The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-11-03
[Frem 0Rce a Week.
Wakefulness-HOw To Promote SIeeB.

The primary cause of wakefulness
is an increase in the quantity OF blood
circulating in the brain; hence. any
condition or cause Of inducing this
state of tho cerebral circulation nsy
give rise to it. AS these causes are
more or less under the control of the
individual, it is important that they
should be generally known. l. Ex-
cessive and lOng-continued intellect
ual action, or powerful mental emo
tions. 2. Those positions of tie body
which tend to impede the flow of
blood from the brain, and, at the
same time, do not obstruct its pas
sage to the brain. Many physicians
have noticed the connection existing
between bodily position and wake
fulness. 1t is evident that the re-
! cumbent position is more conducive
to a state OF congestion of The brain
than the erect or semi-erect.
DIR. Forbse WinsioW, DIR. Ham
mond and several other physicians
! lave noticed an increase in the num-
| Der and intensity of Authorizations of
insane patients, or persons suffering.
| from deLiFiUBl tTemens, as soon as
| they assume the recumbent position.
[ These patients have been found to
sleep quietly for some time in an
/ armchair, but to be ANNOYED BY hal
! fluctuations as soon as they lie down.
/ 3. Certain substances used as q med
icine or food. The chief agents of
this class are alcohol, tea-especiaIly
| strong green tea-coffe, opium, bella
! donna, stramonium and Indian hemp
| or hashish. Opium in small doses is
aften espe eially potent in inducing
| Wakefulness.
a single dose of half a grain has
been known to keep a patient awake
for three consecutive nights. AL
the sO-called narcotics, in small dos.
es, induce wakefulness rather than
| sleep. 4. To the above, DR.. Ham
mOnd adds fourth exciting cause oil
! psomuia-namely, functional de.
raDgement Of certain organs of the
body, whereby an increase in The
amount of blood in the brain is pro,
duced. As, however, such cases a.
these are beyond the control of the
sufferer, we need not discuss then
here. In all those cases of wakeful
ness dependent upon severe and LONG
continuous mental exertion-anC
these are the cases to which we es
pecially wish to draw he attention
of our readers-all means of relic
will be utterly useless until the pa
tient consents to give his brain entire
relaxation for time.
Whenever it is possible a course O.
travel through romantic country, OF
visit to the seaside, should be re
garded as imperative. Ane early din
ner, followed bya hearty supper o.
plain and nutricious dishes, Is prefera
bic to heavy, late dinner and glass
or two Of good wine at both meals, or
glass of good whisky or brandy an6
water after supper may often be ia
ken with advantage. The value O
physical exercise-and especially
riding-in the open air, can scarcely
be over estimated, and should be car,
ried on to the point of incipient ia.
tigue.
4 shower bath in the morning, and
a warm bath before retiring to rest
are useful auxiliaries q somewh hal
high and not too soft pillow should
be used and if the feet are very cold
8 hot-water bottle should be placed
at the bottom of the bed,
If the preceding means-all Oh
most of which the patient can try foi
himsel--faiI, recourse should at once
be had to professional advice. five
had been asked couple of years age
what was the most potent agent il
the treatment of Wakefulness, WE
should have answered without hest.
tation, bromide of potassium. There
is now reason to believe from the re.
searches of DR.. C:ouston, that come
bination of this salt with tincture Of
Indian hemp, in the proportion OF
| half a drachm of the salt TO dTaChm
of the tincture, is more potent in al.
lay ing nervous excitement in cases Of
insanity, and probably generally, than
the bromide alone, even in q far larg.
er dose. The most powerful and ir.
resistible of all sleep promoters iz
however, the new remedy known az
hydrate Of choral, and which, it is
stated, has been prescribed success.
| fully, and without single accident
in more than 100000 cases in thi;
: country alone.