The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-14
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY


has an interesting discussion of the phe-
inomenon of sleep, by B. w. Richardson,
M. d., F. RS. The theories already Of
fered are not thought to fulfill the condi-
tons. That which attributes sleep to the ex-
haustion of nervous fluid, the nerve cells
being, so to speak, recharged during the
period of rest, postulates its basis---the ex-
! istence of such fluid being purely hypo-
thetical. The plensum and the vacuum
theories, as. they may be called, are more
plausible. The idea that sleep is caused by
a collapse of the laminn of the cerebellum,
| producing pressure, seems supported by
the fact that artificial pressure on the brain
will produce comatose state and, on
the other hand, the conception that it is the
result of diminished flow of blood to the
brain seems to be experimentally enforced
when sleep is induced by the application Of
cold and the consequent closing of the sup
plying arteries. But it is to be expected that
so delicate mechanism as the brain should
refuse to perform its office, neither when
! clogged with, or depleted of, blood and
there remains, besides, this potent objec-
ton that the artificial sleep is very diff
ferent from the natural sleep the sleeper
cannot be aroused until the influence used
is removed. In natural sleep we need but
call or shake the person and he awakes.
Surely such simple vibration could not re-
move pressure from the brain or relax the
contracted vessels. Mr.. Richardson pro-
poses theory, not Dramatically, but only
as indicating line of research, which covers
these objections /: ..a. -.... ... -.
81 find that to induce sleep is not neces-
sary to produce extreme changes Of brain
matter. y The change is one very
closely resembling that which occurs in the
qualification of water surcharged with q
saline substance, or in water holding n.y.
drafted colloid, like dialyzed silica, in
trembling suspension. What is indeed the
brain and nervous matter? 1t is mass of
water made sufficiently solid to be reduced
into shape and form by rather less than
/ twenty per cent. of solid matter, consisting
of albuminous substance; saline substance,
fatty substance The mechanism for the
supply of blood is moist delicate, mem
brous; the mechanism for dialysis or sepa-
ton of crystallodial from collodial substance
is perfect, and the conversion of the COM
pound substance of brain from one condition
of matter to another is, il we may judge from
4 some changes Of water charged with COLO
dial or fatty substances, extremely simple.
do not now venture on details respecting
this peculiarly interesting question, but |
venture so far as to express what | feel will
one day be the accepted fact, that the mat
ter of the wakeful brain is, on going to
sleep, changed temporarily into state of
greater solidity that its molecular parts
cease to be moved by external ordinary
influences, by chemical influences; that
they, in turn, cease to communicate inn
pressions, or, in other words, to stimulate
the voluntary muscles and that then there
is sleep which lasts until there is a re-solu-
ton ofstructure, whereupon there is wake
fitness, from renewed motion in the brain
matter, and renewed stimulation of volun-
tary muscle, through nerve" '' --ta.
| WI. Youmans, M. D., writes "Con-
corning Corpulence," investigating the
causes and prescribing the remedy; and
DR.. A. Won Graefe, late Of the Berlin Unl-
versity, contributes very readable and in
structive paper on "Sight and the Visual
Organ )" A. X. Gardiner, NJ. D., inquiring
into "The Causes of Physical Degeneracy,"
| finds some of them, especially in cities, in
lack of appreciation of sun and air; there
seems to be an improvement in clothing,
except where Fashion exposes the arms and
necks and legs of little children to the wind
and cold, and in food, excepting in the milk
for babes-an exception of incalculable mo-
ment, the serious evil of bringing up chill
dren ''by the BOTTLE" being increased by
the poor quality of COW milk, which is
used as substitute for natures supply.
/ Among the selected articles are papers on
"The August and November Meteors,"
"Modern Lteratures in the Higher Educa-
ton" "The Nutritive Salts Of Food"
"The Characteristics of the Calmucks,"
"Balance of Life in the Aquarium" "Ju-
ries, Judges and Insanity" "The Study of
Physical Science" and Son the Discovery
Of the Elements" a>
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