The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-04-25
POSITION DURING SLEEP.

There is n well known physician
of this city who has been studying
for some years the positions of per-
SONS during sleep, says the New
York Sun.
Sometimes l wonder" said the
doctor. why our learned scientists
havo 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 a fruitful field
Of study, for l have come to the CON-
clusion that there is an important
physiological meaning OF signifi.
canoe in the different sleeping posi-
tons.
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 7. 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-
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 unfetter-
ed by clothing or cover, draw up
their legs and bend their heads over
in their arms. They simply esum
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 I have de-
soribed. 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 on its stomach
and wondered whether OF not the
child was comfortable.
"Since then I have found this prac-
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 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 n 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
t in the crouching position, with the
head bent down upon the knee. 60
f "There is one position in sleep
! that is peculiar to human beings. II
Y is lying fat upon the back. No ami.
NAL of it's own choice takes such q
position in sleep. One of the keepers
at Central park, who has excellent
opportunities for watching the ami
mails there, says that he has never
q found the apes sleeping upon Their
backs. /.
Y "We all know the usual disagree
5 able results of sleeping on the back
+ A person in sleep will often roll ove1
t fat. whereupon he or she sees strange
9 sights and hears odd noises. Many
+ a time I have seen mothers an(
nurses go to tho child on it's back
v muttering or crying in sleep, an(
then gently turn the dreamer ovel
on tho side. The right side is prefer
red by many people, while some fine
the left side comfortable. I do no
know thatitmakes much difference
Some think that we should not Iii
on the left side, because it oppresse
the heart and lungs and interfere
with freedom of circulation of bloot
onI hroofh;,r