SLEEP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 13

SLEEP.

LIFE’S CHIEF NOURISHES,. (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Shakespeare portrays sleep, the kindly companion ot lito in tbu.m proton ml hues, ‘'Sleep that knits up the ravelci sleave of care, the death of each day’s life, sore labour’s batli, balm of hurt minds, great .Nature's second courso, chief nourisher in life’s feast.” This eulogy has been fully justified as that ot Cervantes, ‘‘Seep covers a man over like a mantle. Jt is meat for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, heat for the cold, and cold for the hot; tho current coin that purchases all the pleasures ot the world, and that levels the king and the shepherd, tho fool, and the wiso man.” Weep may be defined as a natural condition of insensibility more or Jess complete recurring normally (for tho adult) and lasting from six to eigth. or nine hours. Tho infant may sleep twenty hours out of each twenty-tour; tho growing child may lake twelve hours at a stretch . A tier middle ago sleep tends to become lighter, that is, more easily broken and of shorter duration. Jn human sleep when it is deep, the body, lies quiet,, with the muscles relaxed, the pulse-rate lower than during waking hours and the respiration less frequent but deep. It readies its maximum within the first hour ami then diminishes at first rapidly and then more slowly. JMPOETAaCE OF SLEEP. It requires no great consideration to make it obvious that without sleep healthy mental and bodily lire is impossible. it is known that a person can live a few minutes without air, a few days without water, and a few weeks without food, but although he can live several weeks without, tood lie cannot live nearly us long without sleep. A legal punishment among the Chinese is death by deprivation ot sleep and ‘tho end comes in a few days. Therefore it is a necessity, and the average individual suffers considerably after fortyeight hours of absolute sleeplessness. PRODUCTION OF SLnEP. Almost every rule of hygicno and right ,iving could be quoted as a sleepproducer. The loss ol sleep should not be considered as a forerunner of something dreadful. Persons often get much more sleep than they think they do. On the other hand restless and insufficient sleep should not bo accepted as an incurable condition. No one can be at tho high point of efficiency and wellbeing unless the brain ceils have their required rest, and in some cases sleeplessness may be the early symptoms ot

chrome diseaso requiring medical at-

tention. Insomnia or sleeplessness may be due not so much to overwork itself as to the manner of working and particularly the foolish and utterly unnecessary habit of not shutting down the business or professional part of the brain works for a reasonable time before retiring. Intellectual over-indul-gence is a most unnecessary and unwise form of excess, the consequences of which are often most disastrous. The ambitious student shouVl particularly guard himself in this respect. To go to bed with the brain absorbed over any subject is a mistake, and it is better for the individual to put in half an hour at least after working, over a novel of just sufficient interest to keep the attention wiLliout engrossing it. How often it is that man’s inhumanity to himself brings on the infliction of insomnia. Should the insomnia habit become firmly established sleep may often be successfully wooed by a chango of environment to counteract all tm> old suggestions linked up in tho mind. PitEOAUTIONS TO TAKE. A normal functioning brain can sleep under almost any circumstance, but once there iias been trouble, and the habit of fitful sleeping acquired, certain precautions are necessary. Black, opaque shades, shutting out the early morning light are sufficient to check the habit of waking up early. As a rule tight sleepers should avoid late suppers. On the other hand it will often help if one is restless to rise and munch a cracker biscuit or take a drink oi warm milk. The habit of rising and restlessly moving round at night should however, he avoided. Eye-strain is a fertile cause of insomnia. Restless sleep, as do headaches, calls for thorough examination of the eyes. Dings should be taken only in the extreme necessity and under the supervision of the family doctor. IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE.

Sometimes want of sleep is accounted for b} real want of physical exorcise. Sunlight, fresh air, and ocenpations with interest in the open air, for example, golf—are recommended. The value of this game to the business and professional man is that he cannot introspect; he must take a continual series of fresh mental adjustments; he is ‘taking moderate exercise in tho open, air, takes his own time, does as much or as little as he feels inclined. Gardening is another form of excellent exercise, which, m moderation, will beneficially affect those troubled with sleeplessness. Outdoor sleeping usually promotes sound, refreshing sleep. Bathing and warm baths, apart from being a hygienic necessity, are essential if normal sleep is to be maintained. SLEEPING QUARTERS.

The environment in which we seek sleep is of importance. Tho bedroom should be well ventilated to eliminate certain organic impurities from the sleeper, which, indeed, are poisons; and further to attack various organisms, particularly the bacillus of tuberculosis which are restricted from nourishing in pure air. If possible the bedroom should be the best room in the house, and the one that receives the most sun. The bed should be of tho type used in hospitals. The bedclothes should be daily well aired and tho mattress periodically exposed to the sun. To bad ventilation in the bedroom may be ascribed that frequentlynoted unsociability at the breakfast table. Sleep should not be like an anaesthetic producing distressing afterresults. A person should awaken from sleep with renewed physical and mental vigour after having partaken well of this “chief nourisher in life’s feast.” SLEEP .REQUIREMENTS.

At puberty, adolescence, and all climacterics, there is special need of attention to secure that amount of sleep which each particular case needs. Regularity in time and duration of sleep is essential to the growing organism. Sleep is a period of growth; the b;iby is growing and multiplying everywhere, hence its need, and in a. minor degree that of every child. The usual bedtime is determined by the customs of the community, but there is, however, sound science at the basis of the old belief in “beauty sleep,” and the value of the hours before twelve at midnight so spent. Medical authorities and others agree that children four years old 1100(1. twelve hours; five to seven years old, eleven to twelve hours; eight to eleven years old, ten to twelve hours; twelve to fourteen years old, nine to ten hours. The reasonable hour for the ordinary man or woman to go to bed is ten or at latest eleven. The necessary amount of sleep lor adults varies greatly with the individual, and also with the occupation of the waking hours. Remember: Sleep is a necessity for human life. If you neglect tliy rules of hygiene and right living, sleep may neglect you. During sleep the various organs of the body receive nourishment, and this is especially so of the nervous system. It is important, therefore, that you get enough sleep so that the required amount of nutriment or energy is generated. Regularity in time and duration of sleep is important. Beware of mental over-indulgence as it is often the utuse of insomnia. Finally, engage the mind in pleasant thoughts and learn tc love fresh air. sunshine, and physical exercise, and tho best of all heritages-—sound, refreshing sleep will be yours.