The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-11-19
The Science OF sleep.

discussed in the British Medical
Journal. Each successive grada.
tiOn in sleep is marked by the in
| clusion OF a nervous system, which
il for The time being shut off, so to
speak, from participating in the
general life function of the individ-
ual until, when the maximum inten-
! sity is attained, nothing is LETT but
the purely auimal--one might al
most say the yegetative-life. Sleep
OF this degree OF intensity, although.
a perfectly normal process, is not,
in health, of long duration. After
the hpse of a variable space of
time tho systems one by one resume
their functions, until finally the sum
OF perception brings abont the cou-
ditionsot awakening. AS a natural
consequence OF these variations in
perceptive powers, the character of
the sleep is altered according to the
period. From the deep uuconsci.
BUSINESS of complete repose, wheD
every sense is allegiance and the will
rendered nutatOry, the cerebrum is
gradually aroused, frst to the dim
appreciation of the influences of
external agencies, followed IN due
course by a return OF perceptive
power in the censorium and the
cessation Of sleep. The brain shares
in the need, which is everywhere
apparent, of periods of rest. Tho
products of cerebral activity ac-
cumulate more rapidly than they
are eliminated, and a period there.
fore arrives when the tissues are no
longer able to do their work. The
result is an invinclble feeling of
indispoSition to exertion, physical
or mental. The temporary and in
voluntary cessation of activity is at
once followed by diminution of
the blood supply; the anemia so
induced being, therefore, a conse.
quence, and not cause, of the state
of repose. The various parts of
the nervous system are not all in-
volved simultaneously are to the
same extent. The centres govern
ing voluntary movement are the
first to be affected, as seen in the
nodding of the head aud the clos
ure of the eyelids; and the body,
if not prevented, tends to assume
the position of repose determined
by the laws OF gravity. The special
senses soon follow; but here, again
they are not abrogated en- masse.
Sight is tue first to go, the stimulus
10 longer reaching that portion of
,he cerebrum. where it can give
Use to defite sensation even
where the closure of the lids has
lot shut off external stimuli alto
altogether. Hearing and smell are
'emarkably persistent, and, except
n the deepest sleep, may be said
o be only dulled, aud not exliu-
guished. Every one ia familiar
With the case with which sleep is
,ut an end to bv unaccustomed
lOise even OF slightest intensity, OV
better still, by the cessation of any
nOnOtOnous sound, as for instance,
he awakening of travellers by rail
II steamboat on any stoppage of the
rain or machinery. Instances are
N record, too, where the inhabi-
ants of house have been reused
imply by the smell OF tobacco in
.ulged in by inexperienced or in.
autious burglars. The persistent
OF these senses may to
ONE extent be accounted for by
be fact that they arc not shut of
'Om communication with the out.
Ide world, as are, for example, the
yes. To allow sleep, or at any
ate, quiet sleep, u certain harmony
lust exist in the condition OF all
he organs, which must, so to speak,
. tuned to the sleep tone. If one
gan be in state of activity, or
a the other hand, its condition be
Onormal in some other way, the
snsorium refuses to abdicate its
)ntrol. This is familiar to us iD
10 case of cerebral activity, or cold
et at bed time, both being mimic
to sleep. Inasmuch, therefore,
} insomnia may result IRON either
t OF causes, we eau either employ
rugs, such as opium, which act
lrectly on the nerve centres, and
bring about sleep; or we may
'sOrt to medicines like hyphone,
hich is said to favor sleep, rather
ian induce it, by allowing the ir-
table or hyper-esthetic condition
certain organs or parts.