Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-04-04
SLEEP AND DREAMS.


~ {, 's = - I'D JNs SOL
cncn has done but little to explain TT
1t y, III fact. !; condition Of body and
mind which It is difficult to explore.
The selfcxplorcr can do so only when
~ state Of nnconscipusness: and
that IS not exploration, but an attempt
At psychic study from tile camera Of
memory. But how do we know that
memory is Trustworthy when all orr
mental faculties are more OF less
Gagged behind the dark and mysterious
bars Of somnolence? If we attempt to
study the phenomena Of dreams from
observation of a sleeper, we can Judge
OF nothing within but by the external
indications. 1t is obvious these offer
meagre data for the study of the hu-
man mind while the brain is in its
lettargic stale but by repeated obser-
yatlons and long continued study and
record Of personal experiences the sci
enlist OF to-day begins to outline,
though dlnly, something Ike ration
al diagnosis Of mind phenomena. Al
glance at nature shows us that sleeps
rs very Common feature Of both the
animal and plant organisms. AS a
rule the functions of plant life are
more or less suspended during the
nighttime, and are more active in the
daytime. Without stopping to trace
this phenomenon for illustration in all
lof its details we hasten to the concln-
sion that these stated periods Of rest
IN plant life are due 10 purely physical
causes. Unless we are willing to ac-
cept the doctrine Of Quesne that there.
is fluid universally dfinsed and
equally anlmating ali living beings,
tile difference in their actions being
due 10 tic difference of the individual
or anlza,ions; and unless we go Le
yohd even the theory Of psycIism and
maintain that the fluid permcates
plant life also. we can hardly cut
loose from the conclusion that the be.
mod of rest or sleep in plant life, bath
as regards the seasons and the divis
ion Of day d night, rests solely Oh
physical economies. Bat hnw is il
when we come to consider sleep in its
relations Ia animal life? In the lower
order Of the animal organization sleer
is not SO distinctly marked from the
pc. lodS of wakcfuness. Many ani
mails rest regardless Of day or night
as, after feeding, or fatigue or Other
causes In warm-blood animals s!eer
is more the creature of periodicity
1t Is, however, III its relation Ia mar
that the phenomena OF sleep HIS III
greatest interest. Can We here, as il
plant HE, attribute the habit of rest
ing at stated periods. to purely phys
ical causes? What is il that rests? !.
it the substance that composcs tn,
brain; the nerves and vital forces, 81
is it that higher element that we ter.r
the mind or the soul? In specializing
upon this phase of the question W.
cannot ship anchor and sail ava,
from the physical surroundings.
A writer in the March humber o
the International Rerie.u thus beautiful
ly describes how man falls asleep:
I'VE are conscious that the frs
step EDWARDS towards the abyss j,
marked by the loss of will. This vii
this power TO order the actions q
mind and body-slowly floats away
from us as a vapo.' before the wind
aud leaves the powers of the mind anc
body, though still active, less anC
less under our command. As lht
shadow deepens the doors Of the cham
bels of thou hit are closed, one hy one
until the busy house of the mind be
comes silent The first faculties o
the mind To he settled are those which
have been last acduirrd bv the mind