The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-02
evening State aluaraat.
SATURDAY EVENING. DEC. 2, 1871.
DOMESTIC.

GETTING RESTED EVERY DAY
Methods of Getting ,Sleep.-Every person
who would live well should get SO
thoroughly rested once in twenty-four
hours as to feel bright, fresh, active, and
strong. Many do not do this, but 60 on
feeling tired, over-worked, ill-at-ease, sick,
never being rested from morning till night,
No course could be worse. If man wish
cs to last reasonable number of years on
this globe, and live in peace and comfort,
he should get rested every day of his life.
Many resort to stimulants, when they had
better go to bed and to sleep. Sleep does
not always come easily. The brain some-
times loses the power to stop thinking
when the proper hour arrives for sleep, but
keeps on, like the heart, acting involun-
tarily. How can such people get sleep is
one of the most important questions they
can consider. Shall they resort to choral
hydrate, morphine, tobacco, or as some
do, ale, beer, or other alcoholic
drinks? We advise no person to take
poisonous drugs on his own account, but
there are agencies, of great value, better
for common daily use than all the drugs in
the world, which every person can learn to
use without harm to himself, providing he
is reasonably intelligent. One of the
agencies is water. A tepid sitz bath taken
just before going to bed, of such tempera-
ture as shall be agreeable, is beautiful
sedative for very many persons, pre-
pairing them for sleep that is sound and
refreshing. II may be used for ten or fif-
teen minutes, or even longer if agreeable.
1t should be taken in warm room, and
such portions of the body as are not in the
water well covered with blanket.
Still another remedy, and often more con-
venient, is mild current of electricity, con-
tinuing from five to thirty minutes. The
positive pole may be held in one hand, or,
by means of sponge placed over the
stomach and abdomen, and moved about
from point to point, while the negative pole
may be placed at the feet. This is one of
the best methods of producing a condition
favorable to sleep that is known, and after
a little study can be adopted by almost any
one. Every house should have an eectri-
cal apparatus, for electricity carefully and
wisely used has great value for many pur-
poses.
Still another agent, not yet very well un-
derstood, and one not to be advised except
it can be given by those who know its use,
is magnetism, by means of passes over the
head or simply holding the hands of the
person to be influenced. In future num-
Der we may say more on this point.
Still another agent, is very short
shower-bath, or q hot foot-bath, or holding
the hands, if hot, in cold water; or If the
hands are cool, holding them in hot water
or putting cold wet compress over the
abdomen. 3F
The two hest remedies, however, are the
sitz bath at bedtime and the use of cleo
trcity. Whatever is done should be done
with judgment and care.
SIR Duncan Glib, in a paper read before
the British Association, on Centenarian
Longevity, makes some very interesting
statements, derived from comparison Of
four examples he had seen himself. OF
these four, two were one hundred and
three, one one hundred and one, and one
one hundred and two years old. Mr.. Glib
found these peculiarities in their bodily
constitution: ~
l.. The lungs performed their functions
perfectly in every case.
2. The blood was well circulated by
strong heart to all parts of the body.
80 3. The chest was well formed, and of
fair size. The cartilagcs of the ribs were
not ossified.
4. The voice was clear, sonorous, and
powerful, though tremulous in two cases.
5. The heart was healthy, and free from
fatty deposits.
6. The eyes were good, and the sight
excellent in every case, andno sense except
nearing was impaired. s4
z. None smoked, chewed, or snuffed
3. Tho mind vyacacf;va and tho ,nauorv