FACTS ABOUT SLEEP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3136, 25 September 1922, Page 7

FACTS ABOUT SLEEP.

The following facts on the physiology of sleep are from a recently published, work by Dr William S. Walsh. As quoted they are assembled by a contributor to the Nation's Health (Chicago). "Why an individual must sleep away one-third of his existence/' says this writer, "no one has yet satisfactorily explained. What is sleep, anyway? Is it merely the resting time of consciousness,' and does the lowering of physiological processes become possible only when the desires of waking hours are held in abeyancer" 1 He continues : "It is significant that, while the purposive activities of mankind are fatiguing, his physical automatisations pursue their ordered rhythms without pause and without fatigue. Asleep or

awake, the heart pumps its stream, the lungs expire and inspire, and the stomach, liver and other organs perform their functions. 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 twenty 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 careful feeding and other care. The biologic theory of sleep, formulated by Claparede, supposes that sleep is a defensive factor of the body and that it.s purpose is to ward off fatigue. Repose and sleep are considered to be the inevitable consequence of the law of rhythem which appears to govern life and which constitutes its means of defence. \Amar's experiments indicate that at least seven hours of sleep are neces'sary to re-establish the forces which

have been upset by a day's work. It should be at night and tree from disturbances, he says. "In old age the requirements are less. In cold climates more sleep is required than in warm or temperate climates. The first lew hours of sleep are tbe deepest, and the amount of sleep indulged in should be gatiged to suit tiic individual rhythm. "Psychologists have long been inclined to regard sleep as an affair of the .mind, to consider disturbances'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 dream may indicate an unstable nervous system, or may be the forerunners of disease. They are matters for the consideration of the physician rather than the psychologist. '"The mind, however, must be considered in sleep processes. The farther awav from the brain a member is, . the more lightly it sleeps. A sleeper I can be awakened more easily by tweaki'iing his toe than by touching his face ii'jor head. Fifty-nine per cent, of peril sons can awaken any time they decide flupon before going to sleep. Awakeniing is determined, not by physiological Hdemands, but by predispositions of a Rpsychological kind. I "This perhaps accounts for the fact ■ that suggestion forms an important 1 part of almost any treatment for ingsorama. Belief in their ability to sleep Sis absolutely essential for those whose jj insomnia is the result of mental causes. iNormal sleep, according to Walsh, is a I gift we all have had at one time, and, Imav still have. Mental habit has much 9to 'do with it. Effects of light and I *6uud which disturb cerebral quiet are Jto be eliminated. The bedding should fbc as simple as possible, not too ohl sorbent but of a nature easily kept in hj sanitary condition. The coverings I should not be heavy. The sleepmgIroom should be airy. , T , "On what side of the body shovdd we sleep? Most people prefer the right *ide. but this is largely a matter of habit. Sleeping on the back is ,oi fruitful source of dreams, probatory due to interference with the cerebral Uirculation/ Which side to steep on tb, 1 after all. but a minor point- We . m , u f choose one side, and there is no weaghty reason why one side is not as good as another. , , "Remembering that sleep tends toward a stasis of blood in the various lni-o-'or organs and in the extremities, we"should, before arising, he on the rio-bt side a few minutes, then on the left then on the stomach, and fina-My •on the back. This simple practise is ►ften very efficacious in removing the uigina pains, asthmas, lumbagoes, so iften found in aenemie individual® and vlriob are often due to improper posi--ious. during sleep. A few minutes •xercisc on getting up. taken -preferibly in the open air, starts the day ight. "There is no specific for insomnia. The underlying cause must be ascertained and 'removed before a cuirje can 'ie expected. Even then the ability to •leep often needs to be wooed' back, rher'o is an art in making yoursel'f "omfortable and also an art in procuring pleas-ant dreams."