The Washington times., 1919-11-08
The Mystery of Sleep
Physicians Are Puzzled by More Than a Sc
s. from Sleeping Sickness.


One of the strange and inexpIcable results of the
influenza has been the malady known as sleeping sick
ness"
There have been twenty five of it in New York
and every one has proved fatal The twenty victim,
woman, has been sleeping several days.
What causes this continued coma is a puzzle Physi-
Clans are unable either to prevent it or to cure it.
The only coincidence that has attended the disease
that influenza has preceded the Sleep and that there has
been of the sickness which did follow parent
siment
There not the slightest evidence that sleeping sickness
is either contagious infectious and there belief
he part of physicians that there will be any spread
malady.
Sleep is strange function of function of the
normal activities
Practically all forms of life except the mineral are
subject to periods of dormancy or sleep
The normal devotes about third of his life to
complete bodily inactivity In childhood the period of
Il ten or twelve hours day After complete development
about eight and in old age frequently little five hours
IS sufficient.
ALI the study of scientists has solved the mystery
of sleep
An old theory exploded was that decreasing sup
ply of blood to the brain caused periodical Inconsistencies
= This was substitution of effect for The less
ened blood supply is the result of Sleep not the
for it.
Another explanation which has no very substantial
~,
because of its tear develops the blood poison
which has the effect of deadening the mental action and
causing sleep This theory has nothing substantial
to support than the fact that drugs posons when
administered do cause unconsciousness
But neither of these explanations accounts for the
fact that sleepy at time largely fixed by habit and
wake at the hour to which accustomed.
Investigation has shown that go to sleep
at time By closing eyes we eliminate sight, and
that is the first that succumbs.
Then following in order taste, smell and touch and
when these four senses have become active
sound asleep.
Are a state of death when asleep than
when awake?
We breathe, the heart BEATS the blood circulates-a
at slower rate-but otherwise if dead
Thousands of experiments have been conducted make
certain the difference between that form of deepest sleep
called coma and DEATH and convincing test has been
devised
Some of the highly developed of the East Indian
adopts able to voluntarily induce condition of sus
pended animation sartingly similar to DEATH and vet
arouse themselves at will
You will remember that when Jesus was called to see
the daughter Of the ruler of the synagogue He said why
make e this ado and weep? The dmsel is not dead but
seepeth''
Is the sensation of death similar the sensation of
going to sleep No the question for one
has awakened from that last sleep tell us his
experience.
There is, of course during normal sleep some SUPER
sense which does not become dormant.
Despite the inactivity of sight, bright light will
awaken US, strong odor will arouse loud noise
blow will restore all our senses to immediate activity
What this ''watchman sense is we do not know IT.
may be one Of the functions of the subconscious which
aever becomes inactive.
OF all the forms of intelligent life there is only one
which does not sleep The ant the wonderful of the
insect family rests but does sleep By Just what means
the vitality restored after long hours of the hardest work
is not known but ants have been observed to work at ton
speed for twelve hours at time and then with only
short period Of rest without sleep their activities
with undimnished vigor
If could discover the of the ant we might
ourselves dispense with sleep