True Position in Sleep

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 105, 26 February 1891, Page 4

True Position in Sleep

' \ ,i-! 0 Concerning the natural position of the body insleep Dr Charles 0. Files -has tbis'to 1 say : — Complete relaxation ■of 'the entire muscular system is the first great' essential of sound, healthful''sleep. : Tbe body itself should rest •on- the -right side, with a slight in--inclinatiou"forward rather than backward. "It is not well to sleep either «on-'the back or directly on the chest. In. neither position can tbe limbs be properly .flexed. Sleeping on the •chest and face, with mouth and obstructed in tbe least by the .pillows, is very injurious. During -sleep "the" Ire e ingress of air to the Jung's' should be an object of the ..greatest 'solicitude. The objections to 'sleeping on the left side may be ♦clearly apprehended by calling to -min J 6\ : the relative position of the -stomach and liver. The greater vporfion .of the liver 'is to tbe right of >the p medium' 'line of the body. The greater* ' pouch oi the stomach is on the .medium line, while tbe pyloric -endis'.ourtbe left side.ot the body. -The weight of liver is about 4£lbs, -or about 1-32 of 'the^weight of the body— -If -the stomach contains much ioudewhen' one' is lying on the left -aide {the weight of the' liver resting 'on iithej stomach, and compressing more or less the solar plexus, is apt to ■cause -uneasy slumber. This weight at least will interfere considerably with'tbe.process of digestion.- Very great ,- care should be exercised in placing, the body in such position that the movements of, the chest may be .perfectly free.— The shoulders should ■be .thrown '"'back, and' the 'left arm 'shoul(l a, 'be .placed on the left' hip or parUy!behind; r the body. It' should rneVeir^oe alio w'ed'tb l rest on the chest. -I hav.e_notice.that there is a tendency ■ among those of feeble constitution, -and especially those having affections -of the lungs, to sleep ,with the lungs •compressed ""by the' arms, and the imouth lind nostrils partly covered vwith the bed-clothes.