The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-10-03
PROPER HOURS OF SLEEP.
by MARY c. BUCKMAN.


referred to us we were almost inclined to
consider it an unfair one, and were strong
ly convinced of our incompetency to an
swer it in satisfactory manner. Since
then we have given it but little thought,
aud now, at the last moment, find We
know not in what light to view it, as you
are all perhaps aware there can be no
rule that will apply in all cases. But,
connecting with our own rude thoughts
some ideas of one of our eminent writers
upon the same subject, we offer you the
following answer !:
Our health and happiness depend very
much on the way in which we regulate
our lives. Strange as it may appear there
is a discipline which should be observed
in our sleeping, as well as in our working
hours. But, after all, what is sleep p
Our medical philosophers puzzle them
selves in vain to account ior it. There
is no better description giving of the ap-
proach Of sleep than that which we find
in one of Leigh Hunts papers.
"It is delicious moment, certainly,
that OF being well nestled in bed, aud feel
ing that you shall drop gently to sleep
The good is to come, not past the limbs
have been just tired enough to render the
remaining IN one posture delightful the
labor of the day is done; gentle failure
OF the perceptions comes creeping over
one the spirit of consciousness disenga-
ges itself more and more, with slow aud
hushiDg degrees, like mother detachiug
her hand from that of her sleeping child;
the mind seems to have balmy nd clos
ing over over it, like the eye-'tis clos
ing, It's closed. The mysterious spirit
has gone to take its airy rounds" But
what is the immediate cause of sleep?
There can be no doubt that certain
amount of nervous energy is necessary to
support the activity of the body and
when this is exhausted by the exertions
of the day, the organs oil animal life be-
come fatigued and unable any louger to
perform their functions Hence their
prostration, arising from the want of their
usual nervous stimulus, superinduces a
state of sleep. The perception of exter
nal objects becomes confused the eyes
grow dim the lips drop IN spite of every
effort to uphold them then the muscles
of the back and neck relax their tension
the head falls forward, or to one side or
the other, and the body sinks, as far as
circumstances will permit, into horizon,
tai position. But the sense of hearing
remains for period after that of sight,
so that we may hear the conversation Of
persons around US long after We are un
able to perceive their gestures, and dis
crminate the object of their remarks
Now, if this state arise, as we believe it
does, from a deficiency or exhaustion of
nervous energy, the more perfectly de-
veloped we shall find the nervous system,
the greater will be the amount of sleep
required to recruit the animal of strength.
If we take glance through the diff.
ferent gradations of the animal kingdom
beginning with insects, we shall find that
although many, like, like the common
house fly, remain for months in state of
torpidity, yet they may continue wakeiul
and cheerful throughout the year, iu fact
they scarcely sleep at all. We shall next
observe that in fishes the nervous system
is only imperfectly developed, therefore
they require little sleep, aud when asleep
they may be observed almost motionless
in the water, in which state they may be
easily netted or even taken with the
hand ; but if suddenly touched they start
in an instant and swim away in evident
alarm. The serpent tribes, which rank
somewhat higher in the scale of or
ganization, remain awake many days
and nights and then have long periods of
repose The boa constructor, after gorg-
ing itself to repletion, will remain for
many days and weeks motionless and in
sensible.
As we proceed still higher in grada-
ton, we shall find that birds sleep much
more than fish or reptiles. But the slight
est noise or movement will awaken them,
as was eviuced by the cackliug OF the
sacred geese which saved the Capitol OF
Rome from the soldiers of Brennus. when
the watch. dogs and sentries were sleep
ing at their posts.
When we arrive at the different orders
of quadrupeds the brain and spinal mar
row appear more fully developed, and the
consequence is that in obedience to their
instincts, those which are active by day
sleep by night, and those which roam
abroad in quest of prey during the night
sleep by day. They accommodate them
selves So far to the uses of civilization. !"
The monkey tribes, particularly some
OF the smaller species, are very restless
But the great baboon or chiupanzee, the
organization of whose brain is said to very
closely resemble that Of man, will take
his sic or eight hours sleep if undisturb
ed. We therefore come to the concu
sion that the more fully developed the
nervous system is, the creator will be the
quantity OF sleep required. Hence, it
has been truly remarked that imam sleeps
longer than any of the larger animals.
In state OF health sleep not only cou-
tributes to the prolongatlon of lille, but