324 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



night than we wear about the business of the day. If pos- 

 sible, one should not go to bed cold, for it is difficult, when 

 sleeping, to recover the heat that has been lost. 



745. Sleep is the most refreshing when taken in large and 

 airy chambers. These rooms should, therefore, be ventilated 

 daily, and at all seasons, by opening the windows, or other- 

 wise. The lodging-rooms should never be used for any other 

 purpose for sitting, working, cooking, or eating. The bed 

 and bedding should be opened and thoroughly aired every 

 day. A very hard bed affords but few points of support for 

 the body, which is, therefore, not so well rested while lying 

 upon it. A very soft, downy bed allows the body to sink 

 within it, and keeps up too great a heat, and debilitates rather 

 than strengthens the sleeper. 



746. Nutrition goes on during sleep. But the food should 

 be digested before retiring to rest. ( 121, p. 59.) Sleep is 

 disturbed with unpleasant dreams after a late or indigestible 

 supper. The stomach works with difficulty, and the man 

 dreams of being in difficult situations, or of attempting pur- 

 poses which he cannot accomplish ; still greater oppression 

 at the stomach produces distressing dreams and nightmare ; 

 and in neither case is the natural and complete refreshment 

 obtained from the sleep. 



