American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-05-25
Facts about Sleep.

Facts about Sleep.
Without full proportion of sound
and regular sleep, the mind sooner or
later fails of its elasticity, its vigor, and
its life, to be followed by nervousness,
weakness of intellect, softening of the
brain, insanity, and death. The vary
ing amount of sleep required in individ-
ual cases, and at different times, renders
it impossible to make any fixed rules
upon the subject, and each observant
individual will soon learn the require
ments of his own system. Alfred of
England divided the day into three por-
tions of eight hours each, one of which
he assigned to sleep. Bishop Taylor
considered three hours and Richard
Baxter four hours sleep sufficient for
any man. Frederick of Prussia and
Napoleon, as a general thing, devoted
only three or four hours to sleep. In
dividual cases are authenticated of per-
sons reaching advanced age without
ever having had more than one or two
hours of sleep out of the twentv-fcSr.
Wesley states, however that during his
eng life he never knew any individual
who retained vigorous health for whole
year with less quantity of sleep than
six hours out Of the twenty-fohr.
No ono measure of sleep will answer
for all, nor will tho sari1e amount of
sleep suffice even for the same persons
at all times. A person debilitated by
sickness requires more sleep than one
in vigorous health; more is necessary
when the strength and spirits are ex-
hausted by hard labor or severe mental
efforts. In infancy and youth, where
the animal functions are extremely ac-
tive, the necessity for sleep is greatest i
in mature age 1t is less INDUCED, while
the aged frequently spend larger pro-
portion of their time in sleep, though in
some instances it may be short and light.
The average of humanity requires fully
seven hours sleep, and the number who
can maintain mental and bodily vigor
with less amount of slsup Is far ex-
seeded by those whose systems demand
even more than seven hours.
The influence of habit in promoting
or preventing sleep is remarkable.
Those accustomed to the quiet of rural
districts are annoyed by the din of city
thoroushfares. Men who are in the
habit of sleeping in buildings occupied
by noisy machinery awake the moment
the wheels and cogs and gears come to
standstill. 1t is said that those who
live near the catsracts of Niagara or Of
the Nile can not sleep at distance from
them, owing to their having become &C
customed to the roar of watefs. Well
attested cases are recorded where SOL
diers would sleep, after extreme fatigue
and exhaustion, on the ground by the
side of twenty four FOUNDER which was
being constantly fired. Marines slept
from fatigue on board of Nelson's ship
at the battle of the Mile. Even boiler
makers have been known to sleep in
boiler while the workmen were con-
stantly hammering. Sleep can cortin-
tie even with the exercise Of certain
muscles. Couriers on long journeys nap
on horseback, coachman on their boxes,
and in these latter days many travellers
sleep soundly in palace cars or sleeping
coaches. Among the impressive Incl
dents of Sir John Moore's disastrous re-
treat to Corunna, in Spain, not the least
striking is the recorded fact that many
of his soldiers steadily pursued Their
march while fast asleep. 1t is said by
military authorities that this is not un-
common among soldiers. Franklin slept
nearly an hour while swimming on his
back. Many singular occurrences prove
conclusively that sleep is not incompat-
IDLE with motion.
The lower order of creation obey Pc
culiar laws in regard to sleep. Fish are
said to sleep soundly, preferring to re.
tire under the shadow of a rock or a
woody bank. Many birds and beasts Of
prey take their repose in the daytime,
though they all seek a certain degree Of
seclusion and shade, with the exception
of the lion, who sleeps at MONDAY in
the open plain. The eagle and the con.
dor will.poise upon the most elevated
pinnacles of rock, and sleep in the clear
blue atmosphere and dazzling sunlight
OF domestic animals, the horse seems to
require the least sleep, which he usually
takes in an erect posture. Birds that
roost in sitting position are furnished
with q well adapted mechanism which
keeps them firmly supported without
voluntary or conscious action. The
tendon of the claws is SO arranged al
to be tightened by their weight when
the thighs are bent, thus contracting
closely and grasping the bough o,
perch. In certain other animals that
sleep erect the calculations Of the foot
and knee are described as resembling
the spring of a pocket-knife, which
opens the instrument and serves to keeI
the blade in . line with the handle. All
animated nature seems to be dependent
upon the recuperative power of sleep
Boston Ci1lttrdtor.