Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-07-04
HOW PEOPLE SLEEP.
Some Interesting Dream Statistics
Cleaned by a Russian Universe

/ Cleaned by a Russian Univers-
| ity.
1 An interesting investigation upon
the above subject has recently been
made under the auspices OF the Uni
versity OF Dorpat, Russia, says the
Boston Medical journal. Some 500
circulars were sent out with series OF
quite definite questions, which wero
answered with equal detail by ISL
students, lib other males, 142 females.
The results for the two sexes were 40
different that they demand separation.
while the students formed a homogene-
GUS class interesting us q special
study. Tho first problem that was pro-
posed was the relation between the
frequency and the viyidnes3 OF dreams.
1t appears that 62.5 per cont OF those
who dream every night dream wildly,
I 600 per cent of those who dream fire.
quently, and only 26.S per cent OF those
who dream seldom, showing that the
vividness of dreams increase very rap
idly with their frequency. Next, bow
is the intensity Of sleep related to tho
frequency of drcamso OF the students
/ who dream nightly 6S per cent have
light sleep (and only 2S per cent have
II deep Sleep; Of those dreaming fire.
quently, 40 per cent; OF those dream
| ing seldom, 1928 per cent. Similar
percentages for the other males are
G3.S, 42.1, and 1913, and for women
! Y. i6 and so per cent We conclude,
| then, that frequent dreams are con-
comitant OF light sleep, though the
relation is far from universal. AS re-
CARDS sex, women have 70 per cent of
their number dream ing nightly or fire.
quently, while students have only 80
per cent, and other males 4S per cent.
Again, 63 per cent of the women sleep
lightly, and only AZ per cent Of
students, and Al per cent of other
males. We conclude, then, that
women have very much lighter
sleep than men, and that their dreams
are proportionately more frequent.
Another conclusion, the evidence of
which is too detailed to present, is that
rs we grow older our dreams become
less frequent, but our sleep becomes
lighter; age affecting the intensity Of
sleep more than the frequency Of
| dreams.
The author regards the student as in
the period If maximum dreaming GO
to II years of age). The deep sleep of
childhood (hostile to frequency of
dreamS) is then least counter-balanced
by the lcssening of dreams due to age.
The vividneSs of dreams shows SINH
lar relation to age and sex; the women
dream most wildly; the students, being
| younger than the other men, have
more vivid dreams. The power of re-
membering dreams is also dependent
on vividncss and frequency Of dream
ing; it is accordingly greatest in wo-
men, AMI greater in students than in
more mature men. The liveliness OF
the emotional nature, a prominent
| feature Of women and youth seems thus
to be marked ont as the caustic agent
in the production of dreams. The dura-
ton of sleep should naturally be related
to the habit OF dreaming, but in the
men no such relation can be discovered.
In the women, however, it appears that
those who dream frequently sleep an
hour longer than those who seldom
dream. This difference is regarded as
due to the fact that men are moro unr
| der duty to break short their sleep and
thus vitiate the statistics. This is cor
roborated by the frequency with which
the men who dream frequently declare
themselves tired in the morning, indi-
eating incomplete sleep.
The need of sleep is greater in wo-
men than in men; the duration of sleep
being longer and the percentage of
tired morning and evening and of not
tired being 3 to , and ? to } respective
~ as compared with the men. Stu
dents sleep longer and are less tired
than other men. The time needed to
fall asleep is about the same in all
threo clas5o3-2l0 minutes for the
mon, III minutes for students, and
PIP minutes for tae women. In each
ease, however, il / 'keS longer for
those who arc frequent dreameps and
light Shoppers to fal, a5leop than per-
sons of opposite characteristics.
Eighty per cent OF students sleep I'M
interruptedly through the night, 70
per cent of Othermon. and only 43 per
, cent of women. Light sleep and
/ frequent dreams increase the inter-
ruptel nc5s of sleep. The power of
falling asleep at will is possessed by
t few. 1t is greater in youth than in
: age. Twenty-eight per cent OF wea,
, IS por cent of students, and 20 pei
, cent of women sleep in the afternoon,
indicating a making up OF insufficient
I sleep on the part OF men.
Tho effect of dream h bits upon
t mental work is also evident. Those
: who dream seldom, or sleep deeply, are
, better disposed for work in the fore
a room than light sleepers and frequen
4 Greamers. The forenoon seems IL
ganeral 10 be the prefepred time g
york. The STATISTICS regarding merry;
BUSINESS confirm the accepted fact tina
} this Is greater among women thar
a men. 1t is greater among student
n than other men at large. 1t is, too, {
t concomitant OF light sleep and frequen
G dreams. AS to temperament, thu
d phlegmatic people are quite constant,
i aeep sleeR2rs ana infrequeEt dreamers
Finally, a contrast between teacher
t and professors of the same average
5 age shows. the effect OF the ooeupa
= ton. The teacher, with his daily toll
r has alighter sleep and more frequen
:, dreams, while the professor, leading
q comparatively congenial and worriles
. life, is n deeper sleeper and less fire
: quent dreamer (hap the teacher.
r -.