440 ESSAYS ano OBSERVATIONS 
flownefs and fulnefs of the pulfe in the deep 
fleep, accompanying an apoplexy or occafioned 
by opium, makes it highly probable, that even 
in the much gentler fleep of perfons in 
health, the pulfe is fomewhat flower and 
fuller, than it would be, merely from the 
compofure of mind, horizontal pofition of 
the body, and quiefcence of the mufcles of 
voluntary motion. Let us therefore fee, whe- 
ther the flownefs and fulnefs of the heart’s 
motion in time of fleep, may not be in part 
owing, to fome diminution of the fenfibility 
of this organ. 
3. In time of fleep, as the exercife of the 
feveral fenfes, is either fufpended or much 
impaired ; fo the fenfibility or feeling, with 
which the organs of the body are more or 
lefs endued, feems to be rendered lefs acute. 
Thus we feel ourfelves affected with a kind 
of flupor, when we are juft falling afleep, 
and are then infenfible of leffer fiimuli, The 
thin rheum, which, by irritating the wind- 
pipe, keeps us almoft perpetually coughing 
when awake, gives us little or no difturbance 
in fleep: any extraordinary /Hmulus in the guts 
is alfo lefs perceived then; and hence it is, 
that a dofe of any purgative taken at night, is 
much 
