The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-06-25
The Phenomena of Sleep.

The Phenomena of Sleep.
DR.. Egbert Guernsey, in the June number Of
the Medical Union, thus discourses of sleep
from physicians point of view:
How is sleep induced, and what is the con-
dition of the brain during this period of rest,
which occupies nearly one-third of our lives
are questions not merely of curiosity but OF
real practical use. Either the nervous mass as
whole is quiescent, undisturbed by currents
of nervous energy, or currents are still kept
up, but at an even, unaltering pace. The lat
ter conclusion seems the most plausible, and Is
more distinctly borne out by facts. The nerv-
Gus system is seldom allowed to fall into entire
somnolence, but however profound the slum6er,
the mind still seems to retain its waking I'M
pressions, and is to certain extent under their
influence even in sleep. A person even very
fatigued, who has previously accustomed him
self to that self-discipline, will fall into d deep
and sound slumber, and yet awake up prompt
ly at time specified in his walking moments,
Notwithstanding he might have slumbered for
hours had it not been for this act of will. A
gentleman who in the prosecution of his busi-
ness is obliged to travel constantly, taking the
train at all hours and catching his sleep when
and where he can get it, informs me he
never has any trouble, however much fatigued
he may be, in waking at any specified time:
Even without this strong exercise of the will
power, the brain, however profoundly qules-
cent, is keenly alive to certain sounds, however
oblivious it may be to others. The physician
hears the first tap of his night-bell, though he
might sleep on undisturbed while band of
music was playing in front of his windows, or
the roar of the thunder or the crash of artillery
was making the windows rattle and the bed
tremble beneath him. The mother starts from
her deep slumber at the first cry of her child,
her ear quickly catching, however profound
may be her sleep, almost its altered breathing.
1t is said of young man, midshipman, wish
ing to commend himself to the commander,
spent eighteen hours out of the twenty-tour IN
watching and recording the signals, only retlr-
ing to rest when utterly exhausted. Then his
slumber was so profound that the loudest noise
would produce no impression, but simply whls-
per in his ear the word "signal," and in an
instant he was on his feet, wide awake and
ready for duty. We are all familiar with a
kind of waking sleep, in which perfect still
ness or some monoton0us sound lulls us into
kind of semi-unconsciousness Any disturbing
element may rouse up the currents of nerve
force into full activity, but without them con-
sciousness gradually disappears, according as
the nerve clrrents are UNMARRIED in their degree,
until sleep, more or less profound, is produced.
Facts such as we have stated are in favor of
a certain low degree of nerve action as existing
under every variety of state, from the light
sleep to the most profound. On this hypothe-
sis when all the currents of the brain are equal
" balanced and continue at the same pitch,
when no one is commencing, increasing or
abatine. conciousness of feeling is null and
mind IS ouiescent A disturbance of this state
of things wakens up the conciousness for
time: the variety of stimula in the waking state
forbidding this perfect equilibrium from being
attained.
Sleep is positive necessity. 1t is a period
of REGENERATION, during which there is restor-
alton of what has suffered collapse, waste or
disturbance during the period Of waking activ-
ity. The tired brain and]the aching muscles
regain, bv rest, strength and the power to obey
the mandates ofthe will The demands of the
material form for rest are so great as often to
defv the action of the mind During the chol-
era summer of 1S49, while practicing in the
country, so constant and fatiguing was my pro-
fessiona labors that I have often ridden for
miles on horseback sound asleep. Almost ev-
ery physician in active practice during periods
of epidemics, when his strength was taxed to
the utmost, has dropped into sleep, as have
done many times while walking the street.
During the battle of the Nile many of the boys
engaged in handling ammunition fell asleep,
even while the roar of the battle was going on
around them. 1t is said in the retreat to Co.
runna whole battallions ofinfantry slept while
in rapid march. Even the most acute bodily
suferings are not always sufficient to prevent
sleep. The worn-out frame of the victim of
the Inquisition has yielded to its influence in
the pause of his torturcs upon the rack, and
for moment he has forgotten his suaerings;;
the Indian burned at the stake, in the interval
between the preliminary torture and the light
inp of the fire, has sweetly slumbered, and been
only aroused by the flame which was to consume
him curling around him.