Nevada County picayune., 1889-10-23
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited by GEO. A. GARDNER.
SLEEP

the animal system, Tn wnlch there Is a partial suspension of nervous and muscular activity, necessary for the reparation of the vital powers. The degree of rest is more or less pro- found, according to the condition of the sleeper. If health and digestion are in a normal state, then it will be sound and refreshing; on the con- trary, If disturbing influences have produced an abnormal state, the re- pose will be proportionately inter- rupted and unsatisfactory. Dreams during sleep, as a general rule, indi- cate an abnormal condition of the mind or body. Perhaps pleasant and agreeable dreams constitute an ex- ception to this rule.
 It is strange what vast amount of error and ignorance prevail among the masses of people on this line. How to account for 1t is problem that may we'll tax the most acute mind. When we remember that about one-third of our life is taken up in sleep; that stated and regularly recurring periods of repose are ab- solutely essential to the preservation of health and the prolongatlon of life; and that too much or too little sleep is destructive of health, and tends not only to the impairment of the bodily strength, but also to the derangement of the mind. When all these things are taken into consider ation, it is wonderful what indiffer- ence and thoughtlessness prevail on this important subject. The law of temperance applies with as much force to sleep as to eating and drink ing, or anything else, and Its viola tions will meet with inevitable pun 1 ishment.
 Probably by far the greater part of the human family sleep too much, while only a small number go to the opposite extreme. What are the pre- else effects of these antipodal infrac- tions of the law of temperance, no one can tell with infallible accuracy, but at the same time they are evil, and evil continually. It is the opin- ion of the highest medical authori- ties that insanity ,.or mental derange- ment, is the result of protracted loss of accustomed rest, and 1t Is thought by some that various nervous disor- ders are the result of excessive sleep. However this may be, each one can determine with accuracy the amount of sleep necessary for his or her health.
 The universal consensus of the medical world has fixed the length of the period necessary for repose at from six to eight hours; but at the some time it must be confessed that no universal rule can be estab- lished that will fit all cases. The temperaments, the occupations of life, and the physical and mental conditions, all exert modylng ln- fiuence on the amount of sleep re- quired. As general rule, the ner- vous temperament requires more sleep, while the phlegmatic requires less. In this matter, however, each person must be a rule to himself. Even when rule is adopted, a change in the habits may necessitate variations from the rule. A person accustomed to a scdentary life may find it necessary to engage in more active and laborious employments for a season. in which case it will be- come necessary to take q longer pe- riod of rest
 But in order to secure the most perfect and refreshing sleep, and to facilitate the observance of any rule, it will be found best never to retire for rest until you feel like it. No one ought ever to court sleep, any more than you would an appetite to eat--it should come at the bidding of tired nature. Aperson should no more attempt to sleep when they do not feel like it than to eat when they have no appetite for it. If you find upon careful observation as to the general average of sleep required for vour health, that it takes seven hours, then you ought by all means to take that amount-no more, no less. If you take less for any considerable length of time you are liable to drift into insanity; if you take more, you are liable to nervous attacks. My own opinion is that seven hours sleep is a good general average for the hu- man family-at least this is probably enough for men, while women ? q haps require eight.
 Solomon says, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. And who knows but that the love of sleep, and over-indulgence in this respect are the fruitful sources of a vast amount of the poverty which abounds in the worId? Sleep is a great bless ing, btN like any other blessing 1t may be abused. The bread and meat we eat to sustain life are great blessings, but when they are used to ..1,, Fgkp Anh n n