Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-07-10
TO Woo SWEET SLEEP.
MANY SCHEMES EMPLOYED FOR
CONQUERlNG INSOMNIA.

If any unusually acute inventor could
tell us of an infallible contrivance foi
going to sleep just when we wish to dc
so there can be no doubt whatever of the
substantial benefit which would thereby
be secured for mankind. Some fortunate
individuals. like Napoleon |, can com
mand sleep the moment they lay their
heads on the pillows. others find them
selves all through life sleeping the sleep
of the Just every night, without difficulty
being experienced as to occasional wake
fulness. except when illness happens to
supervene.
The Duke of Wellington, who always
slept on camp bedstead, had maxim
that when man turned in bed it was
time to turn out; and here it may be re
marked that great soldiers appear to be
peculiarly constituted in their power to
summon sleep at will Possibly this may
be due to the habits of discipline which
they have learned. They say to their
brains, go to sleep" and at once the
word of command is obeyed.
WITH HEADS TO THE NORTH.
We are all familiar with the stereo-
typed advice in cases of this kind to
turn the pillow" to "thinlz of some
thing else" or to imagine and count a
numbered mountain sheep going through
gate Many time and oft has the too
wakeful brain worker attempted to carry
these and similar prescriptions into prac-
tice, usually with results disproportionate
to the efforts involved.
1t may he said without much exaggera-
ton that the man who can first imagine
a flock of sheep, then half open gate,
and then can force his Hypothetical sheep
to go through one by one without crowd
ing or lodging or turning tail is fit for
treason, stratagems or writing the sub
limest poetry. He is no ordinary man,
and it is for ordinary individuals that
the saving prescription is required.
Among prescriptions of more or less
sensible kind which have been at various
times propounded and actually put into
use for inducing sleep may be mentioned
the hop pillow, in which our forefathers
had considerable faith. the narcotic es-
sential oil which produces the hop scent
being supposed to be exceedingly sopo-
rifle
The hop pillow was used by George III
habitually when that monarch suffered
from insomnia Then S. A. Ellis long
ago announced as a grand discovery to
the Scottish Curative Mesmeric associa-
ton that sleep was all matter of which
way ones head points.
In a certain direction the electricity of
the earth, which is supposed to flow be-
tween the poles, passes along the body,
and SO tends to the enjoyment of rcpose.
Persons wishing to avoid sleepless nights
must therefore, Mr.. Ellis advised, ALWAYS
sleep south by north, with their heads
pointing in their latter direction, and
they must most religiously avoid attempt
ing TO slumber if their bed lies east and
west.
The idea boasts some supporters nova
days, but the consequences of its univer-
sal prevalence would lead to extraordi-
nary results. For example, architects
would have greater difficulties in build
ing suitable private residences than they
encounter even now, if they were obliged
to put their doors and fireplaces SO that
every apartment would allow of bed
being situated in exactly the same posi-
ton all over the house.
Let us imagine also country house,
where the gentlemen all retired to bed
about IL o'clock, the ladies having de
parted to rest long before. What a rude
awakening would ensue for the latter
when they were suddenly reused by hear
ing horrible rumblings as of thunder in
the rooms on every side, and above tbeml
They would think it was an earthquake
without doubt; whereas, as mere mat
ter of fact, it would be only that each
guest was simultaneously attempting to
shift his four poster into consonance
with the teachings of electrical science.
A PROFOUND SECRET.
There was, moreover, a London gentle
man who years ago really believed he
had found an absolutely certain prescrip.
ton for banishing wakefulness. and he
was willing to impart his knowledge to
others for handsome fee on the express
condition that the information should
Ego no further"
When the sleep practitioner died one
OF his patients informed an expcctant
world that the grand secret was simply
this: person lying in bed and attemp-
ting to sleep usually breathes through
his nostrils, and the breath SO emitted is,
In cold weather, quite visible.
All that has tn ha 1opo 10 for a.. -
Ject to think of his own breathing, to
imagine that he sees every breath that
issues from his nostrils, and in moment
or two he will fail into refreshino
slumber. There may be some virtue in
tins prescription, though common sense
would be inclined to suppose that the
mere bother of imagining anything what
ever would be so tiresome as to excite
the brain and Danish sleep much farther
off than ever.
some persons, however, testified to the
complete efficacy of the BREATHING Man
Alfred Since, the author of "Elempntsof
Electro Biology also attempted to solve
the puzzle why sleep, when much needed
Is often altogether denied. He referred
tne whole matter to the region of 1.-THE
olo-dynamic circuit" but the practical
prescription was to wet the ton of tho
mead with cold water, and be asserts
that he has thus often obtained for a
sufferer rest when every other means
have failed.
All these spirited endeavors are worthy
OF much praise; but perhaps the best
for avoiding sleepless niabts