Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-14
AN OF SLEEP

- recently published a work
about sleep that brings forth CON-
5ment from The Nations Health
s(chicago). God bless the man that
first invented Sleep" says a cele-
Sbrated character in Spanish fiction.
1t interests US all, and yet we think
very little about it, though most OF
us spend about one-third of our
lives in bed. why an individual
must sleep away one-third OF his
existence" says this writer, no n
has yet satisfactorily explained.
What is sleep, anyway? Is it mere
" the resting time of conscious
ness and does the lowering OF
physiological processes become pos
sible only when the desire of wax
ing hours are held in abeyance!"
He continues:
1T is significant that. while the
purposive activities of mankind are
fatiguing, his physical automatlza-
tions pursue their odered rhythms
without pause and without fatigue.
Asleep or awake, the heart pumps
Its stream the lungs expire and IN
spire, and the stomach, liver and
other organs perform their func-
tons. The skin is practically twice
as active during sleep as during the
waking state. and even the hair and
nails continue to grow.
sleep is rhythmically recurrent
and a necessary function. Loss OF
sleep is worse than starvation.
Animals deprived of food for twen-
ty days, and which have then lost
more than half their weight. may
still be saved by judicious feeding;
but, completely deprived OF sleep,
they die in from four to five days,
and this in spite of the most care
full feeding and other care. The
biologic theory Of sleep, formulated
by C~laparede, supposes that sleep
is a defensive factor of the body
and that its purpose is to ward off
fatigue. Repose and sleep are con-
sidered to be the inevitable conse-
ouence Of the law of rhythm which
appears to govern life and which
constitutes its means Of defense.
Amar's experiments indicate that at
least seven hours of sleep are neces-
sary to r~e-establish the forces
which have been upset by a days
work. 1t should be at night and
free from disturbances, he says.
"In old age the requirements are
less. In cold climates more sleep
is required than in warm or tenn
perate climates. The first few
hours of sleep are the deepest, and
the amour of sleep INDUCED in
should be gagged to suit the individ-
ual rhythm.
psychologists have long been
inclined to regard sleep as an affair
of the mind, to consider disturb
ances of sleep as varying degrees
of consciousness, and to interpret
the uncensored dream thoughts in
terms of the real, though perhaps
unconsciously hidden, wishes OF the
subject. Certain types of dreams
NAV indicate an unstable nervous
system, or may be the f%orerunners
of disease. They are matters tor
the consideration of the physician
rather than the psychologist.
THE mind, however, must be
considered in sleep processes. The
farther away from the brain a mem
Der is, the more likely it sleeps
A sleeper can be awakened more
easily by tweaking his o than by
touching his face or head. Fifty
nine percent of persons can awaken
any time they decide upon before
going to sleep. Awakening is de,
termined, not by physiological de-
mands, but by predispositions OF
a psychological kind.
This perhaps accounts for the
fact that suggestion forms an inn
portant part of almost any treat
ment for insomnia. Belief in thei1
ability to sleep is absolutely essen
tial for those whose insomnia /:
the result of mental causes. Nor
NAL sleep, according to Walsh, Il
gift we all have had at n time
and may still have. Mental habi'
has much to do with it. Effects o.
light and sound which disturb cere
bral quiet are to be eliminated. Tn
bedding should be as simple as pos
sible, not too absorbent, but OF
nature easily kept in a sanitary
condition. The coverings shoui
not be heavy. The sleeping-roon
should be airy. .
ION what side Of the body shouie
Ah