Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-04-12
Coaxing Slumber.

IL easy enough 10 ~ 10 steep II he Heeub
, the words Of the scioltifc people, and
sets about the matter in such way that
"there shall be an accumulation in the
organism of the products of oxidation,
and mainly of carbonic acid, that accu-
mutation being favored and controlled
by reflex action of the nervous system,
which thus protects the organism from
excessive oxidation, and also allows the
organism to manifest its normal func-
tional activity throughout succeeding
rhythmic period.
But as there are persons who might
worry their minds by endeagoring to ar
range matters according to this pro-
gramme, we may as well try to consider
this desirable Rhythmic period " from
a simpler point Of view.
The matter has been 50 thoroughly
discussed in the journals of the land,
ever since sleeplessness became a ma
tional disease, that we do not pretend to
offer any new ideas in regard to it, We
will merely assert, that if we want to
go to sleep, and find ourselves unable
to do so in the ordinary way, it is an ex-
cellent plan to fix our mind upon some
thing uninteresting and to keep it
there Here is the sist OF nearly every
thing that has been said about the men
tai processes of inducing sleep.
Nearly every one knows Of something |
or somebody decidedly uninteresting,
and there are those who could afford to
furnish subjects of this nature to their
friends But it must be admitted that |
it is hard to keep ones mind at work
upon dull and unengrossing theme.
There is a constant tendency to get in
terested in something and so keep
awake. Generally it is the fact that we
are awake and ought to be asleep that
occupies our minds, and few subjects
could possess a moro painful interest at
the time. In consequence of this ten
dency, this affinity of tie mind for mat
ters of interest, it is often necessary to
give color of pleasurable sensation to
the object of mental contemplation. In
this way we can think Of the thing long
enough to get perfectly tired out, and
so, unconsciously, drop off into slumber
For instance, suppose we image that
we are rowing a boat regularly and
steadily, along a quiet and heavily
shaded stream. This is most excel
lent imagination to go to sleep upon.
We know a man who fell into slumber
every night for months thinking upon
this fancy, and in all that time he never
rowed his boat quarter Of a mile from
the starting-place.) Well, this idea of
a boat and pair of oars may be so ex-
tremely uninteresting to some men, that
it would be impossible for them to keep
their minds upon it long enough to pro-
duce the proper effect. In such case
it might be well to put lady in the
stern of the boat. But it is necessary
to be careful here. This female must
not be very interesting. We would re-
commend a lady not too young; some
quiet, thoughtful person, with what is
generally known as "a superior mind.
There should be but little conversation,
and that of nature to induce sOmno-
lent reflection. For instance, the lady
might remark, after period of silence,
that she should think shat people living
in Constantinople would always feel
themselves under the influence of
spell. Now one might be quite certain
that such remark, made by a thought
full woman with superior mind, would
have something in it, and the quiet per-
sistence necessary to discover the refer
ence to the fact that few of the oppor-
tunities for spelling as C-O-n-s-t-a-nt-i-
n-o-p-l-e, together with the gentle and
msnotonous exercise with the oars, will
be almost certain to put one to sleep
if anything can.
Persons who are in the habit of lying
awake in the morning, before it is time
to get up, will often find that if they
can but impress it upon their minds
that they ought to get up Immediately,
and that it is wrong for them to lie still
a moment longer, the bed will begin to
grow more attractive and that the gen.
tie drowsiness which besets people who
ought to get out of bed, but who want
to stay there, will very probably steal
upon them. Every one who has ever
wished he could be as lelig ghtfully
sleepy on Sunday or holiday mornings
as he is on days when he mustrise early
to his work, will appreciate this p''n.-
Scribner'S