The philosophy of sleep / by Robert Macnish, LL.D., author of "The anatomy of drunkenness," and member of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

  • Macnish, Robert, 1802-1837
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The philosophy of sleep / by Robert Macnish, LL.D., author of "The anatomy of drunkenness," and member of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    into a state of overpowering oblivion. The slumber, however, not being a natural one, and seldom occurring at the usual period, is - generally short: it rarely exceeds an hour; and when the person awakes from it, so far from being refreshed, he is usually dull, thirsty, and feverish, and finds more than common difficulty in getting his mental powers into their usual state of activity. A heated church and a dull sermon are al- most sure to provoke sleep. There are few men whose powers are equal to the task of opposing the joint operation of two such potent influences. They act on the spirit like narcotics, and the person seems as if involved in a cloud of aconite or belladonna. The heat. of the church might be resisted, but the ser- mon is irresistible. Its monotony falls in leaden accents upon the ear, and soon subdues the most powerful attention. Variety, whether of sight or sound, prevents sleep, while mono- tony of all kinds is apt to induce it. The murmuring of a river, the sound of the Eolian harp, the echo of a distant cascade, the ticking of a clock, the hum of bees under a burning