The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-30
WHY MUST WE SLEEPs

The skepticism of the uninformed is invari- | ably aroused when we allude here to the scten- tlfc fact that there Is no such thing as nervous energy, nerve power, brain flag, nerve strain or nervous exhaustion. Such an assertion does not jibe with the favorite fancles of that portion of the population whose education along these lines is at the hands of the great noStrum and quackery interests. Nevertheless 1t is the unde- batable scientific truth. Find me Q physician of standing. physoogist, or any other re- putable authority who dares to take issue with the fact as state 1t.
 Although we have not yet solved the mystery of sleep and may never know any more than we know now about 1t, we do know that the principal purpose of sleep Is to give the body rest and permit recuperation of It's worn or ex- hausted powers. especially muscular powers. Sleep Is not primarily for the benefit of the brain, the mind or the nervous system. There Is no rcdson to imagine that tho brain. mind or nervous system needs recuperation. To the best of our knowledge the functioning of brain, mind or nerves involves so little expenditure of energy, so little metabosm, as to be practically negligible in that respect. Using the mind Is called work" only by courtesy, There is no evil dence that any apprecable amount of energy is expended in so called "brain york; Ger tainy there is no evidence that the functioning of nerves in any or all parts of the body Is at the expense of energy. strength or nourishment. The functioning of nerves is comparable with the functioning of the wire of your telephone system. It doesn't out or exhaust the wire to, convey the message, the impulse. That's precisely what nerves do, and 1t Is all that nerves do. They convey messages, impulses;
 
 Now here doesn't 1t stand to reason, even if you're wiseacre layman without any knowledge of anatomy or physiology or hygiene or pathology, doesn't 1t stand to reason that if brain work" and so called nerve strain" and Thigh tension jobs involved any expediture of energy or any exhaustion of nerve power or strength people who live by their wits would naturally require the maximum amount Of sleep for recuperation? The truth is the oppos- ite-it is the people who do honest muscular work or play who need the most sleep. We par- without doing honest labor can gete along with considerably less sleep than honest working people have to take in order to keep fairly fit.
 That is what sleep is for--to permit recuper- alton of the tired body. Never mind the mind The mind plays passive and comparatively minor role. The mind trails along after the educator who has had sound professional training will agree that education is primarily physical, whether you cali 1t physical education or not.
 Athletes know that recuperation and renew al of muscular vigor is most easily and com petely effected by rest without sleep. Those best dispelled by an interval of active exer- else.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 The Wild West Way
 California reader writes: "You sent me to Dr - for dathermy extirpatiOD of tOnsils. Never missed n meal In fact gained twO pounds after the first treatment The tOnsiIs were gone after the third treatment.e cannot
 
 of the other way (the lady refers to the old Spansh)."
 Answer-The fear is legitimate. l am rather fond of nice clean operations myself, provided have have lots of ether and air but I would not take a chance on the standard sur sical tonsillectomy while diathermy is available. because I, too fear the complications of the guillotne and snare methods
 Nature in the Mild
 Will. 1t have any serious effect on me in later years if I do not wear stockings. hat or gloves now? I wear the same clothes in winter do in summer. three pieces, plus sweater sOme- times. Often get my feet wet walking to and from school. (B. B. Answer--No. daughter. Any lcothng or lack ,f clothing that you find comfortable is health- full assure you. [
 Gum
 Have been told never to let my little girl have gum because if she should swallow it she might have to he operated On (Nrs J. Al Answer-Occasional accidental swallowing og 0tIv harus1eaa