The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-22
COnxing Slumber.

that the most wakeful person will find it
easy enough to 90 to sleep ifhe heeds the
words Of the scientific people, and sets
about the matter in such way that
there shall be an accumulation in the or
ganism Of the products Of Oxidation, and
mainly Of carbonic acid, that accumula-
ton being favored and controlled by the
reflex action of the nervous system, which
thus protects the organism from excessive
oxidation, and also allows the organism
to manifest its normal functional activity
throughout succeeding rythmic period.
But as there are persons who might
worry their minds by endeavoring to
arrange matters according to this pre-
grammc we may as well try to consider
this desirable rhythmic period" from II
simpler point Of view
The matter has been 10 thoroughly dis
cussed in the journals Of the land, ever
since sleeplesness became a national di-
seasc, that we do not pretend to offer any
new ideas in regard to it. We will mere.
ly assert, that if we want to 60 to sleep,
and find ourselves unable to do so in the
ordinary way, it is an excellent plan to
fix or mind upon something uninterest-
ing, and to keep it there. Here is the
gist of nearly everything that has been
said about the mental process of inducing
sleep.
Nearly every one knows Of somethin :
or somebody decidedly uninteresting, and
there are those who could afford to furn-
ish 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 con-
slant tendency to get interested in some-
thing 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 more painful
interest at the time. In consequence Of
this tendency, this affinity of the mind for
matters 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 slum-
Der.
For instance, suppose we imagine that
We are rowing a boat, regularly and
steadily, along quiet and heavily shad-
Imagination to "siS 90 is soYB9 soYB9st apSE SEccllent
know a man who fell into slumbcr every
night for months thinking upon this fan
cy, and in all that time he never rowed
his boat quarter of a mile from the
starting-place.) Well, this idea Of o
boat and pair Of oars may be so ex-
tremcly uninteresting to some men, that
it would be impossible for them to keer
their minds upon it long enough to pro-
ducc the proper effect. In such case
it might be well to put lady in the
stern of the boat. But it is necessary tc
be careful here. This female must not be
very interesting. We would reco nmend
a lady not too young some quiet
thoughtful person, with what is generally
known az "a superior mind There should
be but little conversation, and that of {
nature to induce somnolent reflection
For instance, the lady might remark, at
ter a period of silence, that she shoult
would always feel themselves under th'
: influence of spell Now one might b.
quite certain that such remark, mad'
by a thoughtful woman with superio
; mind, would have something in it, anC
the quiet persistence necessary to discov
: er the reference Of the remark to the fac
that few cities had furnished such ferti
opportunities for spelling as C.o'n-s-t-a
: n-t-i.n.o.p.l.e, together, with the gentl
and monotonous exercise with the oars
will be almost certain to put one to slee
I-if anything can.
Persons who are in the habit Of flyin
' awake in the morning, before it is tim
; to get up, will often find that if they ca
but impress it upon their minds that the
: oHgM to get up Immediately, and that
D is wrong for them to lilo still momer
g longer the bed will begin to grow NOR
r and more attractive, and that the gent
b drowsiness which bosets people who ougt
e to get out of bed, but who want to sta
G there, will very probably steal upon then
t. Every one who has ever wished he coul
6 be as delightfully."- sleepy on Sunday (
;, holiday mornings as he is on days whC
IL he must rise early to his work will appr
J. catc this pan.-Eank r. Stockton
s. Scribner'S far April.