The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-28
TREATING INSOMNIA.
ADVICE TO THE VICTIMS OF a DIS
TRESSING DISEASE.

An Addiction That Is Widespread In
This Hustling Country-How to Woo
the sleep That Ilnits Up the Raveled
Sleeve of Care"
Insomnia is n widespread American
disease. 1t afiiicts the best brains of this
country-lawyers, teachers and other
professionals and especially men of
affairs whose minds are overtaXed with
multitude of harassing, incessant bust
ness details. 1t is caused by an undue
distension of the arteries supplying the
red blood to tho brain, resulting in un-
relieved pressure on the nerve cells of
the gray matter, eventuating 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,
TITS sleep knits up the travelled sleeve
Of care" This is also true scientifically
and physiologically. 1t is capable of
being expanded into whole treatise.
With the lightninglike glance of genius
he saw into the very structure of nerve
tissue, the cause of its wear and tear
and the remedy.
Dr. Samuel Johnson i'll his ponderous
dictionary defined met" 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 q 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 Il long days work
over some exhausting mental occupa-
ton. this cell is flaccid and collapsed, u
portion of its substance gone, and,it is
unfit for further Immediate work
y nights natural sleep repairs the
waste, the life giving blood i'll gentle,
regular pulsations flows by and tho
proper element is taken out of each
globule and incorporated into1hc struc-
ture Of the nerve CELL so that 'on awak-
ening 1T is again restored, alert and
ready to receive and send out messages
and do its proper work. Sleep has knit
together again the meshcs ravcled out
by care. The action of 1000, 900 of
these cells packed together III the brain,
like Leyden Jars i'll IL battery, is nnnlo-
.souS to electricity but not at all dcnti-
cal with it.
One has sometimes in the country
noticed Il lone forest lightning struck
tree slowly iecaying rs the seasons roll
by III the Alterations Of rain and frost
and wind First the small twigs become
brittle, Jreah of and fall. then larger
branches ANA limbs and finally the many
thousand subdivisions are reduced 10
about three large atuinpS supported by
the lasted trunl: with the rotten bark
clirgiug to it As age crecps slowly on
tic aniI:nl body the small ramitications
OF blood vessels III the face for instance,
wither and die and then larger vessels,
leaving pits called "wrinklcs. " The
same thing happens i'll the interior OF
the brain. Int this is invisible on the sur
face. Instead Of many fine subdivisions
or arteries re2chiuS every part of tho
structure and thus lrrigaiing it with
the red life giving iluid these dry up,
are absorbed and larger ones and fewer
i'll number result. Into these the blood
has tendency to pour at night during
sleep, oil slight provocation resulting
III undue disteasion and engagement,
and consequent wakefuncss, thus pro-
ducing the we'll known disease "insom-
MIA. which, if prolonged, results in
brain wreck and insanity.
Let the sufferer look to tho 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 he
fore retiring on on rising. Taking
slight repast before going to bed so as
to draw surplus of blood from the
brain and clovating the head on pillows
SO as to- allow gravitation to assist III
draining the blood from the brain arc
good
Periodicity is of great assistance Go.
ing to bed Mt exactly tho Same hour
every night. tho firm aud strong belief
in the fact that You will sleep ut that