The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-16
To Head off wakefuIness.

The good old cure for sleeplessnes:
holds good through al changes, an easy
conscience and a healthy BODY A due
portion Of fatigue and quiet surround
ings may be added as also Necessary to
induce refreshing sleep, and sleep which
Is not refreshing Is about as unsatisfac
tory as wakefulness. Nevertheless. TO
people Of a nervous temperament some
strictly material rules for cou-ting the
balmy god with success are not 10 be
despised. Many little things conduee to
sleeplessness. the avoidance Of which
viii remove that trouble.
Indigestion, cold feet, over fatigue, tea
and coffee taken 10 excess, excitement
generally, all tend to a resilessness Of
the brain, which prevents calm sleep
Many devices are resorted TO to expel
such nervousness. The old suggestion.
made in ridiculs originally, to read some
very dry book or 70 have some one talk
you 70 sleep Is really excellent in prae
tiee- The duh monosoay Of a prosy book.
and even more the dull monotone Of =
prosy talker. usually produces Just the
dull impressions On the brain which are
required 10 induce sleep 4 monotonous
train Of thought often serves.
An eminent student Of brain disorders
prescribed the constant dripping Of water
on metal pan The regular ticking Of
q clock frequently sends sleepless per-
sons into the desired state Of brain mac
ton, though in fact all these processes
may serve 20 drive a very nervous per
son into = Wild hysteria Of wakefulness-
But an old and most curio1sly recon-
mended physical process comes 70 rs in
an old book.
It was announced many years ago as
great discovery in England by 3 Mr..
Gardner, and most commendsfory test
moniais as to its effectiveness we're given
by the late Prince Albert, SIR Powell
Buxton, Sheridan Knowles and other
eminent person Il was considered 50
valuable that large sum bad to be paid
FOR it for publication by Mr. Binns in
his quaint book, now almost unknown,
entitled The Anatomy Of sleep"
The prescription as therein printed is
ss follows. The person who after going
to bed finds himself sieepless IS 70 lie on
his right side, with his head comfortably
placed on the pillow, having his neck
straight 50 that respiration may be IN
impeded. Let him then close his lips
slightly and taSs 2 rather full inspira-
ton, breathing through the nostrils IN
less breathing through the mouth Is
habitual Having taken the full inspira-
ton, the lungs are TO be left 70 their
Own action; that Is, expiration Is not TO
be interfered with Attention must nov
be liked upon the respiration.
The person must imagine that he sees
the breath passing from his nostlils il a
continuous steam, and at the instant
that be brings his mind to conceive this.
apart from all other ideas, consciousness
leaves him and ne falls asleep. some-
times II happens that the method does
not at once succeed Il should then be
perseyered in. Let the person take
thirty or forty full inspirations and pro
eeed as before bat he must by no means
attempt to count the respirations, for if
he does the mere counting will keep him
from sleep.
Il Is certainly to be said Of this plan
that it is safe and can easily be tested.
The other prescriptions, such as a good
conscience and q well earned fatigue,
need Tot be set aside on account Of il.
New York Tribune.