THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 119 



for the idle. Sleep is the natural rest of all organs. The 

 more all the organs are used the more rest they need. The 

 organs of the child are particularly busy. They have to 

 sustain their proper functions and also assist in the general 

 building up of its body, and hence a child needs lots of sleep. 

 From six to eight, and in the young, ten hours of sleep out 

 of the twenty-four, is not too much. Girls need more sleep 

 than boys. It is always an injury to be awakened out of a 

 sound sleep, and it is particularly so with the infant. It is 

 extremely doubtful if at any time anyone can take too much 

 sleep. 



17. The Abuse of Narcotics. Sleeplessness may be 

 due to a variety of causes. Whatever the cause, it should 

 be attended to and removed as early as possible. A serious 

 cause of inability to sleep is over-work of the brain and 

 mental worry. In such a case a person should give up all 

 brain work at once, and rest long enough to allow the brain 

 tissues to recover their tone. In addition to absolute rest, 

 change of scene and diversion of the mind are most desirable. 

 In no case should opiates or other narcotics be used to 

 enforce sleep. To tamper with such drugs is unsafe. They 

 are injurious to anybody, bub particularly so to infants and 

 young children. All the " soothing syrups," K cordials " and 

 " drops " contain opium, and should never be allowed a place 

 in the family medicine chest. Sleeping draughts paralyze 

 the nerve centres and impair digestion, and worse than all, 

 there is always the risk of an over-dose, which usually results 

 in death. It is very unwise to use any medicine, especially 

 any of the narcotics, such as opium, morphine, chloral, 

 bromide, etc., unless under the guidance of a physician. 



18. Effects of Alcohol on the Brain and Nervous 

 System. When alcohol is taken, its direct effect is upon 

 the brain and the nervous system generally. It is primarily 

 through the nervous system that it exerts its evil influence 



