The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-01-10
TREATING INSOMNIA.
ADVICE TO THE VICTIMS OF A DIS
TREssING DISEASE.

An Afaiction That Is Widespread In
This Hustling Country-How to Woo
the "Sleep That knits Up the Raveled
Sleeve Of Care"
Insomnia is a widespread American
disease. 1t a~.1icts the best brains of this
country-lawyers, teachers and other
professionals and especially men of
amultitude of harassing. incessant bust
ness details. 1t is caused by an undue
distension of the arteries supplying the
red blood to the 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,
Ills sleep knits up the raveled 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 in his ponderous
dictionary defined a"net" to be IAN
interviewer decussated tissue of mesh
L,,E coll -, $ho hr,;n hos &h:,
character. Magniied 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.
ton, this cell is faecid and collapsed, a
portion Of its substance gone, and it is
unfit for further immediate work.
\ nights natural sleep repairs the
waste, the life giving blood in gentle,
regular pulsations flows by and the
proper element is taken u of each
Zlobule and incorporated into the struc-
ture Of the nerve cell, ~ that on awak-
anins 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 in the brain.
like Levden jars i'll a battery, is analo.
gous to 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 fros
and wind. First the small twigs become
brittle, break off and fall, then large,
branches and limbs and finally the man,
thousand subdivisions are reduced t
about three large stumps supported b.
the blasted trunk with the rotten bar
clinging to it. AS age creeps slowly O,
the animal body the small ramification
of blood vessels in the face, for instance
wither and die and then larger vessels
leaving pits called wrinkles" Th
same thing happens in the interior c
the brain, but this is invisible or the sui
face. Instead Of many fine subdivision
of arteries reaching every part Of tn
structure and thus %irrigaring it wit
the red life giving fluid these dry W
are absorbed and larger ones and fewe
in number result. Into these tho bloc
has a tendency to pour at night durin
sleep, on slight provocation resultin
in undue d%istension and engorgemen
and consequent w~akefulness, thus PR
ducing the we'll known disease ''inson
MA" which, if prolonged, results
brain wreck and insanity.
Let the sufferer look to the health
his whole body by outdoor exercis
open air and regular diet, amend an
correct the general health or use ton
baths at the proper time Of the day b.
fore retiring or On rising. Taking
slight repast before going to bed so
to draw a surplus Of blood from tt
brain and elevating the head Gu pillow
so as to allow gravitation to assist
draining the blood from the brain al
good.
Periodicity is of great assistance. Ct
ing to bed at exactly the same hot
every night, the firm and strong belle
in the fact that you will sleep at tn;
hour, the diversion Of the mind just b.
fore retiring by some light reading
amusement, work or exercise will hell
Refuse, if possible, to discuss or dive
upon mournful, irritating OF unfort'
nate personal topics or Affections. Shoul
the sufferer suddenly awake in the nigl
before the allotted hours for repose ha,
passed, his best plan is not to lie avail
in bed in the dark staring vacant.
The oversensitive mind conjures mar
gloomy thoughts at this time in tt
deep, still darkness Of the night, whe
all outside day sounds and noises ha,
ceased their distraction. These cas-
can be successfully treated at HON
and not by drugs. Have a night tab
handy, light a candle, arise, throw o
and air the bed clothes, sit up, with
convenient wrapper around you. in a
easy chair, having first thrown open
door or window to completely chang
the vitiated air of the room. Of cour!
one must have a chamber to himself
do this. All the conditions external b