Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-09
HOW PEOPLE SLEEP.
Some Interesting Dream Statistics
Cleaned by a Russian University.

From the Boston Medical Journal.
An interesting investigation upon the above
subject has recently been made under the aus
pices Of the University Of Dorpat, Russia
Some 500 circulars were sent out with q series
OF quite definite questions. which were answered
with equal detail by Isl students, i13 other
males, l42 females. The results for the two
sexes were 80 different that they demand
separation, while the students formed a homo
geneous class interesting as a special study.
The hrst problem that was proposed was the
relation between the frequency and the vivid
ness Of dreams. IL appears that 62-5 per cent
OF those who dream every night dream wildly,
CO.'S per cent Of those who dream frequently.
and only 26.s per cent of those who dream
seldom, showing that the vividness Of dreams
increases very rapidly with their frequency
Next, how is the intensity Of sleep related 20
the frequency Of dreams? OF the students
who dream nightly 6S per cent have a light
sleep (aud only 2s per cent have q deep sleep);
OF those dreaming frequently. 40 per cent; Of
those dreaming seldom, S2.s per cent Similar
percentages for the other males are 6sS, IL
and SO. and for women, a. As and SO per cent
We conclude, then. that frequent dreams are q
concomitant Of light sleep. though the relaxa-
ton Is far from universal As regards sex
women have 70 per cent of their number dream
lis nightly or frequently, while students have
ohA. JV per cent ana Otler males - per cent.
Again. 63 per cent OF the women sleep lightly
and only AZ per cent of student. and "A 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 at present, is that as We grow older
our dreams become less frequent, but our sleep
becomes lighter, age affecting intensity OF
sleep more than frequency of dreams
The author regards the students as IN the
period maximum Of dreaming twenty 20
twenty-four years of age.) The deep sleep OF
chlldhood hostile to frequency OF dreams) Is
then least counterbalanced by the lessenine of
dreams due 10 age. The vividness of dreams
shows similar 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 remembering dreams is
also dependent upon vividness and frequency of
dreaming; It is accordingly greatest in
in more mature men. The liveliness
OF the emotional nature, prom
inent feature OF women and youth, seems thus
To be marked out rs the causative agent in the
production of dreams. The duration 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 il ap-
pears that those who dream frequently sleep
nearly an hour longer than those who seldom
dream. This difference is regarded as due 20
break short their sleep and thus vitiate the
statistics. This is corroborated by the fire.
quency with which the men who dream fire.
qIently declare themselves tired in the MORN
ing, indicating incomplete sleep.
The need OF sleep is greater in women than
IN men, the duration of sleep being longer and
the percentage of tired morning and evening
and OF not tired being TO 2 and TO 8 respec-
lively as compared TO the men. Students sleep
longer and are less tired than other men. The
m 10 Call IL. Al.
all three classes-20.s minutes for the men, III
minutes for students, and 2l.2 minutes for the
women. In each case, however. ii takes longer
Tor those who are frequent dreamers and light
sleepers to fall asleep than persons Of opposite
characteristics. Eighty per cent of students
sleep uninterruptedly through the night, 20 per
cent of other men, and only 43 per cent of
women. Light sleep and frequent dreams in
crease the lnterruptedness of sleep. The power
OF falling asleep at will is possessed by few. Ii
is greater in youth than in age. Twenty-eight
per cent of men, 10 per cent Of students, and 20
per cent OF women sleep in the afternoon. indi-
eating making up of insufficient sleep on the
part of the men.
The effect Of dream habits upon mental
work is also evident. Those who dream sell
dom, or sleep deeply, are better disposed for
work in the forenoon than light sleepers and
frequent dreamers. The forenoon seems in
general to be the preferred time of work The
statistics regarding nervousness confirm the
accepted fact that this is greater among stu
dents than other men at large. 1t is, too, q
concomitant of light sleep and frequent
dreams. As to temperament the phlegmatic
people are quite constantly deep sleepers and
infrequent dreamers Finally, a contrast be-
tween teachers and professors Of the same
average age shows the effect of the occupation.
The teacher, with his daily toll, has a lighter
sleep and more frequent dreams while the pro-
fessor, leading a comparatively congenial and
worthless life, is deeper sleeper and q less
frequent dreamer than the teacher