Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1879 — The Necessity of Plenty of Sleep [ARTICLE]

The Necessity of Plenty of Sleep

During every moment of consciousness the brain is in activity. The peculiar process of cerebration, whatever that may consist of, is taking place, thought after thought comes forth, nor can we help it. It is only when the peculiar connection, or chain of connection of oue brain cell with another is broken, and consciousness fades away into the dreamless land of perfect sleep, that the brain is at rest In this state it recuperates its exhausted energy and power and stores them np for future need. The period of wakefulness is one of constant wear. Every thought is generated at the expense of brain ceils, which can be fully replaced only by periods of properly-regulated repose. If, therefore, these are not secured by sleep—if the brain, through over stimulation, is not left to recuperate, its energy becomes exhausted; debility, disease, and finally, disinter-

gration, supervene. Hence the story is almqst always the same: For weeks and months before the signs of active insanity appear, the patient has been anxious, worried, and wakeful, not (sleeping more than four or five hours out of twenty-four. The poor brain, unable to do its constant work, begins to waver, to show signs of weakness or aberration; hallucinations or delusions hover around like floating shadows in the air, until finally disease comes. Clothes soaked over night take on a gray leek. J