The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-24
How to Sleep.

How to Sleep.
Dr.. j. S. Jewell Of Chicago, says,
on the subject of sleep and its derange-
ments, in lecture recently delivered
in that city
Sleep is a subject Of much greater
portance than is generally accorded
1t. The average man passes one third
OF his life in sleep Without ever serious
" questioning himself as to what it
was or when it was best for him.
Sleep is an affection of the brain,
but what happened to the brain
when the owner fell asleep? Several
theoretical solutions to this problem
had been advanced. One theory was
that the brain actually wore itself out
to certain extent, lost certain fluids
which became converted into acids and
produced a sort of numbness to the
brain. Another theory was that when
sleep came on the brain lost it's supply
of blood, and from that cause ceased
to act, being more or less turgid with
blood when in action. In other words,
when a person ceases to think, the
brain of that person ceased to be sup
Piled with blood, and sleep was the
result. The brain became worn and
irritated by use just as a muscle did;
that this Irritation acted upon a set of
nerve fbres leading to the base of the
brain, which, in turn, acted upon cell
mechanism through which the brain
was supplied with blood, thereby cut
ting off the supply Of blood and pro-
ducing what was called anemia,'' or
sleep. Epilepsy was only a sudden
and violent form of anemia. Faint
ing fits were caused by the heart re-
fusing to act vigorously enough to sup
ply the brain with sufficient blood to
keep up consciousness. It being the
case, then, that wakefulness was caus-
ed by the brain being supplied with
blood, sleep could often be produced
by pressing upon the arteries at the
back of the neck, through which the
brain received it's supply. Some peo-
pie could sleep while sitting up and not
while lying down. The reason for
this could be found in the fact that
the blood found it's way to the brain
easier in the latter instance. When a
person awakened in the middle of the
night and could not get to sleep again,
that person should get up friction,
and consequent circulation. upon the
outer surface of the body by means Of
flesh brush, and should stir about
the room for while, and bolster up
the pillows before retiring again. All
Of this would have tendency to draw
the blood from the brain. Sleepless-
ness was caused by exciting the mind
in some way,-by reading an exciting
story just before retiring, by drinking
tea or coffee or some other stimulant.
Sleeplessness was also caused by a
person retiring with the lower extrem-
| tiles cold and the head and upper por-
ton of the body warm, thus allowing
the brain too much blood, and, there
| fore, undue eXcitatiOn. A hot foot
bath would overcome this difficulty by
restoring the equilibrium ofthe nerv-
Gus system as regulated by the blood.
An exceedingly irritable brain should
be overcome to sleep by the use of
choral Or some of the bromides to
| deaden the nerve sensibilities. The
bromides were the best remedy, be-
cause they were harmless and not like
| ly to create a habit OF being regularly
taken, which was not the case with
opium or morphine. That sleep was
absolutely essential to a healthy brain
every one knew. If the brain did not
get enough rest in this way it would
surely become deranged to a greater
or less degree. Dreams were explain
ed in this way: The brain was divid-
ed into distinct territories, each with
it's canal for blood supply entirely sep
arated from one to another. It was
possible for one or more of these ca
nails to become open, and at once the
territory or territories Of the brain to
| which the blood was allowed access
commenced to act. The other terrific
ries were in an anemic state, or
asleep.
In answer to the question, Is it
unhealthy for a child to sleep with an
old person, does the latter draw upon
the vitality Of the other?'' the Doctor
answered. ''No." He also thought it
was only a notion that it was better
for person to sleep with the head to
the north.