The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-17
DOCTORS FIND TIME FROM
DISCUSSING HLSTO
ENJOY SOCIAL ATTENTION

degree OF unconsciousness, due to mac
tlvity or the nervous system more espe-
cfally the brain and spinal cord 1t NAV
be regarded as the condition of rest of
the nervous system during which there
Is a renewal of the energy that has been
expended In the hours of wakefulness
For in the nervous system is the dominat-
ing mechanism of the body; when it re-
poses all the other systems enjoy the
same condition to a greater or less eX-
tent.
Another authority defines sleep as that
condition of physiological repose in which
the molecular movements of the brain
are no longer fully and clearly projected
upon the field of consciousness Still 9TH
er accounts are given.
Cause of Sleep.
THE remote cause of sleep is evidently
in the nervous tissue itself, which fol-
lows the great rhythmical law common to
all living tissue of rise and fall in its IT.
ritability. The highest organized tissue
involved in sleep Is the cortex of the
brain. Sleep may be designated as a
Kind of auto-hypnotic condition.
Why. then, should we sleep? The
great Psychologist made sleep essential to
life. As We have already stated, the con-
tinual grinding of life's machinery with
out periods of rest in which repairs can
be made and a restoration of forces and
renewal of fresh energy would result
sooner or later in a breaking down, and
not permit the wheels to revolve so
smoothly after the well-oiled fashion of
perfect machine What a solace to the
tired brain is sleep. Natures gentle
nurse, with tender hands and deft fingers,
grasses the lines of care and sorrow from
the alabaster brow of youth and the
wrinkled brow of age. Her magic touch
plunges one beneath the soft waves of
Lethe stream and permits him to emerge
In all the freshness and vigor of renewed
vitality. She pillows the head of care
upon her peaceful breast. and with the
angelic touch of her silken wings soothes
the wild delirium of the feverish sufferer
to refreshing sleep. She transforms the
scalding, burning tears of care and sor-
row into diamond dewdrops of beauty
and blessing. Sleep rocks us to rest In
the cradle of silence an folds the pinions
of active flight; bushes the sound of voice
and stills the pattering of infant feet
and the tramp of busy moving millions.
Then, after a while, morning. helmeted
with light and robed with crimson, filings
open wide the golden gates of day, and
world awakes, made ready for new con-
f1icts.
One-Third In Sleep.
IF one-third of a mans life should be
spent in sleep, he should, in order to get
the best results from this agent. conform
his habits to that end. During the hours
of wakefulness he should take plenty of
exercise in the open air; exercise to IA
tigue, as fatigue to the body induces
sleep. Avoid heavy and late meals. The
habit of eating heavy dinners at late
hour and retiring soon after is most per-
nicious. We should not take into our
systems those substances which directly
depress the nerve celters, clog the brain
and destroy our acutest mental and phys
ical activities. Avoid severe mental
strain, especially just before retiring.
Leave behind with the day that has
passed all business cares. Danish from
you all gloomy and depressing thoughts.
With physical must come mental relax
ation-perfect relaxation
LAS we have seen that all phenomena
of sleep point to a reimbursement of the
energies of life, we must conform our
habits of life so as to better secure the
necessary amount
by all means, let me impress on you
the danger of the habit of taking drugs
In order to produce sleep. Artificial
sleep does not satisfy the body. So live
that you can obtain normal healthy sleep.
Tired, weary ones behold in the invisible
spirit of sleep, the prophecy of rest
which Is given to the pure and good by
one who rocks the cradle of the deep and
bushes the blast of the tempest, and who
bids the south wind breathe forth the
fragrance of the magnolia and the rose
gardens of Persia.
"As God braids the brow Of night with
stars that look down from their distant
thrones of light like the eyes of watch
ing angels upon the world asleep. so we
should crown the arch of each day with
some thought of beauty-with some deed
of love-and then lie down to pleasant
dreams A pure conscience gives the
softest pillow upon which the head OF
mortal cas- rest. To all such the snow
winged dove of peace ever sings, rest
weary child, rest"
Papers Read In Morning.
The morning session was devoted en-
tirely to the reading of papers on vari-
Gus medical subjects and informal dis
cussions of the ideas advanced in these
papers. All were prepared in excellent
style and were discussed In an animated
manner by the visiting physicians. Among
those read were:
Medicine and Surgery of the Future
from the Standpoint Of Sanitation and
Prevention" I. Joseph Dean, M. D.,
Union Springs.
Surgical Fevers," William R. Jackson,
NJ. D., Mobile.
Malaria" s. C. Henderson, M. D..
Brewton
Cancer of the Breast, with Special
Reference to the Treatment of Inoper-
able Cases." F. Goodwin DuBose, M. D.,
Selma.
"Ectopic CESSATION" Wyatt Hefiin, M.
D., Birmingham.
The Jerome Cochrane lecture by John
II. Musser, M. D., Philadelphia, was on
the programme. but the lecturer failed
to reach the city in time, and 1t will be
delivered later.
DR.. Brown Entertains.
At o'clock when the morning session
adjourned DIR. George s. Brown rendered
the members of the association lunch
con at his infirmary. A large number
of the guests attended. When lunch was
at at end the visitors were received by
DIR. ]. d. Gibson at his santarium where
they were entertained until o'clock, at
which time the afternoon session was
called to order.
During the afternoon session DR.. Will
liam j. Mccain, of Livingston read
paper on "Hemorrhagic malarial Fever
which was thoroughly discussed by other
physicians. many of whom gave personal
experiences On the subject
A paper on THE General Practitioner as
a Gynecologist'' was read by DIR. Robert
]. Redden, OF Sulligent. This question
was also discussed at length by the vari-
Gus delegates.
DR.. william Grace Harrison. OF ITALIA
dega, read a paper on Pneumonia with
special reference to Complications and
- I'M IL.