The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-05-01

Causes and Cure Of Insomnia Sleep
Walking, etc.

SLEEP AND sIEEPIEssNEss.
Causes ana Cure Of Insomnia Sleep
Walking, etc.
DIR. Henry Gibbons, Jr., Dean of the
College Faculty at San Francisco, lately
delivered lecture on this subject. He
began by saying that a definition of
sleep is not easily given. Poets have
ikened it to death. The latter is the
permanent cessation of all the functions;
sleep is the temporary suspension and
cessation of all the faculties. Notice
that total suspension of all the facul
ties is not necessary. It has been said
that the mind never rests. Dreams are
frequent in sleep. Portions of the body,
when person begins to go to sleep,
suspend action one by one, and then
the brain is effected. First the vision
begins to become dimmed, and then the
senses cease one after another In sleep,
the forces of the body are not wasted !;
they are recuperated.
Persons often sleep regardless of ef-
fort; they sink down from sheer ex-
haustion. The speaker cited number
of historical instances when men in re-
sponsible positions, as gunner at his
post, have been known to drop down
from exhaustion and serenely sleep,
amid the roar of battle and the carnage
going on about them.
i: Sleep is for the mind what rest is for
the body. Sleeplessness is an indica-
ton of the need of sleep and the warn
ing of the heavy closing Of the eyelids
should not be neglected.
Sleep is matter of habit. To per-
son in the habit of sleeping in the day
it is with difficulty that sleep is obtained
at night. There is no doubt that night
is the proper time for sleep. Darkness
and quiet all tend to make this the pc
riod Of rest. In regard to time for sleep
at night, an old proverb has said that
one hour before midnight is worth two
hours afterward. The habit of chang
ing night into day, as is the increasing
custom so much among certain classes
in our large cities, is to be regretted.
In regard to the amount of sleep
necessary, it differs according to age
and constitutional condition of the per-
son. The infant sleeps the greater part
of the time. Sleeping and nursing are
the principal occupations of the normal
and healthy babe. The more they
sleep the better they thrive.
In middle life, when: constitutional
vigor is the greatest, the need of sleep
is at its minimum. To great extent
the amount ofsleep is matter of habit.
The strong and healthy need less than
the delicate. For students celebrated
professor recommended nine hours
sleep. Brain workers require more
than others.
In contrast to these are the historic
records Of the lives Of Napoleon,
Frederick the great and Jeremy Taylor.
Of the first-named it was related that
he slept when he pleased, and the last
never slept more than three hours at a
stretch. Lord Brougham used to go to
bed on Saturday, after an intellectual
siege in parliament, and not get up
again until the following Monday. An
old poem recommended in rhyme seven
hours for books and studies, seven for
sleep, ten for the world, and all for
heaven.
Experiments of great scientists have
proved that during sleep the blood sup.
ply of the brainis diminished. Some
have gone so far as to argue that sleep
was the direct cause of this diminution.
The question Of waking is almost
equally knotty with that of going to
sleep. Habit here has much to do, for
it is known that person awakes at d
certain hour usually, regardless of the
time of retiring.
The speaker, in connection with the
subject, devoted with considerable
thought to the theory Of dreams. In
ancient times dreams and visions were
deemed Of the greatest Importance.
It is not too broad an assertion to
say that all dreams are the direct Sc
quence of actual events, and depend
upon them. This is, Of course, contrary
to the theory of some, who treat of
dreams as an ideal thing. At this
day, it is of course impossible for peo-
pie to regard dreams in their super
natural connection The dreams of a
great gourmand were of large dining
table, laden with the choicest of food
and drink. In dreams the memory is
soften active and recalls long forgotten
things. It would seem that from the
lethargy of the other senses, the men,
DRY had the broader scope and the
wider field for exploration among the
records of the thoughts of the past.
Important work is often done during
sleep; great mathematicians have often
solved problems and poets composed
beautiful odes, Which were committed
to paper on awakening. It is no doubt
that in many of these cases the sleep
was not sleep, but only doing or
resting-a half-sleeping. Sir Walter
Scott used to consider the first half
hour after waking the most favorable
for the best intellectual work. Some
Of the most intricate of his plots and
choicest passages in his unsurpassed
poems were originated at these times.
Dreams may also be caused by exter
nal Objects; a jug of water at mans
feet has made him dream he was walk
ing on a volcano.
Morbid dreams often produce insan-
ity. In acute fevers, dreams are of a
frightful character. Nightmare is
usually accompanied by suffocation: it
seems often that an animal is on the
chest, hence the name sleep
walking was referred to; Il
sleep walker is one who acts his dreams.
In somnambulists, most of the senses
are in allegiance. He often hears and
sees things to which his attention is
called. The action Of the will and judg
ment are suspended. Sleep walkers
often accomplish Wonderful feats. 1t
is the concentration of thought that en-
ables them to do this: Possible dam
gers are not seen, and so are unknown.
A prominent cause of insomnia or
sleeplessness is mental disquietude. In
laborious mental actions, the tempera-
ture of the head is greatly raised.
Chronic and functional disorders, chief
~ of the heart and stomach, induce
wakefulness. Other factors are cold
feet and Incorporate use of certain food
or drink, as tea or coffee. AS sleepless-
ness is the cause Of disorders Of the body,
so sleep is factor Of health. The best
methods of securing sleep were consid-
cred. Physical exercise will induce
sleep, not physical fatigue, which will
often cause wakefulness. A brisk walk
before going to bed will usually insure
sound slmuber. The mind should be di-
verified as much as possible before retir-
ing by i>ely company and conversation.
A hearty meal before going to bed was
not advised, although hunger will pre-:
vent sleep. a light repast was suggest
ed, bread and butter, milk or oysters.
not mince pie or plum pudding. The
haal sllnIll lan knnt cool Int the fnnh