Concerning Sleep.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 23 October 1917, Page 4

Concerning Sleep.

The food that nourishes us is essential to life, but it is no more essential than the form of rest we call sleep. Sleep is a mysterious thing; very little is really known about the physical processes that cause it. The question is often asked: "How much sleep do I need? The answer is not simple, for people differ greatly in respoct. Infants should sleep nearly all the time; children need more Bleep than adults, and the young need more than the old. There are, however, some aged persons in whom a form of cerebral enaemia causes an almost constant drowsiness that doubtless helps to prolong life. Tn general, seven hours for men and eight or more for women is a safe allowance. More important than the exact time you spend in bed is the regularity and soundness of the sleep you get. Many people are astonishingly indifferent to these matters. Young people wish to enjoy social dissipations until late at night often refer to the ease of some famous man who lived for years 011 four hours sleep, and accomplished marvels, but such young people themselves rarely achieve anything except irritability, bad complexion, and laziness. It is a wise plan to go to bed at a regular and seasonable hour every night. The bedroom should be dark, quiet, and flooded with fresh, outdoor air. The bcdclothing should be light in weight, but sufficient to keep the sleeper warm.