Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-09-21
TO woo SWEET SLEEP.
MANY SCHEMES EMPLOYED FOk
 CONQUERING INSOMNIA.
The Disciplined Brains of Great Soldiers. The Hop Pillow of Our Forefafhers-A Plan That Would Cause Architects TroubIe-wet the Head.

If any unusually acute inventor could tell us of an infallible contrivance for going to sleep just when we wish to do 30 there can be no doubt whatever of the substantial benefit which would thereby he secured for mankind. Some fortunate individuals, like Napoleon I, can con- onand sleep the moment they lay their heads on the pillows, others find them selves all through life sleeping the sleep of the just every night. without difficulty being experienced as to occasional wake fuiness, except when illness happens to
 mpervene.
 The Duke of Wellington. who always slept on a camp bedstead, had maxim that when a man turned in bed it was time to turn out; and here it may be re- alarked that great soldiers appear to be peculiarly constituted in their power to summon sleep at will. Possibly this may be due to the habits of discipline whick they have learned. They say to their brains, "Go to sleep" and at once ths word of command is obeyed.
 WITH HEADS TO THE NORTH.
 We are all familiar with the stereo- typed advice in cases of this kind to turn the pillow" to think of some thing else," or to imagine and count a number of mountain sheep going through gate. Many time and oft has the too wakeful brain worker attempted to carry these and similar prescriptions into prac- tice, usually with results disproportionats to the efforts involved.
 It may be said without much exaggera- ton that the man who can first imagine a flock of sheep, then half open gate, and then can force his hypothetical sheep to go through one by one without crowd Ing or lodging or turning tail. is fit for treason, stratagems or writing the sub iimest poetry. He is no ordinary man, and it is for ordinary individuals that the saving prescription is required.
 Among prescriptions of more or less sensible kind which have been at various times propounded and actually put into use for inducing sleep may be mentioned the hop pillow, in which our forefathers had considerable faith. the narcotic es. sential oil which produces the hop scent being supposed to be exceedingly sopo- rife.
 The hop pillow was used by George III nabitually when that monarch suffered from insomnia Then S. A. Ellis long ago announced as a grand discovery to the Scottish Curative Mesmeric associa- ton that sleep was all matter of which way ones head points.
 In a certain direction the electricity of the earth. which is supposed to flow be- tween the poles, passes along the body, and so tends to the enjoyment of repose. Persons wishing to avoid sleepless nights must therefore, Mir. Ellis advised, always sleep south by north, with their heads pointing in their latter direction, and they must most reGgiously avoid attempt ing to slumber if their bed lies east and west.
 The idea boasts sone supporters nova days, but the consequences of its univer- sal prevalence would lead to extraordi. nary results. For example, architects would have greater difficulties in build. ing suitable private residences than they encounter even now. if they were obliged to put their doors and freplaces SO that every apartment would allow of 8 bed being situated in exactly the same posi- ton all over the house.
 Let us imagine also . country house, where the gentlemen all retired to bed about 12 o'clock, the ladies having de parted to rest long before. What a rude awakening would ensue for the latter when they were suddenly reused by hear. ing horrible rumblings as of thunder in the rooms on every side, and above them! They would think it was an earthquake without doubt; whereas, as a mere mat ter of fact, it would be only that each guest was simultaneously attempting to shift his four poster into consonance with the teachings of electrical science
 A PROFOUND SECRET.
 There was, moreover, 8 London gentle uan who years ago really believed he had found an absolutely certain prescrip ton for banishing wnkefulness, and he was willing to impart his knowledge to others for handsome fee on the express condition that the information should "go no further"
 When the sleep practitioner died one of his patients informed an expectant world that the grand secret was simply this: 4 person lying in bed and attemp- ting to sleep usually breathes through bis nostrils, and the breath so emitted is, In cold weather, quite visible.
 All that has to be done is for the sub- feet to think of his own breathing, to that he sees every breath that issues from his nostrils, and in moment or two he will fall into refreshing slumber. There may be some virtue in this prescription, though common sense would be inclined to suppose that the mere bother of imagining anything what ever would be so tiresome as to excite the brain and banish sleep much farther off than ever.
 Some persons, however, testified to the complete efficacy of the breathing plan. Alfred Since. the author of Elements of Electro Biology" also attempted to solve the puzzle why sleep. when much needed, Is often altogether denied. He referred the whole matter to the region of ''the bio-dynamic circuit" but the practical prescription was to wet the top of the head with cold water, and he asserts that he has thus often obtained for sufferer test when every other means nave failed.
 All these spirited endeavors are worthy of much praise; but perhaps the bes prescription for avoiding sleepless nights or parts of nights is not to take heav3 Mppers, to go in for exercise and not [. dt up late, exciting the brain.-L0ndoF Standard.