Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-23
CURES FOR INSOMNIA.

CUkES FUk lNOUMNlAs
Simple Remedies for a Disease Hard to
Overcome--Pure Air and Mental Quiet
Absolutely Necessary--The Best Position
for the Sleeper.
Sleeplessness is dangerous. 1t Will prevent
the rebuilding of the body after sickness, and
will waste away the most robust If not checked.
And. worst than all, it is a prolific source of
madness. To become unable to sleep soundly
or even reasonably well, is cause for serious
alarm. 1t is also a source of great suffering.
Any remedy, therefore, which viii induce sleep
to kiss the eyelids which have wooed the
drowsy god in vain will prove boon to every
one The causes of insomnia are legion, but
outside of general nervous debility and chronic
disorder of the nervous system, whether caused
from mental or nervous disease, or from some
injury to the nerve centers, the causes OF sleep
lessness may be put down as anything that
causes the blood to flow to the brain in in
creased quantities. Strong physical exercise,
rapid breathing or deep thought Will, accord
ing to the best authorities, conduce to bring
about state of sleeplessness. And unless
checked it will grow until it becomes ve1y
serious, 1t may be stated. as a fact overlooked
by many who find themselves unable to sleep,
that their insomnia arises from carelessness on
their part in failing to observe certain easily
!. The Best Time TO Sleep.
The body can not sleep while the brain is
excited. Anything which will diminish the
fiow of blood-to the brain will allay excitement.
Very deep, slow, and quite respiration will
soothe the brain to a great degree. and, at the
same time, serve the purpose of detracting the
attention of the mind from the matters which
may disturb it. Moderate heat, monotony of
sound, and darkness tend to make one sleepy.
The only effect of darkness Is to shut out ex-
ternal objects and thus assist In quieting the
mind. The notion that sleep obtained in the
daytime is not beneficial has no reason to sup
port 1t. Sleep is sleep, and. If one can sleep
soundly and well in the daytime. 1t serves the
same purpose as sleep obtained at night. But
few people can do this on account of the light
and noise. Hencethe old but erroneous idea
that only sleep at night could thoroughly rest
and recuperate the body and mind after their
labors. This is abundantly proven in the case
of infants and convalescents. Both sleep in
daytime equally as well as at night, and both
grow more while sleeping than while awake
Pure Air Necessity.
Cool, fresh air is the best to sleep in. Ex-
treme heat and closeness of the air tend to pre-
vent sleep, as does profuse perspiration- The
teeth should be well cleaned and the mouth
rinsed before going to sleep. After all these
necessary rules have been observed, and still
sleep refuses to come at the bidding of the
suffering from insomnia, and should seek to in
duce sleep by any means. But how to do this
has been the question with many, and physi-
clans are called in and soothing potions taken,
all of which will fail in nine cases out of ten.
But what, then, is to be donef This is what
thousands of sleepless persons have asked.
There are many sure and simple remedies. The
most celebrated remedy was that Of a Mr..
Gardner, Of England. 1t was known to the
entire reading world about so years ago.
but having been out Of print in recent
~lI II
Physicians who make specially of
nervous diseases are familiar with it, and re-
commend it in nearly all cases where a patient
suffers from insomnia. Mr.. Gardner was
man OF wealth and culture, and had accumu-
lated number of remedies, such as for allay-
ing thirst where liquids could not be procured,
for temporarily appeasing the pangs of hunger
geniously contrived glasses. He became a great
sunerer from insomnia, caused by an injury to
his spine from falling out Of a chase. His suf-
cred the remedy which never failed to induce
sleep in him whenever tried, and which is said
to have never failed on any one who has tried
it and reported on their success. Its publica-
tion caused great stir at the time, both in the
medical world and among the people generally.
Remedies for Insomnia.!s
Mr. Gardner said: THE sufferer who wishes
to sleep must lie on his right side, with his
head placed comfortably on the pillow. having
his neck straight, so that respiration will not
be hindered in the least The lips are then to
be closed slightly and full inspiration taken,
breathing through the nostrils only if possible.
The full inspiration taken, the lungs are to be
left to their own action. Attention must now
be nxed upon the respiration. The person
must imagine that he sees the breath pass from
his nostrils In a continuous stream. like steam
from an exhaust pipe. The instant he brings
his mind to conceive that he thus sees his
breath, and. grasping this idea apart from all
asleep. If this method does not at once sue
ceed 1t is to be persevered in, and, If properly
carried out, is believed to be infallible. 1t Is
influence on the mind Of single idea induces
Sleep" The above has been tried in many diff
ferent forms-that is, the idea has been carried
out on the same principle. Thus, Sir Thomas
Brown found it good soporifc to repeat some
verses on which the well-known evening hymn
is founded. Rabelais tells US of some monks
who, when wakeful, resolutely set themselves
dozen aves or paternosters, would tall sound
asleep. The same thing is noticed in our
churches to this day by people who are not
monks.
Some Noted Sufferers.
Ben Franklin took his air bath. going through
the imaginary aplutions as if in pool. and was
thus always able to produce sleep, though he
suffered with insomnia to great degree. Prof.
Agassiz, the great scientist suffered a great
deal from sleeplessness and used to soothe his
mind to rest by gently waving his right hand in
the air as if making figure eight very slowly.
Audubon. the naturalist. induced sleep by
closing his eyes and breathing slowly and regu-
larly and rolling his eyeballs downward as if
looking at his feet through the closed lids.
"Old Hickory jackson sometimes suffered
from insomnia, and is said to have always
counted ,000-at least that he always started
out with his mind fixed on the task of counting
ten hundred, but that he said he never reached
that number before he would drop of into un.
consciousness.
Strong Recommendation.
These remedies are an simple and worth try
ing. They have the weight of great authority
and have the testimony of thousands who have
tried them as to their efficacy. As sleepless-
ness is a common complaint, and as it is dan
gerous il not checked, it is worth while for any
one suffering thus to try the suggestions. They
are founded on reason and on what the best
give as being the surest method Of
SO oothing the brain and mind into Quietude and
re rest-monotony and concentration on one idea.
Texns Given nm Omce.
WASHINGTON. July 0-The Secretary Of
the Treasury to-day appointed Charles Hedges,
of Texas, to be chief of q division in the Sixth
Auditors Office. vice c. T. Mitchell, resigned.
Insecure support.
From the Troy Times.l
People who live beyond their means are
simply dangling from rope which is hitched |
to nothing at the upper end.