The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-28
TREpAINEO SKULLS
USED IN EXPERIMENTS
Prof. Wen|ey, Of Michigan Uni
vsrsity, Tells Of Strange
Experiments

Ann Arbos Mich, Jan. 2S-EXpcri-
ments In search OF the mysteries OF
sleep. made at the University OF
Michigan upon patients with trephin-
ed skulls. have completely overturned
the accepted theory of the cause OF
sleep. Instead of sleep being due to a
lessening Of blood pressuie in the
brain, directly the opposite was dem
anstrated.
Professor r. NJ. Wenley, head of the
philosophical department, mentioned
these experiments In a recent lecture
In Detroit They are not yet coMplef-
ed, But Professor Wenlev in an in
teryiew gave an outline of what has
heen accomplished. In the university
psychological laboratory investiga-
finns we're undertaken into the phe-
,lomena OF sleep and as a result the
bodily conditions accompanying sleep
have been set forth in new light.
Trephined skulls Used.
rhe Investigations we're peculiarly
interesting and TO the lay mind, nov
FL. Subjects who had suffered frac'
iures of the skull. and whose sknlls
lad been tfephined. Were chosen, be-
cause the process of trephiring left
part Of the surface of the brain free
from the skull BY as little movement
as ingenuity could make possible. The
head OF each subject was placed in a
sling.
nv delicate and most careful meas
urement the following results were Sc
cured and tabulated from the first
the Investigations taking physiolog-
ical direction; The size of volume Of
the brain Increases when the indiV-
idual goes TO sleep and decreases
when he awakens. The size of the
bands and feet increases when the
man Is asleep and becomes small
when be is awake.
On this point It was noted that IN
some cases the brain became smaller
Al first and then increased as sleep
became deeper
Get Striking Evidence
Very striking was the evidence that
the size of the arterial pulse from the
brain increases s,.2adily with the III
crease in volume; that Is. that The d.
latiug of the arteries after each bea'
OF the heart is more pronounced. TINS
ia particularly true when the subject
is propped up.
One OF the delicate devices used II
experimenting records is 'breathins
wave from both the brain and The
hands and feet. The fall of the cir
culation record corresponds yer'
closely to an inspiration and the ris'
To an expiration.
When the subjects were disturbed
but not so as TO be awakened. the-
was temporary increase in breato
ing both in chest and abdomen. tn
size of the brain and the hands an
feet decreased. The breathing way
in these part was almost eliminated.
The pressure of blood in the braii
desnlte the large volume and heav
pnleafion during sleep, Is lower a
that time The sleep passes off, IN
brain volume decreases. but then tn
blood pressure increases.
A fall In the brain volume accon
panying q break In the breathing
an external stimulus is accompanie
BY rising pressure The lowest poli
OF trough Of the yasomotor wave +
corded correspended usually, but NJ
constantly. to the highest pressure.
Basic Doctrine Is Hi
The results above recorded strl
at the fundamental doctrine Of mo
physiologisis. which is az the botto
Of current medical opinion and met