Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-18
A Chapter on Sleep.

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a word, natural-sleep is that which
combines the whole series in such
healthy proportions as an orderly and
active life will establish, by cOnstitu-
tionally equal distribution of work,
looking to the comparative powers Of
the several parts of the system, the OPP
portunities for rest, the food supply,
and the measure of strength each de-
partment of the mental and physical
organism of the individual enjoys. This
wise adaptation of work to the different
energies, so that each shall Tighten the
task and contribute to the efficiency of
the others, it is a duty to self which
every step forward in the march of in
tellect and progress of civilization
seems to make it increasingly difficult
to discharge.
To sum up, sleep is rhythmical
function of life. It is performed by the
nervous system either through single
center or by the several centers con-
neCted with various parts or organs of
the body, from the supreme cerebral
centers which control the immediate
apparatus of intentional thought to the
ganglia that regulate the work of Wis
cera. believe the sympathetic system
plays a conspicuous part in the prOduc-
tion of the phenomenon, and this is
why the due performance of the func-
tiOn is so readily prevented as it is by
disorderly action in almost any part of
the body, even when there is no sensa-
tiOn or pain, or of uneasiness at the
seat of the disturbance. People who
do not sleep well and regularly are pc
culiarly liable to functional disorders;
and, conversely, those who are subject
to the anomalous maladies and symp-
toms too often set down to fancy, but
actually existing and traceable with
care to some special ganglion of the
sympathetic system QOr example, un-
easiness in the "pit of the stomach"
or aching pain in the lower lumbar re-
giOn of the spine), are disturbed or dis
orderly sleepers. Sleep is nerve state,
whether the part sleeping be the brain
or certain parts of the organ, the mus
cular system or the viscera. The modi-
fications which take place in the vessels
supplying the organ or system that
sleeps are the effects or consequences,
instead of the causes, of its condition.
The author devotes chapter to the
subject of going to sleep, and considers
here the use OF narcotics for the. pur-
pose Of inducingit, observing that "the
state they produce is not sleep, but q
condition OF narcotism that counter
feits Sleep" adding, "When man
says, | want a quiet night; | will take
a sleeping draught, he speaks in para
bles. To express the facts plainly he
should say, Il want quiet night;
cannot obtain it by going to sleep, or l
am afraid to trust to the chances of
rest, so | will poison myself a
little, just enough to make me uncon-
scious or slightly paralyze my nerve
Centers, not enough to kill If this
fact should be kept clearly before the
mind, the reckless use of drugs which
produce a state that mocks sleep would
be limited" The state of inaction
which is brought about by natural
sleep is very different from that which
Is produced by paralysis of any degree.
The following remarks are important:
Habit greatly helps the performance
Of the initial act, and the cultivation of
= habit of going to sleep in partiou-
lar way, at particular time, will do
more to procure regular and healthy
sleep than any other artiice. The for
nation of the habit is, in fact, the crea- Y
ion or development of special center,
)r combination, in the nervous system, |
which will henceforward produce sleep {
IS a natural rhythmical process. II
his were more generally recognized,
persons who suffer from sleeplessness
# the sort which consists in being sim '
ply "unable to 60 to sleep" would set
resolutely to form such a /
labit. 1t is necessary that the training
hould be specific, and include attention i
o details. 1t is not very important {
What q, person does with the intention
4 going to sleep; but he should do pre-. @
isely the same thing, in the same way, @
i the same time, and under as nearly a
IS possible the same conditions, night h
.fter night for q considerable period, b
ay three or four weeks at least The =
esult will amply reward the effort
The doctor remarks, very wisely, that
sleep ought to be induced by instinct s
citing in response to the sense of fa- h
igue, or in obedience to the impulse of q
abit; but when the orderly perform Q
nee Of a natural process has been in "
it is difficult to restore the d
hythmical sequence Of cause and eff n
9ck" As he truly remarks, "the suf- d
9rings and discomfort of those who a
nd the act Of going to sleep difficult, b
re many and various We can hard n
7, from our point Of view, agree with v
he opinion which DIR. Mortimer Gran I
lille expresses, that cit is a mistake, a
nd tends TO the mischieyOus habit of q
artial sleep, to seek sleep as relief 9
'om trouble, worry or pain" He D.
olds that we should seek relief both for s,
he mind and the body before sleep is n
ought, because eff this precaution be fC
OF taken, the sleep induced viii be only b.
Dss Of consciousness, or, perhaps, 81
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