SUICIDE AND SLEEPLESSNESS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 16 August 1884, Page 4

SUICIDE AND SLEEPLESSNESS.

The circumstances attending the death of the Dean of Bangor—albeit they are infinitely distressing— present no novel features. The reverendgentleman was a man of considerable intellectual "power," which is the same thing as saying that he was constitutionally liable to intervals of mental depression. All highly intellectual men are exposed to this evil. A pendulum will always swing just as far in one direction as it does in the other. Great power of mind implies also great weakness under certain conditions. The marvel is not that great minds occasionally become deranged, but that they so often escape derangement. Sleeplessness means not only unrest, but starvation of the cerebrum. The brain cannot recuperate, or, in other words, it cannot rest. Physiologically, recuperation . and rest are the same

tiling, Sleep is simply physiolegioal • vest, Tbe only cause for regret in these oases is that the blunder should over be committed of supposing that a stupefying drug, which throws the brain into a stupefying condition, that mimic and burlesque sleep • can do good. It is deceptive to- ; give narcotics in a case of this typo, The stupor simply masks the danger, Better for let the insomnious patient exkusfc himself than stupefy him. Chloral, bromide, and the rest of the poisons that produce a semblance of sleep ave so many snares in such cases. Sleeplessness is a malady of the most formidable character' but it is not to be treated by intoxicating the organ | upon which the stress of the trouble falls. Suicide, which occurs at the very out-set of derangement, and is apt to' appear a sane act, is the logical issue of failure of nutrition that results from sleep. It is curious to note how a sleepless patient will set to work with all the calmness and forethought of intelligent sanity to compass his death. He is not insane in any technical sense. He has no delusion. He does not act, or suppose himself to act,; under an "influence." He simply wants to die, and, perhaps, not until after he has made an attempt to kill himself will lie exhibit any of the formulated symptoms of mental disease.—' Lancet.'