Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
GATAGoOD SUPPER.
That Is the True Why 90 Obtain a Refresh
ing sleep.
tAmerlcnn Analyst

Going 10 bed with wcll-hlled stomach
il tho essential prerequisite Of refreshing
slumber. The cautions so often reiterated
in old medical journals against late cup
pers were directed chiefly t. the bib
ulous habits Of those early times,
when a. every late feast the guests
not unsed0m drank themselves un-
der the table. or needed strong "a
sistance to reach their couch, the canon
against such indulgence was not untimely.
Nature aud common sence teach US that a
full stomach Is essential 20 quiet repose.
Every man who has found 10 difficult To
keep awake has answered the problem for
himself There are few animals that can
be trained To rest until after they are fed.
Man. as he comes into the world, pre-
sents condition it would be well for hun
To follow IN all hsafter life. The sweetest
minstrel ever sent out of Paradise can not
sing new born childto sleep on an empty
stomach. We have known reckless nurses
10 rive the little ones dose OF parcgOrlc OF
soothing syrup IN place of It's cup OF milk,
when IL was too much trouble 90 get tho
latter, but this il the one alternative. Tho
| little stomach of the sleeping child, az u
becomes gradually empty, folds on itself
in plaits two OF these make 10 restless;
three will open its eyes. but by careful
soothing these may be closed again, four
plaits and the charm IL broken; there II
no more sleep I'm that household until that
child has been fod 10 seems 10 US so
strange that with this example b0iore
their eyes full-grown men are 50 slow TO
learn the lesson.
The Turner does il for hispig, who would
squeal all night if il were not fed at tho
last moment, and tho groom knows that
his horse viii paw in IN his stall until he
has had bis meal. But whom he wishes 20
sleep himself he mover seems 10 think OF 70.
To sleep the fullness OF the blood must
leave the head TO digest tho eaten food
tho blood must come to tho stomach.
Thus sleep aud digestion are natural allies;
one helps the other.
Man, by long practice, will train himself
10 sleep on an empty stomach, but II -
more tho sleep OF exhaustion than the sleep
of refreshment. He wakes mp after such a
troubled sleep feeling utterly miserable
until he has had a cup Of coffee or some
other stimulant, and he has SO injured the
tone Of h.s stomach that no has little APP
petite for breakfast. Whereas. ono who
allows himself 10 sleep after comfortable
meal awakes strengthened, and his appo-
tte has been quickened by the preceding
indulgence.
The difficulty in recovery comes from the
fact that We are such creatures Of our
habits II is impossible to break away from
them without persistent effort. In this
case the man who has eaten nothing after
q o'clock and retTes at 10 or IL takes TO bed
an empty stomach. upon which tho action
OF tho gastric jucies make him uncOmfOrt-
able all the night. II no proposes 10 try
our experiment no Will sit down and eat u
tolerably hearty meal. He u unaccuston-
ed 10 this at that hour and has a sense OF
discomfort with it. He may try II once or
twice. or even longer, and then he gives 10
up. satisfied that for him 10 Is failure.
The true course is 10 begin with just one
or two mouthfuls the last thing before
going 20 bed And this should be light
food, easily digested. No cake or pastry
should be tolerated. One mOuthful Of cold
roast beef. cold lamb, cold chicken, and A
little crust OF bread will do 10 begin with,
or. what Is better yet, spoonful or two OF
condensed milk mot the sweetened that
comes in cans) in three times as much
warm water. Into this cut half pared
peach and TWO or three little squares OF
bread the whole 20 be one fourth Or one
sixth Of what would be a light lunch.
Increase this very gradually. until at the
end OF 4 month or six weeks the patient
NAV indulge in a bowl Of milk, two peach
es, with half hard roll or a crust OF home
made bread. When peaches are gone tako
baked apples with the milk till stravber-
ries come, aud eat the latter till peaches
return AGAIN. This il the secret Of our
| health and vitality. We often work until
after midnight, but eating the comfortable
neal is the last thing We do every night Of
| the year. This Is not an untrled expert
meh or one depending on the testimony
| of a single witness.