SLEEP 153 



The quantity of nerve-current generated by the act of 

 breathing is only sufficient for the requirements of the body 

 from moment to moment. If the expenditure of energy 

 called for to digest a heavy meal exceeds the quantity 

 normally assigned to the digestive apparatus reserves must 

 be drawn upon and the brain potential lowered. 



In the same way, I believe that the feeling of exhilaration 

 produced by stimulants generally, but particularly by 

 intoxicants, is due to an effort on the part of the nervous 

 system to throw them off as toxins. The effect of brandy, 

 for example, as shown by the hand to hand deflection is 

 first to exhibit an increase of energy and later, an hour or 

 so afterwards, a mischievous reaction. 



It suggests to my mind poking up a fire without putting 

 more coal upon it. There is a temporary blaze, but the fire 

 soon dies down to a lower level than it would have done 

 if left alone. 



In conclusion I may usefully add a few notes made upon 

 the young sleeping with the old. 



Children generate more nerve-current than adults because 

 they not only have to live but to grow, whereas generation 

 begins to fall off with approaching old age. 



To take actual figures which obtain, A girl of ten or 

 twelve years of age would give a hand to hand deflection 

 of about 500 or 600 mm,, and a woman of 70 about 80 to 

 100 mm. Let us call them 600 and 100 respectively and 

 to take an extreme, but not at all an unlikely, case suppose 

 the girl to be positive and the woman negative. 



At night, during sleep, those deflections — the measures 

 of nerve-force or energy — would be halved, so that the 

 figures would become 300 and 50 respectively, and as the 

 50 negative must be deducted from the 300 positive and 

 neuro-electricities would find a common level as assuredly 

 as would water, there would be a sum total of 250 mm. 

 to be divided between the two. 



As a result the vitality of the girl would be represented 

 by 125 mm. instead of 300, and it is difficult to see how 

 this could be otherwise than harmful to her, although the 

 woman would benefit. 



