightest
efforts, we give forth proportionately much
more carboAic acid, or, in other words,
consume much more oxygen than we re-
| ceive d uring the same period.
| From this interesting fact their natural
| ly arises the important inquiry, by what
means is this daily deficiency supplied :
| Here, also Pettenkofer's researches furnish
Us with satisfactory answer. Sleep is the
| prudent minister of finance, who every
night, by wise economy, makes up the
| losses OF the day, for in sleep We not only
| consume half as much less oxygen as we
do in the day, but we take in twice as
much as we do when We are awake. Dur
ing sleep we lay in a store of oxygen
which enables us without fear to look for
ward to the deficiency of tomorrow. Il
not this arrangement truly worthy of oul
warmest admiration? Many a State
might congratulate itself if its fnancia
administration were conducted on simila
principles. Once more we find that na
ture is the best teacher, giving us lessor
in national economy from the philosoph.
of sleep.
We have laid down the principle that il
every process of life, no matter hov
trifiing it may seem, we consume certain
proportion of oxygen. Every motion
every sensation, even every thought is suci
a process. If we shake hands with
friend, if we look at him, our heart beat
ing quicker at the thought, we suffer tn
loss of definite quantity of oxygen;
certain portion of our body is consumed
and changed into carbonic acid. All thi
sounds horribly material, but it is never
theless, perfectly true, and is sustained b.
the best possible proofs-namely, thos
arising from the economy of the human
system. During sleep its task is to b.
sparing of oxygen, and like wise house
holder, who avoids all useless and lux
urious indulgence, and limits himself Il
such expenditures as is necessary for hi
subsistence, it faithfully performs it.
But what are these things which W,
may regard as the luxurious expenditur
of our organism? Above all, we may in
; clude in this category the whole range o
the activity of the senses, since such &C
tivity is not indispensably necessary fo
the maintenance of life In a sleep W,
may strike off with comfort the charge
connected with sight. The muscles of tn,
eyes first refuse their service A peculia
feeling of pressure and heaviness in thi
upper eyelids informs us that they are pre-
pairing for sleep, and the impossibility O
fixing the eye steadily upon any object be
trays to us the fact that the muscles, which
cause.-the conveyance of the axis of sight
can No longer perform their part. Will
the closing of the eyelids the exsitemento o