Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06
SLEEPLESSNESS.
How TO Secure Rest for the Mind ana
Body at Night.


Sleeplessness is caused by source ~
Irritation somewhere in the body which
If relieved will result in natural slurbor
Many remedies have been suggested for
this distressing condition. some of which
might prove effective in a few cases but
generally speaking the panacea has vet to
he found which will relieve all The use Of
so-called hypnotics, like choral, morphine.
sulphuralr &C., is much to be deprecated
as their ultimate effect is worse than the
disease Furthermore, while they produce
unconsciousness, they do not produce sleep
IN us true meaning. Sleep has for its nac-
ural object the repair Of the wear and tosr
OF vital processes of life, and 10 insur,
proper sleep we must not interfere with
these processes, which we do when Dower-
iul drugs are given. Drug treatment NAV
be used TO put the sufferer in a position to
go to sleep in natural way but not for
the purpose of putting him to sleep. For
instance If there he present a condition OF
nerve tension remedy may be used 10
remove ia tonic, perhaps, or at times
a mild stimulant, but never a narcotic.
Fortuna ely there are many simple REM
edles at hand which VIII answer THIS pur-
pose without resorting to drugs in thoIr
strict meaning. y dose of salts taken he
fore the evening meal Will often remoye
the cause of wakefulness. Irritation of the
stomach and small intestines is probably
the cause OF 90 per cent Of The cases ~
insomnia. During the day this Irritation
may be present, but not noticeable; In fact
may not be felt at all. 1t is a fact thai
most dyspeptcs suffer from slcepiessness
and there is no reason to think the mix
will not work both ways 1t is generaIy
the case that the harder one tries to WOO
the goddess the more slowly she responda
Sleep Is above all a natural state and Will
superTene to a days labor as surely "a
hunger will follow fasting, providing II Ia
not interfered with. The different sIeep in
duclng pastures suggested, routine occIn.-
ton or the mind, such as Counting sheen
nc, are simple. idle methods. which
may be adopted or not, as the person de-
sires-the result will be the same, namely.
slumber viii come when natural conditions
obtain, VIZ, when the cause of its absanca
mas been removed and tranquility Of the
body and brain has asserted itself
Inc following procedure will IL Is be-
neNed, lf faithfully followed, night after
night induce the habit of restful slesp:
Take of simple physic sufficient to nova
the bowels every evening before retiring
Salts are the best and should he taken be-
lore the evening meal At . o'clock drink
a pint and a half of not water, too hot
TO be drank at once 1t should be sDped,
then a warm bath with brisk rubbing A
warm bath in hot weather cools the body
Go to bed. and. while II is Impossible not
TO think. endeavor to keep your thoughts
from distracting subjects.
The room should he well darkened to
the end that the light may not strike the
eye in the early morning. The eye is
sensitive organ in the healthy but in nery-
Gus subjects ii is abnOrmally so, and many
an hours refreshing sleep has been lost
by a faint ray from the sun striking in
through the side of a blind and impinginF
on an optic willing enough probably TO
open to the light of day and rob its owner
OF the final hOur's rest, so Teedful TO top
off the nights repose.