The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-05-20

DR.. G. +. Page takes a radically
different view of insomnia from that
which ordinarily prevails He makes
the startling assertion that, instead of
sleeplessness being the cause of insan-
ity it would be much nearer the truth
to say that insanity causes sleepless-
ness. He sets it down as an axiom that
ito deserve sleep is to have it" Quot
ing DR.. Rush, that "a dream is a tran
sient paroxysm of delirium, and deliri-
um perpetual dream" he makes sew
eral original statements. He says that
not every dreamer becomes insane, nor
every person who is distressed 10y wake
fulness; nor do all persons who dream
droll or startling dreams become IN
mates of lunatic asylums, although they
are tit subjects for rigid hygiene; that
normal sleep Is dreamless; that, in de-
fault of this total oblivion, sleep is only
partial-it is not perfect nervous re-
pose; that persons suffering from sleep
lessness through indigestion can be
cured 10y improved habits; that to at
tack insomnia as a disease is sure to re.
suit III discontinue; that dragging
should not be resorted to; that, once
established wakefulness tends to per
petuate itself, but that this would not
be the case with an absolutely-n natural
regimen; that "A man IS wakeful at night
because under his present physical con
ditiOn he ought to be: that thus the
only possible cure of the disease is :
radical reform in ones living habits
that an endeavOr to go to sleep is a
mistake, for the good reason that the
effort to compose the mind upon lying
down and subdue the activity of the
senses is made by the higher faculty,
while that is a part or function of the
organism which of all others needs to
be itself restful in order that the
physico-mental being may sleep.
There is no doubt that the most bene-
fetal sleep is the most natural, and the
most natural can only be enjoyed by q
physical system in which the tissues are
properly renewed, as we use them up by
mental labor. The best medical writers
on the subject Of sleep assert that, as
stimulation of the brain causes dilation
of its vessels and increases the flow of
blood through them, mental action OF
itself not only attracts more blood to
the brain, but provides, to some extent,
for the removal of waste products.
Consequently, sleeplessness is normal
to the clOgged brain. In that condition
the movements induced by the cardiac
pulsatiOns are not so extensive as those
I caused by the respiratory movements
or by muscular eXertion. Therefore,
when the brain is overworked and the
respiratory and muscular movements
are restricted, cerebral nutrition viii
he diminished by the imperfect re-
moyal OF waste from its substance.
Bat when, IN addition to this, the GER
cbral vessels and tibers are poisoned by
the circulation-wit the vessels
which are their means of supply OF
noXious substances. due to imperfect
digestion or assimilation, the condition
Of the brain, and, OF course, Of the men
tai constitution, Will become greatly
worse
DR.. Page regards coffee drinking and
tobacco-smokmg rs enemies to som
Violence, and, therefore, enemies to
health. He prescribes abstinence from
stimulants, simple food, fresh air. and
plenty Of it, as the prerequisites to
sleep, and says II it does not come with
such wooing, it must not be forced
with sOpOrific drugs CLicqqO NelCS.