Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-09-10
TREATING INSOMNIA
ADVICE TO THE VICTIMS OF A DIS.
TREsslNG DISEASE.

TRESSlNG DISEASE.
An Afniction That IL WIDESPREAD In
This Hustling Country-How to Woo
h asleep That Knits Up the Ravelcd
Sleeve Of Care"
Insomnia is q widespread American
disease. 1t afflicts the best brains of this
country-lawyers, teachers and other
professionals and especially men of
affairs whose minds are overtaxed with
a multitude of harassing, incessant bust
ness details. 1t is caused by an undue
d%istension Of the arteries supplying the
red blood to the brain, resulting in un-
relieved pressure on the nerve cells of
the gray matter, e%ventuating in pro-
longed wakefulness during the night,
at a time when they should be allowed
to remain quiescent and recuperate the
tissue wasted during the active hours
of the day Shakespeare POLITICALLY says,
20 Ills sleep knits up the raveled sleeve
Of care" This is also true scientifically
and physiologically. 1t is capable of
being expanded into u whole treatise.
With the lightninglike glance of genius
he saw into the very structure Of nerve
tissue, the cause of its wear and tear
aud the remedy.
DR.. Samuel johnson in his ponderous
dictionary defined a"net" to be ian
interviewer decussated tissue of mesh
es. 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 a 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 occupa-
tion, this cell is f1accid and collapsed, q
portion Of its substance gone, and it is
unfit for further Immediate work.
A nights natural sleep repairs the
waste, the life giving blood i'll gentle,
regular pulsations flows by and the
proper element is taken out of each
globule and Incorporated into the struc-
ture of the nerve cell, so that OH awak-
eling it is again restored, alert and
ready to receive and send out messages
and do its proper work. Sleep has knit
together again the meshes raveled out
by care. The action of 1000, 900 Of
these cells packed together i'll the brain,
like Leyden Jars in a battery, is analo-
gous tt electricity, but not at all identi-
cal with it.
One has sometimes i'll the country
noticed Il lcne forest lightning struck
tree slowly iecaying as the seasons roll
by i'll the alternations of rain and frost
and wind. First the small twigs become
brittle, break Off and fall, then larger
branches and limbs and finally the many
thousand subdivisions are reduced to
about three large stumps supported by
the blasted trunk with the rotten bark
clinglng to it. AS age creeps slowly OH
the animal body the small ramifications
of blood vessels i'll the face, for instance,
wither and die and then larger vessels,
leaving pits called wrinkles" The
same thing happens III the interior of
the brain, but this is invisible on the sur
face. Instead of many fine subdivisions
Of arteries reaching every part of the
structure and thus %irrigauing it with
the red life giving fluid these dry up,
are absorbed and larger ones and fewer
in number result. Into these tho blood
has q tendency to pour at night during
sleep, OH slight provocation resulting
in undue distension and engagement,
and consequent wakefulness, thus pro.
ducing the we'll known disease ''insom-
nia." which. if 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 tho general health or use tonic
baths at the proper time Of the day be-
fore retiring or Oh rising. Taking a
slight repast before going to bed SO as
to draw a surplus Of blood from the
brain and elevating the head on pillows
SO as to allow gravitation to assist il
draining the blood from the brain are
good.
Periodicity is of great assistance. Go
ing to bed at exactly the same hou,
every night, the firm and strong belle,
in the fact that you will sleep at thai
hour, the diversion Of the mind just be
fore retiring by some light reading
amusement. work or exercise will help
Refuse. If possible. to discuss or dwell
upon mournful. irritating or unfortu
nate personal topics or Affections. Should
the sufferer suddenly awake in the nigh
before the allotted hours for repose hav'
passed. his best plan is not to lie awak'
in bed in the dark staring vacantly
The oversensitive mind conjures man.
gloomy thoughts at this time in tn
deep. still darkness of the night. whel
all outside day sounds and noises hav
ceased their distraction. These case
can be successfully treated at home
and not by drugs Have a night tabl
handy. light a candle. arise. throw OF
and air the bed clothes. sit up, with
convenient wrapper around you. in a
easy chair. having first thrown open