The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-03-28
POSITION DURING SLEEP.

mere IS q well known physician
of this city who has been studying
for some years the positions of per-
IONS during sleep, says the New
York Sun.
Sometimes l WONDER said the
doctor, why our learned scientists
have not paid moro attention to the
positions which persons, young and
old, arc prone to assume during
sleep. 1t seems to mo that the phe-
nomena really offer a fruitful field
Of study, for I have come to the CON
clusion that there is an important
physiological meaning or signifi-
II in tho different sleeping posi-
tions.
THE natural attitude adopted by
young children, when free to do as
they please with their bodies and
limbs, is interesting. You have seen,
Of course, chickens asleep on the
roost. You may have noticed them,
also, with the head under the wing
and the legs drawn up close to the
bod z. Now, that is exactly the posi-
ton of the chick in the egg. Similar
conditions may be noted among the
four logged animals. Puppies and
kittens lie curled up during sleep
just as they did before they were
born,
Nov, what is the natural posi-
ton of babies during sleep? You
Will find in nine cases out of ten that
young children, when old enough to
control their limbs and are u~nfetter-
ed by clothing or cover, draw up
their legs and bend their heads over
in their arms. They simply resume
the position they occupy in embry-
onic life.
"Of course the trouble is in too
many cases that our children are not
allowed to sleep according to their
natural inclinations, and mothers
and nurses interfere with the posi-
ton most convenient for them. So,
too, Indian babies arc seldom allow
ed to sleep in the position they like
best. The sduaw bundles tho little
one into a motionless thing and of
ten straps the child tightly to a
board"
But if you will observe how
babies sleep in warm climates, where
thoy are not bothered with much
clothing, you will find them sleeping
in the natural position ! have de-
scribed. Whether they sleep on mats
of grass, on the warm earth or in
hammocks, the children lie in the
curled up position. My attention was
first called to this position by the ne
gro babies down south. There I often
saw the negro nanny lay the black
baby down to sleep OF its stomach
and wondered whether Or not the
child was comfortable.
"Since then I have found this prac-
tico common among mothers and
nurses in southern countries. They
know that their young ones like to
sleep in the same position as do
many animals-that is, with the
stomach downward and the legs and
the arms usually bent under them.
"After awhile boys and girls of A
or 5 years of age slightly change
their attitude during sleep. They
now lie on the side, face also on the
other side, and with the legs drawn
up, using one of the arms as a pill
low. This is the position assumed by
the higher order of monkeys in their
sleep.
"It is not until boys and girls grow
up that they stretch out their limbs
full length in sleep.
"The lower order of monkeys sleep
in the crouching position, with the
head bent down upon the knee.
"There is one position in sleep
thatris peculiar to human beings. 1t
is lying fiat upon the back. No ami
NAL of it's own choice takes such a
position in sleep. One of the keepers
at Central park, who has excellent
opportunities for watching the ami
HILLS tISIS, Say 'uIoo Ao i0o 1iO'Oi
found the apes sleeping upon their
backs.
"We all know the usual disagree
able results of sleeping OF the back.
A person in sleep will often roll over
fiat, whereupon he or she sees strange
sights and hears odd noises. Many
a time l have seen mothers and
nurses go to the child on its back,
muttering or crying in sleep, and
then gently turn tho dreamer over
on the side. The rights side is prefer
red by many people, while some find
the left side comfortable. I do not
know thatitmakes much difference.
Some think that we should not lie
on the left side, because it oppl essas
the heart and lungs and interferes
with freedom of circulation of blood
and breathing"