The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-11-12
TO HEAD OFF WAkEFuLNEsa
Here Is Method Which Is Said to Re
lnfallible for Securing Sleep.


lnfallible for Securing Sleep.
The good old cure for sleeplessness
holds good through all changes. an easy
conscience and Il healthy body. A due
portion of fatigue and quiet surround
lngs may be added as also necessary t.
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 counting the
baliny god with success are not to be
despised. Many little things conduce to
sleeplessness. the avoidance of which
will remove that trouble.
Indigestion. cold feet, overfatigue, tea
and coffee taken in excess, excitement
generally, all tend to restlessness of
the brain. which prevents calm sleep.
Many devices are resortel to to expel
such nervousness. The old suggestion.
made in ridicule originally, to read some
very dry book or to have some one talk
you to sleep is really excellent in prac-
tice. The dull monotony of prosy book,
and even more the dull monotone of a
prosy talller, usually produces just the
dull impressions on the brain which are
required to induce sleep. A 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
a clock frequently sends sleepless per-
sons into the desired state of brain mac
ton, though in fact all these processes
may serve to drive very nervous per-
son into Il wild hysteria of wakefulness.
But an old and most curiously recon-
mended physical process comes to us in
old books.
1t was announced many years ago as
great discovery in England by a Mr..
Gardner, and most commendatory testi-
monials as to its effectiveness were given
by the late Prince Albert, Sir Fowell
Buxton, Sheridan Knowles and other
eminent persons. 1t was considered so
valuable that large sum had to be paid
for it for publication by Mr.. Binns ia
his quaint book, now almost unknown
entitled The Anatomy of Sleep"
The prescription as therein printed is
as follows: The person who after going
to bed finds himself sleepless is to lie on
his right side, with his head comfortably
placed on the pillow, having his neck
straight so that respiration may be I'M
impeded. Let him then close his lips
slightly and take a rather full inspira-
ton, breathing through the nostrils un-
less breathing through the mouth is
habitual. Having taken the full inspira-
ton, the lungs are to be left to their
own action; that is, expiration is not to
be interfered with. Attention must now
be fixed upon the respiration.
The person must imagine that he sees
the breath passing from his nostrils in a
continuous stream, and at the instant
that he brings his mind to conceive this,
apart from all other ideas, consciousness
leaves him and he, falls asleep Some
times it happens that the method does
not at once succeed. 1t should then be
persevered in. Let the person take
thirty or forty full inspirations and pro-
coed as before: but he must by no means
attempt to count the respirations, for if
he does the mere counting will keep him
from sleep.
1t is certainly to be said Of this plan
that it is safe and can easily be tested.
The other prescriptions, such as good
conscience and we'll earned fatigue,
need not be set aside on account of it.
New York Tribune