The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-04

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it leaves the subject prey to nervous
anxiety, violent palpitation and unu-
sual debility. In fact, it has a marked
analogy with insanity, and if it is con-
stantly recurring it may be of serious
portent, pointing to some affection of
the brain or mind. Not that nightmore
causes nervous disease or insanity, but
that nervous diseases pre-existlng
causes, on the contrary this special
disposition of the brain to temporary
delirium.
From this it can be understood why
nightmare is often hereditary, just as
abnormal nervous impreSsionability
may be inherited. The child, too SEN
sitive to the slightest impression, liv-
ing bundle of nerves, is more especially
subject to night terrors, even while
awake, owing to the power of the mind
to project ideas into space and with the
eye to see them as actualities imbued
with life Next in susceptibility are
women and some men whose brains
have remained in the infantile state
properly called simple minded. Amaze
mia, fever, disturbance of the circula-
ton, caused by diseases of the heart of
the large blood vessels disturbed res
piration, due to asthma or a full stom-
ach, are the most frequent predisposng
causes, and are as powerful as nervous
disturbances, such as hysteria and hy-
pochondria, in causing nightmare.
Sometimes nightmare is due to pro-
longed wakefulness, a radical change in
diet, or faulty position of the body,
such as an aneurism or even swollen
| tonsils. West has reported a case in
which, in spite of all hygienic treat
ment, nightmare continued every night
for a long period due, as was discov-
cred after careful consideration, to
prolonged uvula, which, during sleep, In
the prone position hindered, free respi-
ration. Cutting off the point Of this
mischievous uvula caused the perma-
nent discontinuance of the visits of the
nightmare.
In nervous persons emotional in char
acter nightmare may be caused by
gruesome tales or woful spectacles,
grief, Encouragement hatred, anger,
&C. In fact, the most intense night
mare is due to exaltations Of passion
due to the loss of dearly loved relatives
| or friends sudden and extreme reverse
of fortune, disappointed ambition, the
fear of disease or even shock to ones
self love and esteem, which, as has
been aptly said, Stays more victims
| than love.
| The treatment of nightmare consists
in awakening the subject, and, If there
is perturbation Of mind, giving some
mildly sedative potion, ouch as warm
water sweetened with syrup of lettuce
Following this, care should be taken 10
remove the supposed cause, to prevent
recurrence of the nightmare. In the
case of children intense moral impress
sions. weird stories and gruesome tales
should be avoided, especially before
bedtime.
The child should be put to bed carry
to avoid the exciting environment Vi
the social circle, OK animated CONVEX
sation and convivial jollity. The. even
ing meal should be light one poth as
to quantity and quality of food ana
drink. avoiding highly spiced rellshes
and stimulating drinks. The chamber
should be spacious and well ventilat-
ed the bed not TOO soft and without
too much bedclothing. Perfect muscu-
lar relaxation, avoidance of false posi-
tions, and perfect freedom, all COM
preston interfering with respiration
or circulation must be avoided The feet
ought to be warm and lower than the
head. The body should be extended
and not cuddled up into ball. When
the bed is in an alccve or surrounded
by heavy curtains nightmare is sure to
Turk within, for they prevent the free
circulation of air, and the brain is
stupefed, as il were, by laughing gas
produced by the sleeper, the air vitiat
ed by him being breathed over and over
again.
The bed ought to be slightly inclined
from head to foot. but the proper ele-
walton of the head varies according to
temperament Anaemic people need to
have the head quite low, but full blood
ed people rest easier if the head is
higher. An excitable, congested brain |
may be relieved by warm baths, tonics |
and anti-spasmodics like the bromides |
and valerian. If there is tendency |
to palpitation the person should lie |
upon the right side; if the liver is dis
ordered by chronic digestive troubles |
the person should lie on the left side. |
The stomach should be in good condi-
ton, especially if there is fatulence due
to gastric torpidity leading to fermen-
tation of food and dilation of the
stomach should be energetically treated.
In Bacons Natural History" which
is quantity worded and based on very
crude knowledge Of natural history as
it is understood to-day, the author
says, with grain Of truth. "mush-
rooms cause the incubus or mare in the
stomach" The same might be said of
Welsh rabbits and similar indigestible
eaten just before retiring;
these lie hard on the stomach and cause
more horrible dreams in those not har-
dened to such gourmandism. But it is
equally erroneous to go to the opposite
extreme and prohibit all food before
for often light repast is
most excellent nightcap and the pleas
ATTEST and safest remedy against in
somnia and, in fact, against nightmare,
for an empty stomach may cause it just
as much as an overloaded one
Not less important in the treatment
Of nightmare is an endeavor to neutral
ze as far as possible all injurious
moral causes. This is often simply a
matter of good counsel and caution
against the dangers of poor hygiene and
excess of passion, The friends should
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