The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-20

be early, dinner in the middle of the day,
ard supper three hours a. least before going
10 bed. But a lunch or milk biscuit may be
eaten a short time before retiring. Perfect
sleep will not be obtained If the stomach be
entirely empty; indeed, going to bed with
an empty stomach is generally followed by
getting up next morning with that organ
partially disturbed by gas, nauseating juices,
and bile itself. The food should be nourish-
ing but at the same time substantial The
stomach is composed Of muscular tissue, and
deterofiates IL not exercised-a truth which
few are aware of, but which facts prove.
BY judicious management of the digestive
organs you supply the nerves with the els-
nleDts of nutrition. But you must DO more:
the blood must DO as pure as possible; it
must be decarbonized by plenty of fresh air;
while the heart, the great central propeller,
must be invigoratsd and kept up 10 the
mark by dne proportion OF exercise. This
must on no account be carried 70 the verge
OF fatigue.
Food, fresh air. and exercise act then on
the nervous system through the blood, bat
the nerves are directly braced and t0ued by
means of the cold or tepid sponge bath with
OCCASIONALLY warm vspor or hot air bath.
Change of scene end climate are nearly
always beneficial TO the sufferers from nerv.
Gus unrest. Most ca3es are benefited by
side or mountain air. 4 sea-voyage does
much good.
is i:ere no relief to be had from medicines?
Sometimes there is, but it is not well sus.
tanned. Flying for help 20 the Pharmacopoeia
is not habit to be recommended, and
would advise the nervous patient to take no
medicine without first consulting q physi-
clan eod.li7er oil probably excepted; but
this is more food than a physic and does
much good as calmatiye in cases where it
is readily diges.ed.
Ihave, last of all 10 say word or two Of
sleep-"tired natures sweet restorer" The
italics are mine not the poets. wish thereby
to draw the readers attention to the fact
tbst unless g due proportion of muscular
exercise be taken during the day, the sleep
By night will not be refreshing. Exercise is
the fiIst preparation for sleep. and after sup.
per, Which 1 have already said, should be
early, the mind must not be allo we'd to
dwell upon any thoughts that excite or an.
nov. 1t is q good plan to read for some
time before going to bed, not in bed how.
ever, bat in your bedroom: perhaps, lying
on the sofa in comfortable deshabille, and
ready whenever the inclination to sleep
steals over you 20 get gently and softly be-
tween the sheets. The room should be quiet
end dark, with the window curtains drawn
10 exclude the too obstrusive morning light
The temperature of the room should, if POS
sibie, be sustain ed at about So or co.. Ban <
the fire, else it will go out, and the tempera
tuIe will fall, 10 your detriment. Tne bed
itself should be moderately hard, but very
smooth and even, the bedcothes light aud
warm, and the pillows soft and rather high.
The room should be judiciously ventilated.
and the curtains shoold not go right round
the bed. 1 need scarcely add that narcotics
or sleeping draughts are most injurious,
whether in the shape OF opiatss or that clos
bat certain poison called choral hydrRts.
In conclusion, if he values his lis life and
comfort, the sufferer from nervous unrest
must do his best to avoid oveEexcltement OF
all kinds. both bodily and mental, and en-.
deavor to maintain the mems ssna in corDorr
sapo which, for once in way, must trans
late as pure mind in pure body,