The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-28


the minds OF those who believe nothing buts
the past. Such skeptics exercise bnt little
influence upon the progress OF society The,
only question is one OF time
@ = b 80. 81 & 4 .ss
A Chapter ON slseT
NATURAL SLEEP THE MOST PERPEc7-THAT
PRODUCED BIZ NARCOTICS MERELY All TEN
PoRARY YPARALYSIs-HABITAE AND POSITION IN
SLEEP. s.@v=g, :. i. # i:a rs ~ 81 &:
From an English review oiJ.lMortimer-l
GranvilIe's new work on /" Sleep and Sleep
Iessness 1--WE extract the following: g VI
The most perfect and refreshing-in a;
word, ;Inatural-sieep Ii that which COM
bines the whole series in such healthy pro-
portions 40 an orderly and actiYeilife Will.
establish, by q constitutionaliy equal distri-.
button Of work, looking TO the comparative
powers of the several parts OF the SYSTEM;
the opportunities for rest. the food supply,
and the measure Of strength each depart
ment Of the mental and physical organism
Of the individual enjoys. Thisw adapta-
Lion; of work to the different energies, 30,
that each shall tighten the task and contri-
butte othe efficiency OF the others, Is duty
to self which every step forward In the.
march OF intellect and the progress OF civil,
izatiou seems to- make it increasingly diM-
cult to discharge. >, ~. ,s.,I,.,z.
| To sum up, sleep: Is a rhythmical func-
ton OF life. It Is performed by the nervous
| system either through single centre or by
the several centres connected with various
parts or organs OF the body, from the SUI
preme cerebral centres. which control the
immediate apparatus OF intentional thought
to the ganglia chat regulate the work OF the
viscera. I believe the sympathetic system
plays conpicuous part in the production
ofsthe phenomenon, and this is why the
due performances of the function Is so readt-
" prevented as it is by disorderly action in
almost any part of the body, even when
there is no sensation Of pain or OF uneasi.
ness at the seat OF the disturbance. Persons
who do not sleep we'll and regularly are pc
culiarly liable to functional disorders;
and, conversely, those who are subject to
the anomalous maladies and symptoms too
often set down to fancy, but actually exist
| ing and traceable with care to some special
gauglion OF the sympathetic system Qor
example, uneasiness in the "pit OF the
stomach" or aching pain in the lower lum-
bar region OF the spine), are disturbed or
whether the part sleeping be the brain or
certain parts OF that organ, the muscular
system or the yiScera. The notifications
which take place in the vessels supplying
the organ or system that sleeps are the ef-
fects or consequences, instead of the
causes, OF its condition. -. s..--
The author devotes chapter to the SUBJ
iect OF .... ...
GOING TO SLEEP, ...r g. ...t
and considers here the use Of narcotics for
the purpose OF inducing it, observing that
.sthe state they produce Is not sleep, but
condition OF narcotism that counterfelts
sleep"; adding, "When man says, 8 [
want quiet night will take sleeping
draught,' he speaks in parallels. To ex-
press the facts plainly be should say, Il
want quiet night; cannot obtain it by
going 10 sleep, or am afraid to trust to the
chances Of natural rest, so will poison myself
a alittle-just enough to make me unconscious
or slightly paralyze my nerve-centres-not
enough to kill.' II 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 in-
action which is brought about by natural
sleep is very different from that which is
produced BY paralysis OF any degree. The
Habit greatly helps ieoI tne pei1ofmauce or
| the initial act, and the cultivation OF habit
OF going to sleep in particular way, at
particular time, will do more to procure
regular and healthy sleep than any other
artiice. The formation OF the habit is, in
fact, the creation or development OF spe-
cial centre. OF combination, in the nervous
system which will henceforward produce
sleep as natural rhythmica1 process.
Ii this were more generally recognized,
persons who suffer from sleeplessness
of the sort which consists in being simply
" unable to go to sleep" would set them
selves resoIutely to form such habit. 1t is
necessary that the training should be spe-
cifc, and include attention to details. 1t is
not very important aohut a person does with
the intention of going to sleep; but be
| should do precisely the same thing, in the
same way, at the same time, and under as
nearly as possible the same conditions, night
| after night, for considerable period-say
three or four weeks at least. The result
will amply reward the effort.
The doctor remarks, very wisely, that
"sleep ought to be induced by instinct
acting in response to the sense of fatigue,
or in obedience to the impulse OF habit ;
but when the orderly performance OF a
natural process has been interrupted, it Is
difficult to restore the rhythmical sequence
OF cause and effect" As he truly remarks,
"the sufferings and discomfort OF those
who find the act OF going to sleep dlfhcuIt
Luduy w S~AA
from our point OF view, agree with the
opinion which DIR. Mortimer
expresses, "that it is mistake, and
tends to the formation OF mis-.
chievous habit of partial sleep, to seek
sleep as relief from trouble, worry,
or pain" He holds that we should
t seek relief both for the mind and the body
before sleep is sought, because elf this
, precsution be not taken the sleep induced
) will be only loss Of consciousness, or, per-
haps. automatic, muscular, or visceral; but
not natural and general sleep, which alone
, gives satisfactory repose." We content
! ourselves with asking whether cases are moi
! frequently arising in which the only chance
, apparently Of gaining relief from pain oi
3 body and mind is by obtaining first OF all 4
little sleep Of some kind? But we vii
quote from this really interesting little
book valuable passage:
7 POSITION AFFECTS SLEEP.
| A constrained or uncomfortable posture
will often prevent repose. Lying fiat on tht
back with the limbs relaxed would seem tt
secure the greatest amount OF rest for tht
: muscular system. This is the position as
; sumed in the most exhausting diseases, ane
. it is generally hailed as token of revlva
, when patiept voluntarily turns on tine
! side; but there are several disadvantagesir
, the supine posture which impair or embar
rass sleep. Thus, in weakly states o
the heart aud biood-vessels, and in certain
morbid conditions Of the brain, the blooc