HEALTH COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 44

HEALTH COLUMN

By Colonus.

SLEEP.

Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep.

Notwithstanding the large amount of knowledge of natural phenomena which he has accumulated by observation and experiment, man's knowledge of the universe is at present very limited, *and there are various phenomena which, though he can apprehend, he is utterly at a loss to comprehend. Thus we know that if we place a seed in the ground it will, under favourable and normal cenditions, germinate and eventually develop into a plant, but of the cause of its germination and growth the cost learned and sagacious scientist on the face of the earth has not the remotest idea or conception, and as to such cause cannot even start any plausible theory or hypothesis.

Again, ehep is an inexplicable phenomenon. We know or apprehend that apparently eveiy thiLg that lives, whether animal or vegetable, requires sleep, and does sleep more or less. Why, however, such sleep is requisite we do not know. The sleep of animals is different from the sleep of pants. As regards animals, there is during sleep a temporary suspension of consciousness — not always entirely, for bodily pain may sometimes be felt acutely even in sleep-^-and we have some ezperimce of at least a subjective existence in dreams during sleep; yet there is no suspension of tbe work of the internal oigans; the heart beats, the blood (lows, and digestion goes on much as usual. In the bleep of plants, however, or of many sorts of plaLts, there seems to be an entire cessation of natural functions. The sap does not flow, and the plant ceases for the time to grow or develop. Though we do not know why ileop is required, we know that fcleep has a recup^ra* ing influence, and that all animals are wonderfully refreshed and invigorated by sound and healthy Bleep. Probably also plants are invigorated by their winter sleep.

Most likely the lower animal?, except when presented by untoward obstacles, take as much eleep, and no more or less, than is requisite for their health. Man, however, is apt to take either too little or too muoh s^ep. Some people seem to hold the opinion that human beings can hardly take too much sleep. I am disposed, however, to think that overbleepicg is for many people injurious— that is, in the oase of adult or elderly people. Infants no doubt require a great deal of sleep, and quite young people should have plenty of sleep, and may indulge in a good deal of sleep with impunity ; but X think that too much Bleep taken by grown-up and elderly people may have some deleterious influence on (he body\

while the bleep is not so wholesome and sound as when taken more moderately. No doubt, however, adult and elderly people should take enough Bleep to thoroughly refresh themselves. Of course something depends on individual disposition— some people requiring more sleep than others. It would be well, however, if people studied the subject and endeavoured to find out howmueh sleep they required, and take neither more nor less. Ido not think, however, the habit of dozing off whenever a person feels sleenv is a good one. It h better to have set times for sleeping. Insomnia or that disagreeable and distressing inability to sleep at night is I think, though, of course, it may arise from various cause*, sometimes caused by lying in bed too much. Though very heavy suppers or very late dinners, which are muoh the same, are likely to be productive of disturbed rest, and horrid dreams, and nightmare, it is not well, and occasionally may be even dangerous, to go to bed hungry and fasting. If people waken much at mghr, as elderly people are apt to do, as they cannot generally sleep co long at a stretch as young people, it is well to have a bit of bread or biscuit at hand, and eat a little, after doing which they will be better able to sleep again. Charles Waterton, the naturalist, advised people to get out of bed at night and walk about, naked I think, for a few minutes, taking a sort of air bath, but I should think that would involve some danger of catching cold, especially in winter time. It might be well, however, to cool the head by some means.

If too heavj ealing is bad just before going to bed, I think very active thinking is worse. There are few things whioh so much interfere with good sleep as mental excitement from whatever, cause it arises. If people go tobedfeellDg drowsy they are generally aure to elaep well, but if they feel very wakeful, and tbe mind or intellect is much excited, there is a flow of blood to the head, and sleep does not come easily, and when it does come it is apt to Ye disturbed, and interrupted, accompanied by vivid dreamy and Borne sorts of these are said to be dangerous. People should also Bleep in a pure atmosphere, and not iv air vitiated by the carbonic acid gas proceeding from the lungs. Ventilation of the rooms, especially of the small colonial bedrooms, ia a matter of the first importance. People should cover themselves with enough clothing in bed. but a too heavy mass of bed clothes is apt to interfere with a good night's rest.

People have resorted to various expedients to obtain sleep when they want it and it does not come readily without recourse to opiates. Monotony seeaas often to induce sleep. A long monotonous sermon inclines people to sleep in church. Reading, unless considerable interest be taken in what is read, is apt soon to produce drowsiness. I find reading some of the long, wordy speeches in Hansard—not all of them, for some are lively reading — has a very soporific effect, and I find myself when reading Hansard — or at least some portions of it— very apt to fall into the arms of Morpheus. The late Sir Henry Holland, Queen's physician, father of the present Lord Knutsford, advised the reading of sonnets to induce sleep. I should think the reading of any sort of so-called poetry, unless it be very good, which a very small percentage of it is, would be likely enough to induce slumber. Sir H. Holland seems also to have been of the opinion that we always dream during sleep, whether we remember our dreams or not. I frequently try to procure sleep when too wakeful by repeating to myself old nursery rhymes or counting. Anything of that sort which detracts tbe mind from more serious or exciting thought may sometimes incline people to sleep. Nurses induce infants to sleep by tho monotonous or soothing rock of the cradle or lullaby singing. Probably most animals sleep at night, but many animals sleep in the day time. Horses, if they have ;he opportunity of doing so, apparently tldep about noon.