OCR Text |
Show NEW THE0BY OP SLEEP. An interesting" and novel theory of sleep hasTecently been put forward by Dr. Claparede, a French scientist, whq holds 'that sleep is a positive function or an instinct designed to arrest functioning. func-tioning. Dr. Claparede makes the assertion as-sertion that we sleep not because we are intoxicated or exhausted, but in order or-der to avoid such conditions. Not only are there various kinds and degrees of sleep, but it does not always follow exhaustion. ex-haustion. Furthermore, it is well known that sleep - is riot proportional" to the degree of exhaustion, and it may be either total or partial. In measuring the profoundness of sleep various conditions con-ditions are encountered which are not susceptible of explanation on the toxic theory, but which agree perfectly with the hypothesis that it is a positive nervous ner-vous function. The definition of sleep, according to this new theory. Is a reaction reac-tion produced by various excitants, and la an inhibition which manifests Itself subjectively by a lack of Interest in exterior ex-terior things. Harper's. Weekly. |