The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-03-06
Stray Notes on Sleep.

There exists strange partnership between
day and night and subtle, strong sympathy y
between light and work, darkness and sleep.
This is not merely due to custom. 1t is not on
ly poetry, but true physiology, to say with
Montgomery: -
Might is the time to sleep-nightis the time
to rest"
1t is not simply that n6sa's bodily frame
needs at certain intervals so many hours of re-
| pose, but that that repose may not be taken ca
rpricoIsiy whenever hH likes, for he is violating
a law of nature-and sooner or later he must
pay the penalty-if he does not sleep in the
appointed hours of calming, soothing darkness.
Eight hours sleep between four and twelve
o'clock in the morning is very inferior, in its
refreshing and repairing effects, from eight
hours sleep between 10 P. M. and A. NJ.
The reason is not far to find. Light in its
action upon us and the atmosphere around us
is exciting, stimulating, and wearing to the
nervous tissue far more than we wont to
imagine. A mere bath of sunlight sets up ac-
ton in the frame of man which induces and
necessitates slumber. The cattle of the field
the birds of the air, are all obedent to this
law, and attentive to their curfewbell. The
murmuring hum of the bee ceases, and the
flowers carefully fold up their petals-those
silks and satins "richly dight"-when the voice
of natures watchman tells the evening hour.
Then behind the sable curtains of nightrepairs
are carried on, and materials are set ready for
another day of work. The plants, the grasses,
the trees, increase almost entirely when the
sun is gone, when silence reigns, when there is
pause amidst the strife and busy competi-
tons of men. And in the animal kingdom the
same principle of life is seen. The horse in his
stable, the dog in his kennel, the COW in the
farm shed, is each having its energies, its in
iured and worn tissues and fbres, built up
again, refreshed, and strengthened during the
precious hours of light. The circulation in
animals is then slower, but fuller and more
feeding.
The rector of Aynho, (Northamp ptonshire),
some years ago, made very numerous trials,
and found that his friends were an inch taller
in the morning when stretched upon the bed,
than they were after the fatigues and exhaust
ing action of the day. This cruinbing away
of mans material fabric is fully repaired by
the unseen masons and workmen in Sleeps EN-
ployment.
Physicians tell us-and we can we'll believe
it-that the beating of the heart accelerates
toward evening, like wheel going down hill,
whirling faster and faster. But Sleep steps in
to check and regulate and moderate its speed
and thus it is prevented from becoming dan
gerously rapid. However we must remember
that, unlike all other functions of mans COM
plex frame, the heart never slumbers; it is al
lowed no sleep until death, though all the 9th
er servants, all the other centres of nerve &C
ton, may, and do, regularly respose. Yetcom-
pensation is most beautifully and most exqui-
sitely arranged for the heart. Seeing this at
tendant must be cup" all night and all day.
how is it saved from wearing out p? By letting
the heart pause after each pulsation. Every
breath we draw is followed by period during
which the nerves and muscles of inspiration
rest before they are again called into action.
The alternating intervals of restand work may
be seconds or hours; it matters, not, the prin
ciple is the same, the purpose for which sleep
is given is attained. Truly then we see the ap
----T75.;o- -.,ess of the poets epithet:
@Tiro. .,.1ature's sweet restorer, bafmy sleep"