The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-11
HEALTH HINTS.
TIE rIMEEOR sLEEP.

Night was evidently designed AS mans
period of rest, or rather, man was construct
ed ON plan in which night figured as the
period Of rest.
The time for rest and sleep comes with
the utmost regularity, aud is adapted ex-
actly to the the times and seasons, In
winter, when there is increased waste of
material on account of greater amount Of
heat being required to keep the temperature
up to the standard The nights are longer
In summer, when less heat is required, the
nights are shorter.
Sunlight is stimulation, therefore not
conducive to rest in the fullest sense But
few animals, save nocturnal providers, stir
at night unless they are hungry. The
hIger order of animals particularly go to
sleep early and rise with the sun.
There are few, either young or old, who
have not noticed marked difference in the
effects Of light and darkness ON their ner-
yOus systems. Those who work at night
find it difficult to sleep in daylight, and
when they succeed iu getting the usual
| number Of hours put in, they find that they
| are not rested and refreshed as when they
slept at night. Sensitive persons or light
| sleepers often find it impossible to get into
the way of sleeping during the day. There
are others who are not so sensitive to the
effects Of sunlight, who get along better,
but nnne ever rise so fresh and invigOrated
as those who sleep at night.
1 narlynnino tha rpon, dnnc mot obyio4n tba
trouble entirely. Unless very elaborate
| complex blinds are used some streak of
| light will get in, or the ventilation Of the
room be destroyed. Even the best ventilat-
ed and darkest blinds cannot neutraize the
stimulating effect of air that has been vital
lized by the sunlight.
Plants and vines growing in dark celia
will crawl to the crack OF keyhole through
which a few struggling rays Of light come
Is this not proof that there is force ia sun.
light?
Then man who works at night is simply
flying in the face of fate, He is shortening
his days and injurng his health, and the
most Of them know it,
The book keeper who pours over his
books at night, after having already done
a fair days wotk, is inviting nervous aud
physical debility and mental weakness
While doing this he is also fitting himself
for an attack Of typhoid, typhus or brain
fever, besides rendering himself liable t.
fatal attack from any epidemic that may
happen along.
Weakly persons, those in declining health
dyspepties and nervous invalids will fine
better touic in sunshine aud more curative
power in rest than in any medical compound
ever invented. Sunshine, generous
beefsteak and game diet and restful exercist
have cured mole cases of consumption thar
ever did patent medicines or any other kind
for that matter.
Simply walking or driving out in the
sunshine will not anwer. The waste goe.
on constantly, so must the process of res
toration. Not only must they equal IL
destructive processes, but they must ex
coed them in activity until the body hai
regained its wonted form and weight, tht
vital organs resumed healthy condition
and perfect equilibrium has been establish
ed.
When the system is IN good condition i
will store up sufficient vital energy auoy
what is necessary to maintain proper
equilibrium, to meet al! reasonable demand
for mental OF physical activity. In emer
gencies the reserve stock of even portion
of the capital, may be required, but thes
, must be promptly restored or the bank viii
break
Good air and plenty of it is one of th
, conditions necessary to secure iefreshipl
/ sleep. The ears may get used to the di
r Of hammers, the rumbling of cars, th
t shrek of steam whistles of rasping roa
of escaping steam, but the system can neve
G be Injured to vitalizcd air.
! Those who prefer reading, studying q
2 writing at night on account of the quie
} that usually prevails at that time, shoul
S remember that they are drawing OH thei
reserved vitality, and that unless they al
) very careful to replace it, they will suong
= or later be bankrupt in health.