The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-05
SLEEP AND DEATH.
The Relationship Between the Two Con-
ditiOns of Inconsistencies.

| The Relationship Between the Two Con-
| ditions of Inconsistencies.
The relationship between sleep, ''the
cousin of DEATH" and death itself, is
probably real as well as apparent. The
distance which separates them is great,
but there are intermediate connections.
grades of dissolution as of development.
Among these the similar states of trance
and Information are worthy of special
notice. For sleep and for trance, one
cause, the exhaustion chiefly of the
nervous matter, but more or less of
every organ and tissue, is assignable.
The hysterical stupor is the sleep of
nerve centers worn out with the assault
and conflict of stormy reflex action.
| Healthy sleep is the rest of physical ele
ments wearied with the same strain ap-
piled more gradually.
Cases have been recorded in which
somnolence, continuing for days with
out cessation, has resembled trance in
its duration. while preserving all the
ordinary features of natural sleep.
Various facts support us in associating
the Information of animals with the
same train of organic or functional
changes as the other unconscious states
which we have been considering. 1t
comes like a habit; it has, one may
say, annual return; its apparent cause
is the oppression of external cold,
and the animals it affects are
mostly those which, from their bodily
structure or habits, are subject to great
periodic variations of temperature.
Vital tissue is exhausted and function
is in part suspended. probably because
the numbness of cold has taken hold
upon the radicles of the outward circu-
lation, and of that of the brain surface
which is connected with it by numerous
anastomosas. In such a case an2mia
would seem to be the cause of the winter
sleep, as there is evidence to show that
it is also the cause of that temporary
starvation of brain which lulls without
arresting its action in the natural repose
of each night.
We may even regard the lethargy,
ended by death. into which man falls
when exposed to great cold, as q short
and mortal Information. The same
influence acts upon him as upon the
bear or fish; but the power of its shock
is greater on his finer and less ac-
customed senses than on their COM
paratively coarse organization. Solike
wise in other regions and forms of life,
in the WEAKNESS, paralysis, atrophy and
gangrene of limbs, in the leafiess hiber-
nation of trees, and in their decay, be-
ginning in the terminal twigs, the same
teaching is evident. that vascular
nutrition. in its periodic variations, is
the parent of activity and of rest. as its
absence is of death. 1t is not. there
fore, altogether surprising to meet with
occasional instances in which death is
simulated b. some deep degree of
stupor.
The case of George Childet laborer,
living at Bridgewater. which was lately
recorded in the daily papers, appears to
have been one of this kind. The
trancelike state developed quite sudden
ly, and was mistaken by the relatives
for death. Some slight degree of
warmth in the apparent corpse induced
the clergyman in attendance to refuse
burial in spite of the decided wish of
the relatives that it should take place.
After eight days the signs of animation
were re-established, and the subject of
this singular experience slowly recov-
cred. In all such cases there is an
element of mystery; and one can not
always decide how much of this is due
to physiological or pathological condi-
tons. or to some external agency. We
are not informed of the antecedents in the
present instance. and can not say how
much hard work, under-feeding anx-
ietv or other causes NAV have had to do
with the result The state described,
if really one of trance, affords striking
example of the difficulty which some
times, though very rarely, arises in
proving the final point in diagnosis,
and a warning that the most trivial
signs of vitality should not be over
looked in determining the fact of death.
British Medical Journal.