St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-01-14
TREATING INSOMNIA.

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 the brain, resulting in un-
relieved pressure on the nerve cells Of
the gray matter, eventuating in pro-
longed wakefulness during the night,
at time when they should be allowed
to remain quiescent and recuperate the
tissue wasted during the active hours
Of the day. Shakespeare POLITICALLY says,
''Tis 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 met to be ian
interviewer decussated tissue of mesh
es." Each cell in the brain has this
character. Magnifed several hundred
diameters it would resemble the net
work covering 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 long days work
over some exhausting mental occupa-
ton, this cell is f1accid and collapsed, a
portion Of its substance gone, and it is
unfit for further immediate work.
A nights natural sleep repairs the
waste, the life giving blood in 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 on awak-
ening 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, 600 Of
these cells packed together in the brain,
like Leyden jars in battery, is analo-
gous to electricity, but not at all identi-
cal with it.
One has sometimes in the country
noticed 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 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
clinging to it. AS age creeps slowly on
the animal body the small ramifications
of blood vessels in the face, for instance,
wither and die and then larger vessels,
leaving pits called wrinkles. The
same thing happens in 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 irrigating 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 tendency to pour at night during
sleep, on 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 the general health or use tonic
baths at the proper time of the day be-
fore retiring or on rising Taking
slight repast before going to bed SO as
to draw surplus of blood from the
brain and elevating the head on pillows
so as to allow gravitation to assist in
draining the blood from the brain are
good.
Periodicity is Of great assistance. Go.
ing to bed at exactly the same hour
every night, the firm and strong belief
in the fact that you will 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 to discuss or dwell
upon mournful, irritating or unfortu-
nate personal topics or Affections. Should
the sufferer suddenly awake in the night
before the allotted hours for repose have
passed, his best plan is not to lie awake
in bed in the dark staring vacantly.
The oversensitive MUD conjures many
gloomy thoughts at this time in the
deep, still darkness of tho 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 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
Soor or window to completely change
the vitiated air of the room. Of course
one must have a chamber to himself to
do this. All the conditions external be-
ing changed will tend to produce a
change of those internal of the body
the brain and the nerves. After suit,
able interval one can again close the
doors and windows, replace covers and
retire to APP -oaching slumber.
This was the method Of Benjamin
Franklin, who had large, active brain,
filled with multitudinous private and
public affairs, during long and active
life, and he found :. to succeed. (See his
autobiography. Different remedies will