The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-01-28
HEALTHLY SLEEP.

thiLk we may safely say that every one
requires six hours sleep in the wenty-fouf,
and very many men and women, not tc
mention fools, require even more. Certain
ly, too much sleep is harmful but too little
Is vastly more so. I would let each man
regulate his hours Of sleep by what he feels
are his real requirements always urging
him to avoid the suspicion of laziness, to
take into consideration the bed he lies upon,
and to watch the effect ON his health Of any
system of sleep he adopts. II you get up
when you hrst wake, providing you have
had six hours of sound, refreshing sleep
you can scarcely get wrong. But make sure
of your six hours minimum, and be won
derfully suspicious of the necessity for fur
Their sleep, as it is apt to become, not neces-
sity, but indulgence. Wellington could
sleep at any moment; Baron Bunsen could
sleep for half on hour at any time In the
midst Of his studies, awaking refreshed, and
resuming his work with increased vigor. A
blessed gift this such faculty, combined
with that of early rising, is as good rs q
fortune to capable man. Sleep is heaviest
in the first few hours, gradually becoming
lighter, and probably disturbed by dreams,
as times wears on, until slight noise dis
turbs us, or our rested system resumes full
work of its own accord. Every body knowi
hat in dreaming part of the brain is awake
and at work, while the other part is asleep
as much as the brain can sleep ut all
events, exercising lessened function. II il
therefore obvious that dreamless sleep ia
most useful, as dreams are evidence of work
by some part of the brain, detracting from
perfect rest.
II you have taken care that your bed is
very warm and comfortable, without either
being oppressed with clothing or too soft,
and your room be fully ventilated. and you
can't sleep, what must be done? Perhaps
you ate too much supper, and must await
it's more perfect digestion; or, being
squeamish, you ate less than usual, and the
cravings of the stomach must be satisfied
before sleep is obtained. In this case .
glass of new milk, kept handy for use, will
probably satisfy your requirements, and
you will fall asleep readily. A friend Of
mine who was hot and restless, and could
not go to sleep on one occasion, procured
due repose by going into the street and
rolling in the snow. Another person de-
scribes the means he adopted for sleepless-
ness as consisting in watching the reflection
from light he could not see, In tunblei
of water placed near him. few turns uI
and down your room may assist You il you
fail to discover any chilliness, pain, or dis
comfort as causing insomnia. For myself
persistently think of nothing when I can
not fall asleep. l .ork until quito weary,
then, tumbling hastily into bed, usually
find sleep Immediately. On those rare oc-
casions when sleep evades me, check my
thoughts Immediately they begin, and con-
centrate my attention on blank. This re-
fusal of thought nearly always succeeds. II
you cannot sleep, and are worried to death
with cares of the business and the family,
ask your chemist t. give you ten or fifteen
grains of the bromide of potassium in m
ounce of water, and this repeated for few
nights will allay the worry, and cause re-
turn to your healthy condition. --Lseds
Mercury.