The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-02-03
POSITIONS IN SLEEP.


physician, Whitman V. White, {
Brooklyn. DR.. White is a specials
in nervous diseases and in a mil
but emphatic manner scores his pre-
fessiona1 brethren for their free ad
ministration Of narcotics. He de
nounces the practice as unnecessaril,
taxing on the disorganized systems Q
insomnia patients in many cases. Il
his own experience he has found
simple method adequate withou
weakening after effects likely to pro
duce increased symptoms.
Through a study based on tn
laws of physiology in human anatom,
extended over period of dozen o.
more years I have learned that unde
certain physical malconditions, sait
the physician, "the subject may b,
given relief by assuming positions a
rest that will from the ease afforded
the affected parts serve as natura
somnolent agency. twill be readily
understood that constrained position
will tend to prevent natural repose
while comfortable one will WOO it
But what may in most cases seem te
be a position of ease may in reality be
the reverse.
For instance, a dyspeptic will rest
more easily lying on the right side fo1
the simple reason that in that posi-
ton the food naturally gravitates out
of the stomach and into the intestines,
while if lying on the left side that
organ, in its weakened state, has to
perform an uphill process of diges-
ton. This is amply sufficient to pro-
duce insomnia.
Lying fiat on the back, with the
limbs relaxed, would seem to secure
the greatest amount of rest for the
muscular system, whether in good
health or illness. Such is the position
advocated by physicians generally in
the most exhausting diseases, and it
is hailed as sign of rapid recovery
when patient exhibits an inclina-
ton to turn on either side. But at
the same time there are several disad-
vantages III the supine posture which
impair or embarrass sleep, whether in
case of severe illness or ordinary
health. Thus in weakly states of the
heart or blood vessels and certain
morbid conditions of the brain the
blood seems to gravitate to the back
of the head and to accordingly produce
troublesome dreams. I believe that
much of that weakening delirum
which the physician has to contend
with in treating serious maladies is
often occasioned in this way.
In persons who habituallyX stoop
suit 81 t'f Of the requirements of their oc-
pnysrcaI ucveIoprnenr, lneTe must
necessarily be some distress conse-
quent in Strengthening the spine. 1t
may not be sufficient to cause pain
and yet be such strain as to prevent
perfect ease. The result is uncon-
scious restlessness, which is the pro-
ducer of insomnia.
People who have contracted chests
cannot sleep we'll lying upon their
backs. This rule applies especially to
those who have suffered with pleurisy
and retain adhesions of the lungs.
They will find it easier to get to sleep
upon the right side and that their
somnolent rest will do them more
good if they observe this advice.
Furthermore, the habit of lying on
the back is the creator of snoring,
which much belabors sleep and pre-
vents the subject from receiving the
full benefit of its recuperating effects.
cit is desirable, therefore, in all
cases to lie on the side, and in the ab-
sence of special diseases rendering it
more desirable to lie on the weak
side, which leaves the strong lung
free to expand, the right side should
be chosen. A glance at any plate of
the process of the visceral anatomy
will show that when the body is thus
placed the food in the process of di-
gestion is greatly aided in its passage
from the stomach into the intestines.
Here the principle of gravitation di-
rectly applies. Then the fact that
the stomach doesn't compress the up
per portion of the intestines is still
another advantage to be gained from
lying on the right side when sleep
wooing ease to the entire human
mechanism is under serious consider
alton.
"In conclusion, 1 wish to refer to
some injurious eccentricities, or fads,
in sleeping which l have observed
A wealthy woman once came to me
for treatment for bad dreams of the
order commonly called nightmare
Upon making inquiry discovered
that she was in the habit of lying al
rest with her arms thrown up ovel
her head, a position greatly to be
deprecated, although it will induce
sleep in persons who have weak lungs
The circulation is thereby made
stronger in the extremities, and the
head and neck and muscles of the
chest are drawn up and relaxed by
the shoulders. PHILADELPHIA Times.