Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-11
CHAPTER ON SLEEP.

Natural Sleep the Most Perfect
That Produced by Narcotics Nere-
~ u Temporary Paralysis-Habis
and PoSltiOn in Sleep.
IFrom an English Review Of Mortimer Gran
ville's Work on Sleep and Bieeplessness."
The most perfect and refreshing-in word.
natural-sleep is that which combines the
orderly and active life Will establish, by a con-
stltutionally equal distribution Of work. 10 Sing
to the comparative powers OF the several parts
food supply and the measure OF strength each
department OF the mental and physical organ
ism OF the individual enjoys. This wise adsp-
tation OF work to the different energies 80 that
each shall tighten the task and contribute 70
the efficiency OF the Others is duty to self
which every step forward in the march Of intel
lect and progress OF civilization seems to make
1t Increasingly difficult to discharge.
To sum up, sleep is rhythmical function of
life. 1t is performed by the nervous system,
either through single center or by the sew
eial centers connected 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 regu-
late the work OF the viscera. believe the sym
pathetic system play Conspicuous part in the
production OF the phenomenon, and this is why
the due performance Of the function is so re id-
lily prevented as it is by dlSOrderly action In
almost any part Of the body, even when there
Is no sensation OF pain or OF uneasiness at the
seat OF the disturbance. People who do not
sleep well and regularly are peculiarly liable to
functional disorders; and, conversely, those
who are subject o the anomalous maladle5 and
symptoms too often set down to fancy, but ac-
tually existing and traceable with care to some
special ganglOn Of the sympathetic system (for
example. uneaslness In the pit OF the stomach
or aching pain in the low lumbar region OF the
sp1ne), are disturbed or disorderly sleepers.
Sleep Is nerve state, whether the part Sleep
Ing be the brain or certain parts OF the organ,
The muscular system or the viscera. Toe mod
ifcattons which take place in the vessels sup
plying the organ or system that sleeps are the
efects or consequences. instead Of the causes,
IL us col dition.
The author devotes chapter to the subject
Of going to sleep, and considers here the use OF
narcotics for the purpose of inducing 1t, o.
sleep, but condition OF narcotiSm that coua-
1erfelts eep," adding, "When man says 4
want a quiet night; 1 will take q sleeping
the facts plainly he should say, l want quiet
night; I can not obtain it by going to sleep. or
l am afraid to trust to the chances Of natural
rest SO will poison myself little, just enough
to make me unconscious or slightly paralyze
my Ierve.centers, not enough to kill II this
fact should be kept clearly before the mind
that mocks sleep would be limited The state
of tnactton which is brought abont by natural
sleepis very different from that which Is pro-
dueed by paralysis Of any degree. The follow
Habit greatly helps the performance OF the
initial act, and the cultivation OF a habit OF
going to sleep In particular way, at a particu-
lar time, will do more In procuring regular and
healthy sleep than any other practice. The
formation OF the habit is, in fact, the creation
or development OF special center or comblna.
tion in the nervous system, which viii hence
forward produce sleep as natural rhythnical
process. If this were more generally recog-
the sort which consists in being simply sun
able to 60 to sleep' would set themselves reso-
lutely to form such habit. 1t Is necessary
That the training should be SPECIFIC, and In
portant what person does with the Intention
Of going to sleep; but he should do precisely
the same thing In the same way, at the same
time, ard 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 re.
Spouse to tie sense OF fatigue or In obedience
to the Impulse OF habit; but when the orderly
terrupted, it is difficult to restore the rhythm-
cal sequence of cause and effect" AS he truly
remarks, 1.-The suffertngs and discomfort
cult, are many and various" We can hardly
frcm our point Of view, agree with the opinion
which DR.: Mortimer. Granville expresses, tina
at is mistake, and tends to the mischievou
habit OF partial sleep, to seek sleep as relie
from trouble, worry or pain" He holds tina
we should seek relief both for the mind AID
pIecaution be not taken, the sleep induced will
be only loss OF consciousness, or, perhaps, au-
tomato, muscular or visceral; but not natural
ard general sleep, which alone gives general
repose." We content ourselves with asking
whether cases are not frequently arising In
which the only chance apparently Of gaining
tanning, first OF all, little sleep of some kind!
But we will quote from this really interesting
little book valuable passage:
A constrained or uncomfortable posture will
often prevent repose. Lying fiat on the back
with the limbs relaxed, would seem to secure
the greatest amount Of rest for the muscular
| most exhausting diseases, and is generally
hailed as token Of revival when patient
voluntarily turns on the side; but there are
several disadvantages in the supine posture
which impair or embarraSs sleep. THUS In
weakly states OF the heart and blood vessels,
and In certain morbid conditions of the BRAIN
head, and to produce troublesome dreams. IL
persons who nabitually, in the gait or work,
stoop there is probably some distress conse,
have contracted chests Especially persons who
have had pleur1sy, and retain adhesons OF the
lungs, do not sleep well on the back. Nearly
that position, because the soft palate and uvula
hang on the tongue, and that organ falls back
SO as to partially close the top Of the wtndpipe
the absence Of special chest diseases, render
ing it desirable to lie on the weak side, so as to
leave the healthy lung free to expand, 1t is well
body is thus placed the food gravitateS more
easily out Of the stomach into the intestines,
and the weight OF the liver does not compress
the upper portion Of the tntestines. glance
at any plate Of the viSceral anatomy will show
how this must be. Many persons are deaf in
one ear. and prefer to be on particular side;
but, If possible, the right side should be chosen
and the body rolled little forward, so that
any saliva which may be secreted shall run
easily out OF the mouth, II not unconscioHsly
swallowed. Again, sleeping with the arms
thrown over the head is to be deprecated; but
this position is often assumed during sleep, be-
cause circulation is then free in the extrenlties
and the head and neck, and the muscles Of the
chest are drawn up and fixed by the shoulders,
and thus the expansion Of the thorax is easy.
The Chief objections to this position are that it
creates tendency to cramp and cold in the
arms and sometimes seems to cause headaches
during sleep and dreams. These small matters
often make or mar comfort In sleeping.
ESmail'S Avarice and TeWfik,s
Economy.
Ismails sole passion was for boarding, and
curious anecdotes are current on the subject
out Of AZ table services dating back to Said
Pasha, and some Of them of massive gold set
with precious stones, he has taken away Al,
and when the parsonage have mentioned, on
being invited TO breakfast by Tewt1k, remarked
that his table service was Incomplete, TeWflk