New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-01
Illsomnia- -Mceplessness,.

Rom DR.. Foote'ssHe Montitiy
Sieeplessness is about as. common a
complaint as iDdigestion,. and often
as distressing as pain. The. causes
are many and. there are;, therefore,
many. different means OF relief suggest
ed, each having a measure Of success
according asst is~ appropriately en-
ployed
The expedients ,resorted to, or rem
edies proposed for insomnia are gem
orally such as will equalize the blood
circulation in the head; either by in
creasing or diminishing it. Infeverish
excitement the cold douche, or q
sprinkling of the back OF the head and
neck with cool water, followed bywip-
ing dry. is said to be eficacious. In
cases of pure mental over-excitement
perhaps the better way issro. lure the
blood down to- the lower. extremities
by hot foot-bath, orhot bottles to-
the feet. DR.. Won Gellhorn has found
this to. be 90 useful plaa, of inducing
sleeps: A piece of cloth about eighteen
inches wide, and OF sufficient length,
dipped in cold water and wrapped:
about the leg. the wet bandage. to. be-
we'll covered with q, dry one; and a
long stocking drawn. over all to- keep
IN place. 1t has been found to reduce
the temperature tested in the external
ear canal. In conditions of general
debility, Or weak hearts action.
it may happen that wakefulness re-
suits from a lack of good blood brain
circulation, and then the use of gener-
al tonics during the day is necessary
tolmprove the action OF vital organs,
but by way of temporary expedients
such a person will do, well to have
handy, by the bedside. a pitcher of
milk, and if ftoward early MORN there
is a, wakefulness, with sense OF op-
preston about the chest or pit OF the
stomach, q drink of milk will act as a
food stimulant and improve the
heart'saction and the bloodcirculation
thus relieving sleeplessness. When,
owing to slow digestion, it is found
best to- eat a light evening meal,
glass OF mllk on retiring may be ad-
visable, but good Judgment must be
used in choice OF foods at bed time.
since sleeplessness and bad dreams
often result from irritation OF undi-
gested loads In the stomach.
Aromatic. spirits of ammonia may
be used as mild stimulant for anemic
sleeplessness, and a drop or two of
tincture of belladonna, for nervous
excitability which postpones sleep,
but the use of choral and morphia
should be very exceptional, and new
er as a nightly resource. These Or
proprietary anodynes are dangerous
expedients, especially for chronic in
valids. Sleep is indeed like the beau
ty which it favors, dependent upon a
general Wilderness, health and bal
ance Of natural functions, and all
those influences which favor sound
ness of mind and body, favor their
normal operations, one OF which is
sleep.
Another chapter might be written
on mind-cure Tor insomnia, for meth
DDS OF tricking ones self into the land
OF nod. The power to psychologist
ones own mind into inactivity, repose
and sleep has been acquired by some,
while others have hit upon little ideas
OF their own, such as going to bed
with one stocking on, climbing over the
foot'board, lying in some peculiar
position, or some other curious excen-
tricity which is effectual simply be-
cause the person who adopts it
believes it will induce sleep; there
fore, it does induce sleep. These
are all innocent expedients which may
be INDUCED in ad libitum, but some
notions are not SO. We once knew of
ayoung woman who could only sleep
on board steamboat, and this so
seriously Inconvenience herself and
friends that it was best to discourage
it. Don't be too cranky-just cranky
enough.-From DR.. Foote'S Health
Monthly.