The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-22
HOW TO GER ASLEEP.
Hair Pillows to be Preferred Various
Methods of Cooling the Brain.
New York SIM

Methods of COoIing the Brain.
New York sun.
When l was 8 student l suffered much
from sleeplsssness, and after trying MANY
remedies hit upon this one: [ discarded
my feather pillow for one of hair. Tae CT
feet was wonderful. I slept soundly
the whole of the first night, and
have never since, except when fever
lsb, been 80 wakefui as ! usually
was before Although feathers are excellent
for preventing the dispersion Of the heat of
the body, so much fault has been found
with feather beds that they have quite gen.
orally gone out Of use, and it is strange that
feather pillows have not bean SEM after
them. Feathers in pillows are open to the
same objections as feathers in beds, aud even
their chief virtue, that of keeping up high
temuersture, is defect in pillow; GER
tainiy when one.haif of the head is Kept at
blood beat by being buried in feathers, and
the other half is exposed to the air b nth
halves can not be ct the most favorable tenn
DeTature. A hair pillow does not get warmed
up 10 an uncomfortable degree because it
rapidly conducts away the heat impaired to
1t bY the head. Since hair pillows are not
yet IN common nee, it might be supposed
that 8 person accustomed TO the use of one
would either have to take it with him every
time he was to be away from home for few
nights or suffer considerable inconvenience
mon, and if the pillow IS thrown aside the
bolster will raise the head probably as high
rs IS COED for the sleeper. If a hair bolster
is lacking the end OF the mattress NAV be
raised high enough to make a comfortable
head res! BY putting the pillow under it.
According TO mOsf, bat not all, medical
writer's, waksfulness and mental activity de-
pend ON the circulation Of 2 large quantity
OF blood through the brain, and the flow OF
blood must be lessened before sleep can
come on. l have obtained especial benefit
from drawing the blood into the muscles
by nesDs Of a brisk walk or quarter to
bali an hours vigorous performance
Of light gymnastics Just before going
to bed. The majority OF cases Of Sleep
lessness occur among persons who use
their muscles but LITTLE aud for very many
taking more exercise is the bsst remedy.
Sleep can sometimes be brought on by
simply warming the body, especially the
feet; the droEsiness caused by sitting in a
warm room is a familiar instance. The
blood nav be drawn TO the skin by cold
shower or sponge bath, followed by rubbing
with coarse toWel. Getting out of bed
few minutes when the cir is cool will
often bring relief. I have lain awake
half the night, and then, after be-
ing up long enough to mix and drink
lemonade, have fallen asleep az opcs on GO
ms back TO bee. Perhaps the lemonade
should have part of the credit. On hot
summer nignts a cold bath viii reduce the
bodily temperature so as TO admit of sleep.
If the skin is not wiped quite dry, the evop-
Grating moisture will increase the cooling
effect. a light lunch inst before going to
bed relieves the brain by drawing
the blood 10 the stomach, and the in
clirstion 10 doze after a mes is explainsble
in this way. Diminishing the cereb rsl circu-
lation by compression Of carotid arteries is
advised by some physicians. Lying on the
back win double pillow placed against the
back Of the neck So as 10 tip the head for
ward vii effect this, and DR.. J. L. Corning
has invented an instrument Ia the form of
collar for this same purpose.
In view OF what has been said about the
circulation of the blood, GOODNESS OF the
feet is a natural accompaniment OF sleep
lessness, and one means of cure may be
made to serve both ends. Bathing the feet
IL not water is such a means, but after a
few hours a reaction is liable TO set In,
which will send the blood from the feet 10
the head and cause the sleeper to awake. It
is better TO take advantage OF the reaction
which follows cold foot bath with vigOf-
Gus rubbing of the feet, both in the
water and with the towel. The stimulus
thus given TO the circulation in the feet
will be more permanent. l have found wal K
ing Just before bedtime beneficial, aud when
l 90 not want TO 60 out doors l raise myself
sharply on my toes to the full stretch fifty or
more times. A paragraph has already been
in circulation to the effect that continuous
low noise favors sleep; the sound of water
dropping on brass pan has been pre-
scribed by physician with good effect.
The explanation seems to be that a SIM
pie monotonous impression ouiets the
brain by occupying it, TO the exclusion of
more varied and interesting, and therefore
stimulating, impressions. ION the same
principle are the devices OF counting forward
or backward, imagining shsep jumping one
by one through a gap, ETC.; but they are
open to the objection OF causing one norton