Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26

Massssatiea a,A Water . Ready csrs for
Insomnia.
cHRw YoUn FOOD w4xL-rBK fRRfrkrfor CAUSED
n ovKnloADrSe TIE sroxAoH WITH uLx HAS
ffcArKp roop-vHES YouR BACK TEETH Arr
eoSE TAKE xonx rnr-BExErIrs OF wArKR-
HABrTUALLY DISTURBED SLEEP IN
- persons not afflicted with an acute
or organic disease 10 due almost entirely 10 in
digestion There are occasionally cases in
winch sleeplessness in an otherwise healthy
subject b the result Of intense mental strain.
but, - rule. where this disorder appears in
persons In ordinary health il Il due 10 some
misuse Of the stomach.
Many persons from childhood al their
stomAchs with food barely cbewed enough to
Sann Of degiutition. In childhood most
ssomachs are vigorous enough to undertake the
DUTY OF digesting this mass or Of ejectirg IT. but
as age increases the stomach becomes weary of
tnese unnatural inpositions upon its functions
and iaanifests ty many disagreeable symptoms
iss inability to satisfactorily perform its work
under such disadvantage. Among these
symptoms il that which forms the subject Of
this article.
THE TOPICAL IRRITATION
caused by tho contact OF lily masticatcd food
against the wall Of the stomach is analogous to
an irritation OF any other portion Of the body.
anu 20 long rs this irritation continues sound
hpmper 10 impossible Again food that in
earned into the stomach without being properly
ensailvated. rs must be the case il ID is not
properly chewed. 10 not susceptible 90 the
iurtber processes Of Authorization. Conse-
qaentiy many articles Of food instead Of under
n0aE b..
matter and as such produce disturbing effects
OF which the individual is not always acutelv
conscious. but which are sometimes porceptible
enough TO be distressing and always inimical
70 restful sleep. The radical remedy for this
phase Of insomnia is, of course the proper
nasacation OF iood, particularly that which 10
OF farinaceous character.
WHAT PROPER MAsrIcArIoS MEANS.
Proper masticstion implies tina. the food be
thoroughly chewed and mixed with the fluids
OF the mouth before being swallowed and that
these functions be performed without haste.
Most people eat as though they were ignorant
OF the fact that the stomach has no teeth or
means OF ensalivatins the food with which they
III II The stomach 10 q most faithful servitor
anu makes long and earnest struggle to pre-
serve ITS owner from the inevitable eonse-
quences OF imposing upon IL functions which
nature Intended should be performed by the
testh and the salivary glands: but like the in
duigences OF faithful mother or any
otner self-sacrifcing friend its services
are only recognized when il il un-
aoie 70 respond TO demands for them. Most
people as they approach middle life lore many
OF their back teeth, which are the principal inn
PIGMENTS OF mastication. but they fail TO bear
IN mind that they should take more time at
their meals tn order to properly prepare their
food for swallowing. They should remember
that nature makes no allowance for their in
In mi l,,s A~ia
q strict account for any neglect to observe the
rules Of health
How SLEEP MAY BE SECURED.
When sleep. essness is due to this condition
OF the stomach slumber may sometimes be in
duced by covering the stomach With flannel or
otherwise warming il, or by drinking a cup Of
hot water. A cup Of hot water drank Just be-
fore retiring Is perhaps the best stimulus to di-
gestion and consequently producer Of sleep
In such cases, but as a general rule the only
permanent remedy for this phase Of the COM
nature intended, by only charging il with mat
ter that has been properly masticated and en-
salivated and IN such Quantities as may be di-
gested without imposing wearisome or impos-
si6le task upon that organ. All medication il
mischieyous ~ resort for permanent relief
from this disorder.
INTERNAL USE OF WATER.
The value Of the internal use Of water a. an
agency FOR the prevention and removal Of dis
eased conditions is too little understood
Nearly every case Of Inflammation and irrita-
ton OF the bladder may by the practice Of
eopious water drinking, especially on the empty
stomach, be palliated to such extent as to cease
to give even annoyance. Nothing that can be
taken into the stomach will better conduce to
keep It and the general system in q healthy
state than pint OF water about the summer
ne RAJ f.f huA 4. l.
half TO three-quarters Of an hour before break
fast. The hrst few swallows should be small
and within Q few seconds intervals Of each
other, but the last half should be taken in as
large gulps as possible, with the body erect and
chest well thrown out.
THE BENEFIT.
The principal benefit deriyable from this
practice Is perhaps the mechanical flushing out
OF the undigested contents and the absorption
Of the additional water into the circulating
system. although some Of the good effects may
be attributable to the small quantity of the
secretions OF the mouth, which is incidentally
carried down, and the local tonic influence Of
the water. Whatever may be the rationale of
this treatment its efficacy as a promoter and
preseryer Of health il second to none. The
body should not be prone again for at least
three-quarters Of an hour after drinking. The
temperature Of the water may, as q matter of
taste, be dissgreeable at nrst, but that
objection Will soon become insignificant
before q little resolution. There In no
situation in which frmness with ones
aislncllnations may be more profitably applied
Very hot or very cold water should not
be taken upon an empty stomach. The prac-
tice Of drinking hot water just before meals.
which prevailed extensively q short while ago
has fallen into merited disrepute. The stomach
does not until after long time recover from
the debiltating effects Of drink of very hot
water imposed upon IL while empty. Hence
no food should be taken into il Immediately
after such draught
WHEN CAUSED BIZ BUSINESS or ovERwoRK
Where sleeplessness is due to business cares
or any other form Of mental excitement the
radical remedy 10 removal Of the causes by
which it is induced. II is very often almost
impossible for people to leave their busine.s or
employment In order to obtain the desired re-
iief, but In many cases this is a sine que non,
have known OF persons who we're GA the verge
Of prostration from loss Of sleep deliberately
abandon their business to the charge of such
Substitutes as they could obtain on the mo-
ment and 60 to some place where it was i'm
possible for any one AZ their homes or their
places Of business to reach them with business
and thus obtained q speedy
return to their normal disposition and ca
pacity to sleep. Az long as people who are
affected with this phase q insomnia stay
where the cares of business are constantly
thrust upon their attention their minds will be
occupied by business thoughts which chase
each other round and round through their
beads in never ending and proftless procession
while they vainly eodeavor to sleep. Rest is
as essential to the braaa as to the muscle.
VI course where insomnia il due TO organic
or acute diseases the remedial suepestions