Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-07-11
HOMENAKERS COLUMN.

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nAMMocks INDOORS.
Since nervous disorders, accompanied
by insomnia, are 20 alarmlnGiy preya-
lent. and their treatment By narcotics
and other drugs 20 often results 10 pro
ducing more dangerous disease than
the one they were . suppoeed psnscea
for, it u certainly wise 90 consider every
other means that promises allevation or
Q cure.
In two or three Instances that have
come under my observation, the method
Ical use Of Q hammock has been provoca-
tive of sleep. should an expert 10 ths
treatment Of this class Of diseases bear
the latter assertion, he would doubtless
say: "You are mistakes, madam; the
benefit came from the patients being
methodical In seeking 70 Induce sleep
and not from the use Of hammock"
Gpnting without question, that BE-
csuse we do most easily that which we
are In the habit Of doing, Q regular
routine of living 10 one OF the surest
ways of economiIing 10 the expenditure
of nerve force, and 10 also conducive TO
rest and sleep, for, ~ some one has said,
.If there IL anything which tends more
to become . machine than the human
body, Il IL the human mind, and IL u 10
called on every night ut the same time
TO furnish sleep, Il may be relied upon
10 do Il With some considerable degree
Of certainty" am positive that In at
least one case the slow, rythmical swing
Ing of q hammock produced restful,
sound sleep. For many months Mrs. AZ,
a terrible sufferer from spinal afiiiction,
Was attended by two prominent physi
clans, Who faithfully dosed, bllstered,
cupped and burned, but all to no pur-
pose. She could neither turn herself 10
bed nor be raised In sitting position
Then another physician Of the same
school, but one with far less faith 10 the
curative power Of drugs and much more
In the recuperative force OF nature, wal
given the case. Full Of hope and cour'
age, the lnvalid's confidence Was soon
gained, and q course Of treatment %
systematic and unyielding a. to seen
cruel TO others, Was enforced. Slowly,
oh, how slowly, Improvement Was noted
In several directions, but not 10 hel
power to sleep. At the expiration 0l
seven months Of this treatment, on every
day of which there had been midday
rest hour. when not even the nurse wal
allowed to remain In her chamber, but
never ten minutes OF sleep. Summer
came, a hammock was suspended on q
secluded, sunny piazza and the invalid
placed In II for her rest hour. In les,
than two weeks she slept, and slep'
regularly every day. Ii could not have
been the soothing influence OF fresh air
or the tonic of sunshine, for both had
poured into her chamber through thret
large east and south windows fol
months. Il was surely the motion ol
the hammock, and proved 80 when one
Was also hung In her chamber. In thu
other two cases the evidence WAS not %
convincing, for with one II was also the
commencement Of systematic course Of
rest.
Sometimes restlessness, or nausea, u
induced BY the motion Of hammock
and Il would, Of course, be something IL
the nature Of an experiment for an In
valid to attempt lying In one. But II
were afflicted with sleeplessness ] should
surely have q comfortable hammock
suspended properly and beyond al
chance OF accident, and make ath0r0ugf
trial OF lying In 1t when uneasy and
wakeful In bed.
DO not have one Of the old style tina,
are netted of cord, and hard to lie In
but q large woven one, and preferably
one without cushion for the head. II
YOU use II at night, have thick, sOf,
stack" the exact size Of the hammock
covered with handsome figured chlntz
or Turkey red. and either tie II securely
to the inside, along each side, With tapes
or else have IL sewed to position. Have
a pillow for the head. In size aud shap,
BOLSTER or square, suited TO your specia
needs or notions, and cover II with pom
gee or linen, or at least with some fabric
that will be cool aud pleasant to the
touch. Have two or three small pillows
say seven by nine or eight by ten Inches
large, filled, not too full, with down
and covered with chlntz or other ser
yiceable material that will be cool and
pleasant to the touch. Have loop Ol
tape attached to one corner, and wher
not In use have them hung conveniently
near. II you have never tried them, you
have no idea how restful such little pill
lows are when placed under an aching
eide, back or shoulder. A handsome
afghan for day use Il nice, but one oI
two soft wooden blankets are far more
comfortable Ona cold winters night
or what Ia better even than these, have q
wooden Mother Hubbard gown to clip on
over q muslin one, a pair OF all-wOo
pants, and knit worsted shoes that have
soles lined with lambs wool, and come
well up over the ankles. Don these wher
changing from the bed to hammock, and
you are sure to be comfortable with only
one lightweight blanket, unless the
room Is colder than 1t should be for an
invalid or u person having low vitality
Handsome woven hammOcks with
frlnge-edged valance at the sides can b
purchased In several c0lors; but II you
want something handsOmer, get q fine
plain one and add valance to II. Fol
the latter embiolder a strip Of linen can
vas, Bargarren art cloth or some Other
suitable material, In crOss-stitch Will
colOred silks or crewels; sew one edge
to the sides Of the hammock, and finish
the other with Wide knit or crOcheted
linen lace with heavy fringe knotted 10
the scall0ped edge. IL the cover OF the
pillows, tack and embroidery on the
valance harmOnlze II will make dc
cided addition to the furnishings OF q
room, ami perhaps afford relief to some
weary invalid or Overworked man OF
woman suffering from insomnia.
A hammock hung In living room and
generously supplied with durable Pill.
lows, affords great amusement Il
children, aud might possibly Induce the
tired housewife to snatch few minutes
rest occasionally instead Of g0ading her
self to the extreme limit Of physical en-
durance. 1t surely Ia an experiment,
worthy Of trial.