Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-03-12
POSITION DURING SLEEP.

Peculiarities Noted Among Grown Per-
/ sons, Children and Lower Animals.
There is a we'll known physician
bf this city who has been studying
for some years the positions Of per-
bons during sleep, says the New
York Sun.
Sometimes I wonder" said the
doctor, why our learned scientists
have not paid more attention to the
positions which persons, young and
old, are prone to assume during
sleep. 1t seems to me that the phe-
nomena really offer fruitful field
Of study, for have come to the con-
olusion that there is an important
physiological meaning or signifi-
oance in the different sleeping posi-
lions.
"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
body. Now, that is exactly the posi-
ton Of the chick in the egg. Similar
conditions may DO noted among the
four legged animals. Puppies and
kittens lie curled up during sleep
Just as they did before they were
born.
Now, what Is the natural posi-
tion 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 unfetter-
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 are seldom allow
ed to sleep in the position they like
best. The squaw bundles the 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
they 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 / often
saw the negro nanny lay the black
baby down to sleep on its stomach
and wondered whether or not the
child was comfortable.
"Since then l have found this prao-
tice 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 4
or 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 ono of the arms as a pill
low. This is the position assumed by
the higher order of monkeys in their
sleep.
ut is not until boys and girls grow
up that they stretch out their limbs
full length in sleep.
1.-The lower order of monkeys sleep
in the crouching position, with the
head bent down upon the knee.
"There is one position in sleep
that is peculiar to human beings. 1t
is lying fiat upon the back. No ami
NAL of its own choice takes such a
position in sleep. Ono of the keepers
at Central park, who has excellent
opportunities for watching the ami
mails there, says that he has never
found the apes sleeping upon their
backs.
1--WE all know the usual disagree.
able results of sleeping on the back.
A person in sleep will often roll over
fat, whereupon he or she sees strange
sights and hears odd noises. Many
q time l have seen mothers and
nurses 60 to the child on it's back,
muttering or crying in sleep, and
then gently turn the dreamer over
on the side. The right side is prefer
red by many people, while some find
the left side comfortable. ! do not
know that it makes much difference.
Some think that we should not lie
on the left side, because it Expresses
the heart and lungs and interferes
with freedom of circulation of blood
and breathing"