St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-09
CURES FOR INSOMNIA.
A Long List of Simple Remedies
for SleepIessness.

for SleepIessness.
1t will be interesting to collect the
many remedies that have been sug-
gested for sleeplessness. A hot shower
bath at bedtime cleanseS the skin and
predisposes to sleep, it is claimed. The
zone sure and safe way" Is to take a
brisk walk of a mile or two before going
to bed, and then, after the walk, hold
ing the head under stream of cold
water. This, however, should be done
when the habit of sleeplessnesS first
begins.
A business man with mechanical
turn of mind should fix up his attic as a
carpenters shop, and spend an hour
therein after supper. A walk of two or
three miles day is sufficient, says one
writer, while another maintains that
nothing will do but horseback Kidding.
Again, relief for sleeplessness can be
found by wetting linen ker-
chief, folding it and placing it
under the back of the neck, with
dry cloth under the kerchief to pro-
tect the pillow. Still again, warm the
feet by friction, extra wrappers, ETC..
and cool the head, either in draught
or with cold water or ice. One sufferer
has palliated the distress of his vigilS by
leaving his bed, lighting fire and sit
ting in a chimney corner, reading and
eating by turns, until the demon init
mated a desire to depart.
A physician writes that the evening
should be a period of relaxation and
reci eltiOn, reliet from care and anxiety
to he found in cheerful conversation,
pleasant games and light reading, while
persons OF Sedentary occupations are to
take plenty OF open air exercise. A
feeble circulation is to be overcome and
cold feet are to be warmed. The
stomach is to be attended to if the d.
geStion is not good. If it is overloaded
easy and refreshing sleep is inn
possible. Weakly persons and in
valids often find cup of hot
broth or Cruel or some other light
and easily digestible food taken on re-
Jiring to be the best prOmOtive of sleep.
The bed should neither be 100 hard nor
too soft, nor the clothing too abundant
no too scanty. All unpleasant sights,
sounds and smells should be excluded.
Regular and early hours of retiring are
essential. No victim of insomnia can
with safety burn the midnight oil or en-
gage in evening dissipation. The man
who observes these precautions and
adds thereto clear conscience and a.
sound mind has the promise of unfaiIing
sleep.
A student troubled with insomnia dis,
carded his feather pillow for one of hair
with wonderful effect. The hair pillow
does not get warmed up to an uncom-
Portable degree, because it rapidly con-
the head. The same person found that
sleep could be brought on by
simply warming the body, espe-
cially the feet, or by taking a
walk, or by cold shower or sponge
bath, followed by rubbing with coarse
towel. Getting out of bed for a few.
minutes when the air was cool. often
brought relief. He had lain awake half
the night, and then, after being up long
enough to mix and drink lemonade,
had fallen asleep at once on going to
bed. This student found that light
lunch just before going to bed relieved
his brain by drawing the blood to his
stomach.
Another victim of sleepleSsneSs found
that continuous low noise favored
sleep. The sound of water dropping on
pan has been prescribed by physi-
clan. The explanation seems to be that
simple mOnOtOnOuS impression QuietS
the brain by occupying it, to the exclu-
sion of more varied and interesting, and
therefore stimulating. Impressions. On
the same principle are the devices of
counting backward or forward. imagin-
ing sheep jumping one by one, through
gate, ETC., but they are open to the
objection of causing one portion of the
brain to be eXerted in order to control
the rest of it.
A man who has ''Struck upon the
right path at last" and who opens up
to the world something that is calcu-
lated to make mankind rejoice and do
away with all drOwSineSs, writes that
all you have to do is to imagine your
self going on long journey. Think
over the details of it every night when
sleep lags. The plan made him healthy
and happy. 49,
A physician has one simple remedy,
which requires no medicine. Compose
the mind as much as possible, and con-
fine the thoughts to one subject, or a
number or Individual, and close the
eyelidS, rolling the eyes continuously in
seriousness will be lost and you will be
in the bliSsful land of dreams. After
an experience of two years another
man found that he was always able to
go to sleep very shortly after retiring to
rest by keeping his eyes looking down:
he found that they turned up when he
was sleeplesS and was cOgitating some
thing that kept him awake.
An editor finds relief by wetting a
cloth with cold water and binding it
across his forehead. Another plan is to
draw in a long, slow breath by the
mouth and to force the breath out
through the nose, imagining that the
currents can be seen. An attempt may
also be made to read an amusing
novel in bed Or to repeat a ia
miliar poem, bat all study or
serious reading should be stopped half
an hour before going to bed. In paperl
Society for Medical improvement. '' he
said that sleeplessness is often caused
by starvation, and that a tumbler of
milk drank in the middle of the night
will often put people to sleep when
hypnotics would fail of their purpose.