St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-11-21
HOW TO GET TO SLEEP
The Rocking Motion of a Steamboat
Cure for Insomnia.

Sleeplessness or insomnia is familiar
TO most persons who make their living
by any kind Of mental labor, and in a
majority Of cases the sufferer seeks IN
drugs for relief. These soon lose their
effect unless taken in large quantities.
and the unfortunate victim is liable 10
become addicted to habit not easily
shaken off.
I'm all my practice" said physician
to New York News reporter, IL have
never prescribed drug for insomnia,
except in cases where the sleeplessness
was occasioned by e2cTuciating pain OF
an acute disease. Where mental ca
haustion, oycrtaxod nerves. or business
anxiety has caused the trouble, depend
upon other means Of relief. One of the
best means. as everybody knows. is
regular physical exercise. For mental
exhaustion bodily fatigue is the best
sleep producer | know Of. But it will
somnia ia very stubborn ailment when
it once gets hold of person. had
case not long ago that taxed all my re-
sources to cure. 1t was that of man
whose nervous system was completed
shattered. He dreaded the approach Of
night, for it brought him no rest.
'''Doctor he said to nc, unless | can
can get sleep | know I shall lose my
mind. Night after night walk the floor
Of my room until my mind and body to-
gether seem ready to fail with exhaus-
ton. But when I lie down to get the
rest SO much need, | toss from one side
e ~. Iol 10 ,p+iI IN Shnup
desperation | rise again to tramp the
carpet.
recommended fvc-m ile-walk every
night before retiring. 1t did not produce
the desired effect A nightly bath Of
warm water and ammonia, followed by
vigorous rubbing, was next tried, but in
vain. His diet was regulated, tonics
were administered, and an entire rest
from work and a change OF air enloned.
1t was all to no purpose. In despair he
said to me:
i" On, if my mother were only alive! ]
feel that if could rest in her arms and
be rocked by her, as used to be when a
child, might obtain some rest
Capital idea. I exclaimed, with
sudden illumination. Motion. rocking,
that's Just what yon want. Here you
have been tossing yourself to and fro
whenever you lie down. Now we will
furnish the tossing for you. 60 down to
the Albany boats tonight and engage
berth as near the paddle wheel as you can.
Get into it as soon after the boat starts
as you can. Return on the same boat
tomorrow night and report TO me-
when he came to my office two days
afterward his eyes were bright and the
| expression of haggard misery that had
| become habitual to him had left his face.
"'Well, said !, what luck:
81 am Il new man., he answered. I
have enjoyed two nights OF delicious
| slumber
"When asked to recount his experience,
he said:
81 followed your directions explicitly,
got berth nearest the paddle Wheel
| which was easily procured for nobody
else would take i:--and turned in as sooD
after supper as possible. did not ez-
| poct to sleep, but anticipated night OF
tossing. To my surprise | did nothing
Of the kind. With every revolution Of
the paddle-wheel I received thorough
shaking up. The motion soothed me, and
soon fell asleep
And now concluded the physicians
| that man sleeps every night in a cradle,
and is rocked TO slumber by his valet.
! And would advise all persons who are
| kept awake at night by tossing on their
| beds TO follow his example,