On the nature of sleep

The author intends the present paper as a continuation of his in­quiries into the relations subsisting between the nervous and muscu­lar systems, which form the subject of his former papers, but which would be incomplete without the consideration of their condition during sleep. With this view he proposes to determine the particular organs, on the condition of which this peculiar state of the system depends; the laws by which it is governed ; and the influence it has upon other parts of the system. The necessity of intervals of repose applies only to those functions which are the medium of intercourse with the external world, and which are not directly concerned in the maintenance of life. The organs subservient to these two classes of functions may be viewed as in a great degree distinct from one an­ other. The brain and spinal marrow constitute alone the active por­tions of the nervous system. The law of excitement, which regulates the parts connected with the sensorial functions, including sensation, volition, and other intellectual operations, and the actions of the vo­luntary muscles, is uniform excitement, followed by a proportional exhaustion; which, when occurring in such a degree as to suspend their usual functions, constitutes sleep j all degrees of exhaustion which do not extend beyond the parts connected with the sensorial functions being consistent with health. On the other hand, the law of excitement of those parts of the brain and spinal marrow which are associated with the vital nerves, and are subservient to the vital func­tions, is also uniform excitement; but it is only when this excitement is excessive that it is followed by any exhaustion; and no degree of this exhaustion is consistent with health. The law of excitement of the muscular fibre, with which both the vital and sensitive parts of the brain and spinal marrow are associated, namely, the muscles of respi­ration, is interrupted excitement, which, like the excitement of the vital parts of these organs, is, only when excessive, followed by any degree of exhaustion. The author conceives that the nature of the muscular fibre is everywhere the same; the apparent differences in the nature of the muscles of voluntary and involuntary motion de­pending on the differences of their functions, and on the circumstances in which they are placed: and he concludes, that, during sleep, the vital, partaking in no degree of the exhaustion of the sensitive system, appears to do so simply in consequence of the influence of the latter on the function of respiration, the only vital function in which these systems co-operate. The author proceeds to make some observations on the cause of dreaming, the phenomena of which he conceives to be a natural consequence of the preceding proposition. In ordinary sleep, the sensitive parts of the brain, with which the powers of the mind are associated, are not in a state of such complete exhaustion as to preclude their being excited by slight causes of irritation, such as those which accompany the internal processes going on in the system. The sensorium is the more sensible to the impressions made by these internal causes, inasmuch as all the avenues to external impressions are closed, and the mind is deprived of the control it exercises, during its waking hours, over the train of its thoughts, by the help of the perceptions derived from the senses, and the employment of words for detaining its ideas, and rendering them objects of steady attention, and subjects of comparison.