The record-union., 1894-03-03
SLEEPLBSSNBSO.
A Prevalent Complaint, and How 1t
Should Be Treated.
What VIII Cure One Person VIII Make
Another Worse-Causes of Insom-
MIA and Their Removal.

Insomnia may arise from many and
very different causes. Its commonest are
indigestion. or imperfect digestion, insult
ficient outdoor exercise, low vitality,
trouble or worry of any kind and over
taxing and over excitement of the brain.
Any one of these is sufficient to create in
sOmnia, and this NAV continue after the
cause itself has ceased to exist. In GER
tain cases insomnia appears to set i'll
without any apparent reason, but, in the
great majority of these. some predisposi
ton (as, for example, unhealthy activity
OF brain or hereditary tendency will be
found to account for it, Perhaps one of
the most frequent causes of sleeplessness
Ia term which may be used to distinguish
the mild form of insomnia from it's acute
one) especially in the case of women, is
the too frequent drinking of tea and
coffee, and taking them at too late hours
OF the day. A little selt-denial in these
ways in the first stages of insomnia
would often save many weary hours aud
many a doctors fee.
A mere casual attack of sleeplessness
may be sometimes cured by walking up
and down the room for a short time,
which quickens the circulation of the
blood, and by the change of position
makes the return to a reclining one once
more a rest. Sometimes washing the face
and hands will suffice to induce sleep.
Often l have known the simple remedy
of taking a pillow away or adding an
extra one prove equally etlectual. The
position OF the head should be matter
OF great consideration, as perfect rest de-
pends very much upon it.
Retiring to bed too soon after meal is
frequently productive of insomnia,
while, on the other hand, it may be
cured by taking cup of cocoa or bread
and milk. or any light reireshment, just
before retiring to bed. For persons who
have small appetites or very rapid diges-
tions, it is a good plan always to have
plate OF crackers in the room, and glass
OF milk by the bedside. Even a glass of
water will sometimes induce sleep.
Sleeping draughts should never be re-
sorted except in very extreme cases. and
III no instance till after all simple reme-
dies have proved futile.
Out-Of-doOr exercise is one OF the best
remedies for sleeplessness, alike in its
early and in its acute stages; but my ex
perience has been that this, like every
thing else, is good that may become an
evil Over-fatigue of itself produces
sleeplessness, as everybody by experience
knows, and great judgment is needed to
1uu Oub W6I6 6A6EIlOH passes 1IOUl bU0
beneficial to the prejudicial stage. 1t may
be suggested, but only as a rough and
general rule, that anyone accustomed to
take an hours walk day will do we'll to
extend that time TO two or three hours; but
never take more than an hour and a half
before the midday meal. In some cases
a shorter time would be better, and in
only a very cases would longer time be
advisable. Driving in an open carriage
9Xrpilpnt q a
sorts of insomnia.
OF the many things prescribed for in
somnia, few are better or worse than
reading. A sufficiently interesting and
not too exciting book read for an hour
or two before going to bed will often do
more to produce healthy sleepiness than
anything else; while nothing is more
prejudicial to it than the common habit
with certain people of reading immedi-
ately upon getting into bed, or when ly-
ing awake during the night. 1.-The brain
becomes accustomed to being awake, and