thought the crassamentum of the blood to be much firmer than that of blood in general; the serum was milky, but no oil could be detected in it. The abdominal tumour grew to an enormous size. A few weeks before his dissolution, his debility and emaciation were extreme, and, for some days before his death, which occurred on the 15th of November, 1829, he was in a comatose state. I regret exceedingly that nothing could induce the relatives of the unfortunate subject of this singular case, to allow a post-mortem examination.

This case, as we have seen, affords an example of the developement of melanosis on the surface of the body, in no less than four different forms. First, in fungiform tumours; secondly, in globular tubercles; thirdly, in sensibly raised spots, or in tubercles of a flattish form; fourthly, in the generally diffused form, or denigration of the skin, without any apparent thickening of it. I may ask, is a sudden denigration of a region of the surface of the body, the effect of the same specific morbid action, as that which secretes the matter deposited in a melanose tubercle? In one of the cases of sudden denigration, reported by M. Rayer, and which we have already noticed, the morbid matter was removed by cutaneous transpiration, as ofted as deposited. In the other case of sudden denigration, reported by the same gentleman, although the whole surface of the body was denigrated for nineteen months before death, yet, on post-mortem examination, no black matter, save immediately under the cuticle, was discovered in any part of the body. I am not aware that we have an instance on record, of tubercular

melanosis being a temporary affection, or that we have evidence of the entire removal of a melanotic tubercle, by the process of transpiration or exudation; and I doubt whether tubercular melanosis ever remains for months stationary, when once generally developed in a system. The morbid matter deposited in sudden denigration of the whole surface of the body, and that which is deposited in a melanotic tubercle, have, certainly, one common character; namely, similarity of colour; but, though they have this character in common, they may, nevertheless, be the production of essentially distinct specific actions.

From the history of this case, it appears that melanose matter may be deposited, in different forms, not only in one particular situation, but may even, for some time, be pretty generally diffused over the surface of the body, without any indisposition or interference with the stamina of the constitution of the individual.

Liverpool, Jan. 2, 1833.

SOME OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

NECESSITY, UTILITY, AND THE PRECURSORY SYMPTOMS

OF

SLEEP.

BY ROGER WAKEFIELD SCOTT, M. D.

Physician to the South Dispensary, Liverpool.

"Est quasi terra incognita, in quâ quisque pro voluntate suâ vagatur, et viam diligit jam factam aut facit. Auctores de hâc re multas laudabiles et populares fabulas effixerunt, hæc verò omnia novimus esse nihil.”—Brown de Epilepsiâ.

Ir may, perhaps, appear superfluous to dwell upon a subject so self-evident as the necessity of sleep, yet there are too many who act but little in accordance with their conviction of it; there are restless and ambitious spirits who curtail sleep of its due proportion; there are many gifted men, whose genius ill can brook the interruption entailed upon it by this physical necessity, who are apt to complain of the length of time which they are compelled to devote to it, and almost to regret that our organization is not such as to render us independent of it. By an admirable provision of Nature, the functions of those organs which are essential to the preservation of life, are removed from the control of our will, whilst the voluntary organs and intellectual faculties are placed under our own governance,

and we have the power of modifying and prolonging their states of activity within certain limits; as, however, the principle of their energy is not derived from any inexhaustible source, but soon becomes impaired and destroyed, it is necessary that there should be some periods of quiescence of its resto. ration, and these periods we denominate Sleep.

Since, however, there are functions which are not subject to this law of intermission, but continue uninterrupted through life, it may be asked why the other functions are not similarly regulated? It is true that we might as easily have been created independent of sleep, as otherwise; but, as it has pleased the Author of our being to render it essential to our preservation, we must consider it as consistent with the wisest purposes; and I hope that I may not be considered guilty of the presumption of attempting to fathom the designs of Providence, if I indulge in a few remarks respecting its moral necessity.

In this sphere of existence, where we are but temporary sojourners, destined to undergo a few years of probation, it would not have been compatible with the purposes of our creation to have endowed us with the highest degree of either mental or physical perfection.

The weakness of our moral nature, therefore, may have rendered us unfit to be trusted with the uninterrupted exercise of our intellectual faculties, as we but too well know how difficult it is to govern our thoughts aright, during the short period naturally allotted to their activity.

The hopes and fears, the cares and sorrows, the labours and anxieties, which occupy and distract us

VOL. I.

S

by day, the temptations which assail us from without, and the evil thoughts which rise up within us; the bodily pains and diseases which our fallen nature entails upon us, render the transient oblivion of sleep one of the chief blessings that life affords us.

Such is the frailty of our nature, that the very joys of existence, and the exercise of our best and purest affections, would become indifferent and satiating, were not their value enhanced by some periods of intermission; and the anxieties and miseries which prey upon us, would destroy the energy of our frame, and drive us to insanity, did not "Nature's soft Nurse" arrest their power, by steeping our senses in forgetfulness.

The activity of our intellectual faculties themselves, were they unceasingly directed to particular objects, might endanger a similar result. Sleep, whether it consists in perfect oblivion, or the substitution of other ideas, by interrupting the chain of thoughts which have occupied us in the day, prevents them from becoming permanently and morbidly associated, and tends to preserve the due equilibrium of our mental faculties, so that it ought not to be considered so much an imperfection in our physical organization, as an admirable provision to counteract the weakness of our moral nature.

Independently of this necessity of sleep, as the means of restoration to our mental and corporeal faculties, we may trace it to a more universal and sublime origin, as one link in the great chain by which the operations of nature are connected, and which preserves the unity and harmony of the whole.