The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1888-08-08
THE T. OF sLEEr.
Professor Lee Mrner. Gives q Reanmc
OF Eomo Points.

t.hafEHH "a SoAAV y OAltbs 4.f I4Hh Lt4
In al address to tho Anthropological
society Of Brussels, Professor Leo
Errera has given q resume OF some
points In the chemical Theory Of sleep.
The phenomena of sleep have in COM
mon with other vital functions the
character OF perlodiclty. An examine
ton Of such periodic functions in gen-
oral may aid in ascertaining tho cause
Of sleep. The respiratory rhythm is
regulated by tho amount Of oxygen and
carbonic acid in the arterial blood.
When the blood is charged with oxy-
gen The respiratory center momentarily
suspends activity; but soon the tissues
yield their oxygen to tho blood, have it
replaced 10y carbonic acid, ana the
blood thus modified acts us an excitant
to the respiratory center. Ranke has
shown that tho fatigue and recovery Of
muscles Is duo to a similar alienation
Of tho accumulation and discharge of
certain ''fatiguing substances,n chief
among which is Tactic acid. An injoc-
tion Of this acid into fresh muscle rem
ders it incapable Of work; washing the
acid out restores the activity.
Cannot sleep be explained by q SINH
lar chemical theory2 preyer has OK
tended the views Of Binz, Obersteiner
and others (who all agrco In making
the accumulation OF certain products Of
Observation-Disclosures cause Of
Sleep by calling all such fatiguing pro-
ducts, OF activity ''ponogens." These
accumulate in waking life, are readily
oxidieahlo, and absorb tho oxygen in
tended for glands, muscles and nerve
cellters until action is impossible and
sleep sets in. Gradually tho ponogens
are destroyed by oxidation, slight excl
tation is sufficient to arouse the cell
tors, and waking lifo begins. Among
the pullogons I'reyer counts lac tic acid
us tho chief, but the experimental de-
monstration Of this has been unsuccess-
full, and tic theory, accordingly, not
generally adopted.
Since these researches Armand Gau-
tier has found in the human body a
series Of five organic bases akin to crea-
tine, crcatinine and eXamthinn, and
calls them ''leucomaillcS'' and s.ptom-
aincs." Tho physiological properties
Of tiioso substances arc narcotic, fatigu-
ing and sometimes lead TO vomiting.
This is just what the chemical theory
requires. Tho periodicity Of sleep
would be explained by the conservation
of energy being applicable to all bodily
activity; work must be followed by re.
pair; life is IL slow suicide. There is,
moreover, reason to believe that the &C
ton Of these leucomaines is a direct one
upon the brain; it is a direct intoxica-
ton Of the brain ccntcrs.
a theory of sleep must take account
Of three factors - work, fatigue and
sleep. The chemical theory satisfies
these demands. All work, muscular or
cerebral, produces waste products.
These accumulate, make work more
and more difficult; these is fatigue.
AS the process continues, the waste pro-
ducts, notably the leucomaines, intoxi-
cate the higher nerve centers (ust as II
dose Of morphine does), and render
tllem incapable Of action; that is sleep.
The picture is, however, much more
complex. There is u constant struggle
against tho fatigue, which for a time,
by dint of hard work shown in incrcas-
ed secretions and $ on, may succeed.
We probably never arrive at the ex-
treme limit Of work; the sensation Of
fatigue i%nteryenes to prevent such a
disaster.
Fatigue, as is we'll known, may ex-
tend from muscle to nerve, and from
nerve to nerve center. we may be
very tired from repeatedly lifting a
weight, and not be sleep, and may be
generally sleepy without any consider
able local fatigue. One is poripheral,
the other central. AS the waste pro
ducts accumulate in tho centers, mo
ton and sensation become moro and
moro sluggish, until tho time comes
when tho ordinary stimulation no long
or arouscs them, and we sleep. Partial
sleep a be similarly explained. Tho
centers go to sleep in a hierarchical or
der, the highest serving the most deli
cate function going first. In waking,
the reverse is the case; the minor cen
tcrs may be asleep while the intellectual
centers are awake. In somnambulisn
the latter may be asleep while the form
CT are awake.
The depth Of sleep, according to this
theory, ought to be proportional TO the
number Of cortical molecules in som
bination with the leucomaines. In tile
beginning Of sleep these arc abundant,
the cerebral cells inactive, and a com
bination easy. The sleep is deep.
Soon the maximum number of combin.
atoms is reached and sleep is deepest.
From hero on, the leucomaines are
gradually eliminated and destroyed,
and sleep should decrease with q de-
crossing intensity. Kohlschlutter's ex-
periments on the intensity of sleep, as
tested by tho noise necessary to awake
the patient, gives the curve for tho in
tensity Of sleep corresponding to what
wo should expect by u theory. Vari.
atlons in our sleep, caused by an excess
or work, otc., arc evidently similarly
~oxplicablc. In short. fatigue is a poison
for which sleep is tho normal antidote,
This theory maintains a. that the
activity Of all the tissues land primarily
Of tho two most active, the nervous and
muscular) gives rise to substances more
OF less allied to alkaloids, the leuco.
maincs; ~ that these induce fatigue
and sleep; (3) that on waking, if the
body is rested, these substances have
disappeared.
~. -I-- Lr.LN H.IL