Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-08-09
THE BRAIN IN SLEEP.
Dreams Are Not Altogether Limited to
Plays of Fancy.

mays L FANCY.
Sleep is a process of restoration and
adjustment, and physicians well know
that the healing powers of nature assert
themselves most effectually during the
entire suppression of v~olitional control
characterizing a deep slumber. In
dreams, too, the absence of direct sense
impressions and v%olitional interference
seems to favor an automatic function of
the brain, which, in that respect. might
be defined as a method OF mental di-
g%estion. And just as the process of physic-
al digestion and assimilation eliminates
the superfluous elements of food. retain
ing only those needed for the special
purposes OF organism, the brain. during
sleep, appears to deal specially with
topics Of direct concern for the personal
interests OF the sleeper, and to assert
and adjust the store Of empiric impress
sion 1.-THE mental iHgestd, as it were),
after eliminating all u|nessential and in.
consequential elements. Withal, the
suspense OF conscious cereoration by no
means implies an eclipse OF the intel
lectual faculties. Dreams are not lin
tied to plays OF fancy; the brain in slum-
Der may deal with philosophical and
scientific speculations, or resolve moral
doubts which perhaps have puzzled the
mind for days, and it is ommon expert
ence that the distressing problems OF
practical life adjust themselves. as it
were, in sleep by a more or less con-
scious process of the cerebral laboratory.
In short, there is no doubt that the in
stinct guarding the welfare of the in
dividual presides over dreams as II pre-
sides owe the automatic functions Of
the physical organism. The very sus-
pension OF the will-power, with its
passions and prejudices, seems. in
deed to enable an inner monitor
to decide vexing doubts in accordance
with the best permanent interests Of the
sleeper. The saving crisis of dangerous
diseases which often s~upervenes in deep
slumber may be explained by the cir
cumstances that the complete repose of
the volitional faculties enables the Or
ganism to concentrate all its energies
upon a needed work Of repair, and for
similar reasons the non-interference OF
waking preiudiees may give the in.
stinct Of self-preservation a long desired
chance for removing a baneful delusion
as to our bestinterest in a proposed mode
OF action, or as to the true character OF
de'igning fellow men. Something or
otherin the looks or actions of a marked
rascal may have suggested a suspicion
OF his secret motives, though at the
tine collateral circumstances obscured
t0at misgiving, leaving a vague, unex-
Llained uneasiness as the direct result
Of such experiences. But in sleep that
impression reasserts itself with a force
ree from the interference of prejudice,
and for a moment removes the mask of
false appearances; the sleeper receives
a warning" Similar warnings often
correct the impressions Of false hope.
Impending perils may cast a shadow
p~ersistently ignored in a waking state,
while the mind is by the influence OF a
self-deluding optimism-the wish that's
father to the belief In the insignificance
Of the threatening danger. But in sleep
the voice OF the monitor can not be ST.
fenced by such illusions, and warning
forebodings often take tbs form OF dis
tinct visions, repeated with a vividness
and frequency which at least can not
fail to influence the actions Of the indi-
vidual, in spite Of all waking sophisms
open Court