The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-07

only, and then only through
his column.
four points for investigation: a
cured oblique inguinal hernia, a
cured umbilical hernia, some sus-
pected indication of tuberculosis
in his youth and his inability to
sleep while lying on the left side.
Pulling Points Settled
The great advances in the sci
ence Of pathology since Sir Asst
ley's day, with the accumulation
of knowledge that has resulted
from the enlightened attitude Of
the public about the desirability Of
autopsies, have settled all the
points that may have puzzled Sir
Ashley about his hernias and his
tuberculosis.
We know all about the pathol-
ogy and nature Of these diseases
now, or at least we have = prac-
tically complete working knowl-
edge. But the old controversy
about sleeping on the side or the
back or the abdomen still pops up.
As a matter of fact, the autopsy
was performed on Sir Astley's
body after death and nothing was
found which accounted for his in
ability to sleep on his left side; he
had some adhesions around the
gallbladder, but that should point
to an inability to sleep on the right
side if anything.
Studies of Sleeping Positions
The question pops up again and
again and lately, in an issue of The
Lancet. A physician in Birming-
ham states that he has for many
years made notes Of the positions
which his patients took during
sleep and has made inquiries from
every available colleague or friend.
at soon became clear" he states,
that this was definitely charac-
teristic for each individual. The
individual seldom varied the posi-
ton and when he did he was fully
conscious that he had made q
B change"
Sleeping, Habits
Sleeping habits change with age
changes. Children like to sleep on
their abdomen, face down, and
many people retain this infantile
habit until quite late in life. Most
adults, if they take a nap in the
day, do not sleep on the back.
Most adults at night sleep on one
side or the other, moving from
side to side.
Disease sometimes makes some
difference in sleeping habits. The
Birmingham physician found that
people with angina pectoris avoid
ed sleeping on the left side. This
is partially understandable be-
cause angina pectoris means pain
in the heart, the heart is on the
left side and that side would nat
urally be avoided.
Subjects of Speculation
Do sleeping habits induce any
diseases? The gentleman from
Birmingham thinks that they do.
He believes that sleeping on the
abdomen for any long period in
life is inclined to induce liver and
gallbladder disease. He says: ~
asked patients specifically if there
was any period in their lives when
they slept on their abdomen. Many
people who did so for long periods
were cases Of either past or pres
ent liver or gallbladder disease"
While these observations are in
teresting for speculation, | would
be very skeptical as TO their real
value.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. R.:-What would cause q
boy, II years old, 10 have one side
Of the chest sunk in? Does this
have any effect on the heart?
Would it hinder him from passing
an Army physical test?
Answer: A deformity Of this
kind is probably due to ricketts,.
which was acquired in childhood.
1t does not affect the heart.
Whether or not he can pass an
Army examination would depend
on how extensive it is.
J. Els chronic mastitis dam