The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-06-17
SIenr and Slecnlessness.

Too much sleep lsv very injurious IN ltS
effects. The whole nervous system be-
comes blunted so that the muscular
energy is enfeebled and the sensations
and moral and intellectual manifesto
tions are obtunded. All the bad effects
of inaction become developed The
functions are exerted with less energy,
the digestion is torpid, the execretions
are diminished while, in some instances,
the secretion of fat accumulates to All
inordinate extent The memory Is I'M
paired, the powers of imagination are
dormant and the mind falls into kind
of hebetude, chiefly because the tunc
tions of the intellect are not sufficiently
exel ted when sleep is too prolonged or
too often repeated. To sleeP much is
not necessarily to be a good sleeper
Generally they are ,he poorest sleepers
who remain longest in bed e., they
awaken less :efre he'd than if the time
of arising were earlier by an hour or
two. While it is true that children
and young people require NOR sleep
than their elders, yet it shou d be the
care of parents that over indulgence be
not permitted. Whatever over-stimu-
lates the circulation of the brain causes
imperfect sleep, if not absolute sleepless,
ness. Although sleep is a natural and
involuntary state, it may be greatly
promoted by maintaining good state oil
health; by daily open air exercise, or by
riding or sailing with the face exposed
to the air; by having the stomach free
from heavy meal or any indigestlble
substance, and by the mid being undiS
turbcd with cares. Over-fatigue, indul.
gcnce in food or drink beyond what
nature requires, want Of proper exercise,
mental disquietudc, are all causes OF
slceplessness Breathing i'll a confined
or overheated apartment is also a not
unusual cause of broken slumber. The
temperature most suitable for sleep Is
about sixty degrees, which gives the
sensation OF neither heat nor cold, and
admits of y moderate amount oil bed
clothes being used. The best posture OF
sleep is to be on the right or lett de,
with the arm crossed over the breast IN
front and the head well up OIL the pill
low. The mouth should be shut, so that
the breathing may be carried on excll-
sivcly through the nose. Some persons
acquire habit of sleeping with the
mouth open, which causes the grotesque
and offensive habit of snoring. Going
TO sleep while lying on the BACK should
be avoided; as, besides inducing the
sleeper to snore, it is apt to cause dis,
turbing dreams. 1t isa well-ascertalned
fact that sleep begins at the cxtremlties;
the feet sleep first, and then the rest oi
the person. On this account, in order
to fall asleep we require not only tc
compose the thinking faculties, but tc
keep the feet still. The feet must also
have an agreeable warmth.
A German physician of celebrity has
lately been investigating the subject OF
early rising, and has come to the con
clusion that, far from making mar
healthy, wealthy and wise, 1t ha'
quite the contrary effect, and 5horten
life instea'l of prolonging it. In th'
majority of cases which he has investi
gated the long livers have INDUCED ii
late hours, and at least eight out o
every ten persons who attained the ag'
of SO and upwards were in the habit o
not retiring to rest until the small hours
and remaining in bed until the day wa
far advanced. He has no doubt whateve
that early rising is Il most perniciou
habit for those who 60 to bed late; and
like Charles Lamb, thinks it better fo
everybody to delay getting up unit
the morning has had a chance to become
well aired.