The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1884-06-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SUICIDE AND SLEEPLESSNESS.  _ The circutrwtances attending the death of the Dean I of Bangor—albeit they are infinitely distressing—fres sent no novel features. The rev, gentleman was a man of considerable intellectual "power," which is the same thing as saying that he was constitutionally liable to intervals of mental depression. All highly intellectual men are exposed to this evil. A pendulum will always swing just as far in one direction es it does in the other. Great power of nmid implies also great weakness under certain conditions. The marvel is not that great minds occasionally become deranged, but that they so often escape derangement. Sleeplesaness means not tamely ,nrcst, but starvation of the cerebrum. The brain cannot recuperate, or, in other words it cannot st. Physiologically, recuperation and rest are the same thing. Sleep is simply physiological rest. 'no only cause for regret in these cases is that the Louder should ever be committed of supposing that a stupefying drug which throws the brain into a condi.ion that mimics and burlesques sleep can do good. It is deceptive to give narcotics in a case of this type. The stupor simply masks the danger. Better far let the insomiliona patient exhaust himself than stupefy him. Chloral, bromide, and the rest of the poisons that produce a semblance of sleep are so many snares in such cases. Sleeplessness is a malady of the moat formidable character, but it is not to he treated by intoxicating' the organ upon which the stiess of the trouble falls. Suicide, which occurs at the very outset of derangement and is apt to appear is sane act, is the logical issue of failure of nutrition that results from wantlof sleep. It is curious to nom how a sleepless patient will set to work with all the calmness and forethought of intelligent sanity to compass his death. He is not insane in any technical uite. He has no delusion. He does not act, or suppose himself to act, under an " influence." He simply wants to die, and perhaps, not until after he has made an attempt to kill himself will he exhibit any ot the formulated symptoms of mental disease.— stet neat.  The Metropolitan Railway Company are said to 0r...n0 now 72,000.000 tickets yearly, of which 80 per colt. are third class, averaging Is. Bd. per ticket. Of the 1,966 miles of streeta in London, 541 miles are paved with wood, the area of the latter being 1k,0,5.443 square yards, and approximate cost 1:000,000. The Exchange Telegraph Company's correspondent at Gibraltar states that one of the 100-ton guns has pi it in the muzzle whilst being first for the first time et tiuget-practice. It is stated that the accident arose through the shot not being rammed home, owing to imperfect appliances. No person was injured. 111. Laroche Joubert, Deputy for the Angouleme, laud proprietor of one of the largest paper menufactores in France, is the author of an origmal prop-al to obtain the 120 millions of francs which the Minister of Finance requires to balancebis budget for 1881 His system is to levy a tax of 20 per cent. the salaries of foreign workmen. He calculates that there are 800,00010 France,earning on an average 1,200 f. • year, and • tax of 240 f. on each would,prodoce the 120 millions required. LUMBAGo,—lnstant Relief and Pare by ening " Dredatesilleal all." Of all chem et., In 11d, per bottle. Bee Barclay and soll'll name on stamp.