The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-22
zrING INSOMNIA.
ADVICE TO TIE VICTIMS OF A DIS
TRsssIRc DISEASE

iRzcelfNG OfcEAoE
An Afsie-Soa That Il Widespread In
hi. Hussliag country-How 20 Woo
the asleep That Knits Up tho Rsseled
sleeve Of Care
Insomnia Is widespread American
disease Il afsiicts the best brains Of this
uountry-lawyers. teachers and other
professionals and especially rnen Of
affairs whose minds are overtaxed with
a multitude Of harassing, incessant bust
ness details. II is caused by an undue
distension Of the arteries supplying the
red blood 20 the brain, resulting in un-
relieved pressure OF the nerve cells Of
the gray matter, eventuating in pro
Ionged wskefulness during the night.
at a time when they should be allowed
70 remain quiescent and recuperate the
tissue wasted during the active hours
Of the day Shakespeare poetically says
- 'Tis sleep knits up the raSeled sleeve
Of care. This is also true scientifically
and physiologically. Il is capable Of
icing expanded into a whole treatise.
With the lightninglike glance Of genius
be saw into the very structure Of nerve
tissue, the cause Of its wear and tear
ard the remedy
Dr. Samuel johnson il his ponderous
dictionary defined met" TO be AN
interviewer decussated tissue Of mesh
es 4" Each cell IN the brain has this
character Magnified several hundred
diameters it would resemble the net
work covering a small balloon In the
morning. after refreshing nights rest,
each cell Is expanded. alert with life,
and has the faint pink glow Of health
At evening. after a long days work
over some exhausting mental occups-
tion. this cell is flaccid and collapsed,
portion Of its substance gone. and IL Is
unfit for further immediate work.
A nights natural sleep repairs the
waste. the life giving blood in gentle,
regular pulsatioDs flows BY and the
rroper element Is taken out Of each
clobule and incorporated into the struc-
turs Of the nerve cell. 50 that On awak-
ening IL l. again restored, alert and
ready to receive and send out messages
and do its prcpsr work Sleep has knit
together again the meshes raveled out
By care. The action Of 1000. 600 Of
these cells packed together IN the brain,
like Leyden jars in battery. Is snalo-
gous 70 electricity, but not at all identi
cal with it
One has sometimes in the country
noticed a lone forest lightning struck
tree slowly decaying as the seasons roll
BY in the alterations OF rain and frost
and wind First the small twigs become
brittle, break of and fall, then larger
branches and limbs and finally the many
thousand subdivisions are reduced 10
about three large stumps supported by
the blasted trunk with the rotten bark
clinging 10 il AS age cTeeps slowly on
the animal body the small ramiicatiOns
Of blood vessels in the face, for instance,
wither and die and then larger vessels,
leaving pits called wrinkles p" The
same thing happens in the interior Of
the brain. Dut this is invisible on the sur
face Instead Of many fine Subdivisions
Of arteries reaching every part Of the
structure and thus irriga5ina it with
the red life giving fluid these dry up.
are absorbed and larger ones and fewer
in number result Into these the blood
has tendency to pour at night during
sleep. on slight proyOcation resulting
IN undue distension and engagement,
and consequent wakefulness. thus pro-
d1ciDg the well known disease ''insoln-
MA" which. il prolonged, results IN
brain wreck and insanity.
Let the sufferer look to the health of
his whole body by outdoor exercise,
open air and regular diet. amend and
correct the general health or use tonic
baths at the proper time of the day be
fore retiring or ON rising Taking a
slight repast before going 70 bed 50 as
70 draw surplus Of blood from the
brain and elevating the head On pillows
so as TO allow gravitation 10 assist in
draining the blood from the brain are
good
Periodicity is of great assistance. Go
4AE " dE tAdIA4N sAE cdl-4E 8tAA
every night. the firm and strong belief
IN the fact that you viii sleep at that
hour. the diversion Of the mind Just be-
fore retiring by some light reading,
amusement, work or exercise Will help.
Refuse, If possible, 10 discuss or dwell
upon mournful, irritating or unfOrtu-
nate personal topics OF Affections Should
the sufferer suddenly awake in the night
before the allotted hours for repose have
passed, his best plan is not 10 lie awake
in bed il the dark staring vacaRtly
The oversensitive mind coDjures many
gloomy thoughts at this time in the
deep. still darkness Of the night, when
all outside day sounds and noises have
ceased their distraction. These cases
can be successfully treated at home,
and not by drugs Have a night table
handy, light candle, arise. throw off
and air the bed clothes. sit up, with
convenient wrapper around you. in an
easy chair. having first thrown open
eoOr OF window 70 completely change
the vitiated air Of the room. Of course
one must have chamber 70 himself 10
do this. All the conditions external be-
ing changed will tend 20 produce a
change Of those internal q the body
the brain and the nerves ...s-r a suit,
able interval one can again close the
doors and windows. replace covers and
retire 70 approaching slumber-
This was the method Of Benjamin
Franklin, who had large. active brain,
filed with multitudiDous private and
public affairs. during long and active
life, and he found il 20 succeed (See his
autobiography Different remedies will
suit different constitutions. The same
will not do for all alike Each person
must study bis own case, the moral and
physical causes. remove these and find
out what viii best scothe his exhausted
nerves and induce peaceful repose. -
James NJ Loring in ST Louis Post-Dis-
patch