346 



HITCHCOCK'S ANATOMY 



618. A Lymphatic Temperament a Sleepy one. — Persons 

 of a lymphatic temperament, those who are seldom excited, 

 sleep more than those of a nervous temperament, who are 

 always rapid and quick in their movements. The former live 

 slowly, and but comparatively little waste is going on, and 

 consequently the brain is all the time nearer to sleep than in 

 the latter class, whose brain, when awake, is very active, and 

 when asleep, is asleep very soundly. 



619. Effect of Habit on the Amount of Sleep,— Re- 

 markable Cases. — £The amount of sleep is greatly modified 

 by habit, and often the briefest sleepers have been men of the 

 greatest activity. If a person acquire the habit of sleeping 

 but little, he must sleep very profoundly, so that w T hat is lost 

 in quantity, is made up in intensity. The habit of taking 

 but little sleep, however, is not a sure indication that a proper 

 amount of it has been secured. Frederic the Great, and 

 John Hunter slept but five hours out of the twenty-four ; and 

 General Elliot, engaged in the defense of Gibraltar, and Na- 

 poleon, often slept but four hours out of the twenty-four. 

 The general rule, however, seems to be that man should 

 take from six to eight hours of the twenty-four, for uninter- 

 rupted slumber. Women in general seem to require rather 

 more. 



620. Mode of Access of Sleep. — To some deep comes on 

 instantly when the will determines upon it, but to others it is 

 a gradual and tedious process, especially in ill health, or an 

 excited mental state. Many physicians drop asleep as soon as 

 the head touches the pillow, and are aroused by no ordinary 

 sound,, such as the tread of another person in the room, or 

 the shutting of a door, but wake as soon as the night-bell is 

 rung. Sir E. Codrington, when a young man in the naval 

 service, was very active at one time in looking out for signals, 



613. What are the sleepy temperaments? What the wide-rtwake ones ? 619. How 

 does habit affect the amount of sleep ? State some remarkable cases. What is an av^rasro 

 amount of sleep for men? How much, for women? 620. HoW does sleep come oni 

 Give examples. 



