Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-04-24
THE FAMILY DOCTOR.

REMEDIES which operate by outward
applications are among those which ear
be most safely recommended for home
prescription, and for those who keep d
scrap-book We will state that menthol
is reported to he of great service in re.
iIeving superficial facial neuralgias,
pains about the chest, lumbago, etc.
Menthol is the name applied to a crys-
talline deposit which precipitates from
the oil of peppermint. As the Chinese
use peppermint oil painted over part
for govt and neuralgia. this is, OF
course, very old remedy. The for
mula now recommended is one drachm
of menthol crystals to half an ounce OF
alcohol. This solution to be painted ON
the part several times dally, no precau-
ton being necessary except to keep the
solution from the eyes.-Dr. Foote's
Heath Monthly
THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP.-That
the system may become recuperated
after the activities and toll of everyday
life, the vital powers recreated that
the body may sustain itself, rest, the
highest form of which we call sleep, is
an absolute necessity. TO secure this
latter type, comparative cessation of
the functions of the brain, with di-
minished activity of all of the functions
of the body, are absolutely necessary.
similar condition, indeed, is found
throughout the animal kingdom, to
some extent observable in the vegetable
world. Many of the flowers close at
night, about as the glorious sun, the
source of life and activity to them and
mortals, recedes from view, apparently
indulging in restful, quiet sleep.
The fact, also, that these activities
and labors, both physical and mental,
waste vital energies, actually diminish
ing the tissues of the whole body, is
suggestive of the necessity for the res
toration of these fibrils, etc, which
cannot be effected naturally without
sleep, often in abundance. It is prob
able, in the general average, that one
third of the time is spent in rest and
sleep, by the higher and lower forms
of the animate creation, some of the
lower devoting far more time to sleep
than man. This is particularly true Of
such creatures as gorge themselves.
taking an amount of food nearly equal
to their own weight, then sleeping for
days and even weeks.
Rest and sleep are alike demanded
by the body, as whole, the muscular
system, the brain and nerves. Indeed,
the brain-worker, those whose nerves
are particularly taxed, both by direct
| labor and by cares and anxieties, have
special need of much sleep. more
than the mere physical toiler, who nat
urally sleeps so sweetly, while such re-
pose is more difficult on account of
brain activity, as often illustrated in
diseases of the brain. This class sell
dom secure a sufficient amount of sleep,
which will partially account for the
fact that they often break down in
early life, are often the victims of dys-
pepsia and kindred affections. There
may be poetry on burning the mid
night oil, but this, class must soon
learn that there is no safety in violating
Gods lawsl
The mother, with her many and per-
picking labors, with the increased la
Dor attendant on sickness, with watch
lngs and anxieties known only to the
mother, needs far more sleep than she
ordinarily secures. There is no suffi-
cient reason why all of these anxieties
should fall only on the mother, while
the father quietly reads his political
paper-he might be more profitably
employed, for he reads more falsehood
than truth-or quietly sleeps, as if he
had no responsibility in the matter.
That sleep may be the most refreshing
and restorative, the brain should be IN
it most restful state, the freest from
anxiety and labor, all of the functions
of the body as restful as possible, labor
ing at a diminished rate, the stomach
included. 1t is true that digestion does
often proceed when there is much devil
alton from favorable conditions, as a
matter of habit or necessity, yet the
best sleep is obtained when the stomach
is not laboring hard, or under favorable
circumstances. Unlike the ear and
lungs, laboring at all hours, though at
a diminished rate during sound sleep,
the stomach was not made for unceas-
ing tolls. A light supper. therefore
often its utter omission, when there is
no appetite, favor sound and re-
freshing sleep. need scarcely to add
that night, with darkness, is the best
time for sleep of human beings. 1t is
safe to initiate the habits of the birds,
in this regard, sleeping most during
the early part of the night.-Dr j. II.
Hdnaford, in the Golden Ratle.