The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-03
The Relation Of Diet, Air, and
Bathing to Sleep.
BY EDWIN

Some people refuse to believe q
wakeful person unwell because they
often look so we'll. and eat So hearty.
The appetite for food is taken as an
indication of health. wheH the expert
physiologist knows that 1t Is natures
method of quieting the excitement of
tae system. In the first stages of in
somnia when it is more OF a habit than
a disease, the waste from the nervous
tissues being so great neceSsltates more
food. and many are led to imagine
themselves quite well when working
on short hours of sleep with SO good
an appetite. Blu: when from long on
tinued labor, and activity the indi-
yidual becomes tired out, and finds he
cannot get the rest he SO much needs,
it is then that the effects of this mode
of life is most experienced. To have
good sleep and digestion at the same
time. it is necessary that all the laws
of sleep should be observed. Although
the sleepless person may have a good
appetite, vet it will not 10 to indulge
i'm heavy kinds of food, though the
lighter varieties with various fruits
may be eaten with benefit. Exciting
drinks. such as tea and coffee, should
be avoided.
Lieut.. Herndon, in his Exploration
of the Amazon, says of the leaf of the
cocoa plant: 1.-The leaf of this plant is
to the Indian of Peru what tobacco is
to our laboring classes in the south, a
luxury that has become a necessity.
Supplied with an abundance of it, he
sometimes performs prodigies OF labor,
and goes without food for several days.
Without it he is miserable and will
not work. 1t is said to be a powerful
stimulant to the nervous system, and,
like strong coffee, or tea, to take away
Sleep Won Tschudi relates that an
Indian. employed by him in digging,
worked hard for five nights and days
without interm'ssion, except for two
hours each night, and this without
food. immediately after the work the
Indian accompanied him on a two
days journey of twenty-three leagues
on foot, and then declared that he was
ready to engage III the same am ount of
work, and 90 through without food, if
he were allowed an abundance of Co
Goa. This man was SiXty-twO years of
age, and had never been sick in his
life. Of curse when the excitement
was over he would be tired out.
To those suffering from insomnia
sea air is recommended as the best. al
tI1OuSu IlOuiIOdiil tih 10 Cyl
| good, for those who have led too Sc
dentary a life An occasional ocean
trip of few days is also very bene-
fetal, as seasickness is an efficient
remedy for this complaint. Exposure
to the smoke of a fire has been known
t o produce wakefulness, and it is not
to be wondered at when we consider
that those who are s%uffocated by smoke
die from congestion of the brain. 1t
is always best for the patient to be
comfortably dressed, or live in a warm
climate, so that the circulation may
be even till the system becomes strong.
Too frequent bathing is not advisa
BILE, as it produces a nervous irrita-
bility, caused by the drying up of the
oils Oh the surface of the body. 1t was
customary in ancient times, when
bathing. was a daily and universal
practice, to anCint the body with some
kind Of oil, which would prevent
wakefulness. Warm foot baths at
bedtime are always beneficial. The
best time to take a full bath is one or
two hours before dinner, and the wa
ter should be OF an agreeable tempera-
ture. AT all times the individual
should study out the influence Of food,
air, and bathing on his health, if he
would secure a speedy