Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-18
EFFECTS OF BRAIN : FAC
REPEATED ATTACKS TEND TO
LOWER BRAINS VITALITY.
Various NOstrums and Devices for In
ducinE Sleep-Rest is Frequent
IL the Only Cure.

FROM Brain and Body, by w. Andrew Wilson.
of course many man and woman may
suffer from brain-fag in minor degree
without absolutely passing into the condi-
ton of the veritable Invalid Perhaps, like
the oyer-driven steed which for time
easily RECEIVERS from the excess of work
the overworked brain possesses a certain
elasticity of constitution which quickly en-
abes it to recover its tone. The danger
however. here is that repeated ATTACKS OF
braiu-fag tend to permanently lower the
vitality of the brain cells. In such case
the ordinary hyg4enic advice to attend u
all those laws and conditions OF heaith
which represent the means of perfect living
may apply. Thus. if sicep be Imperfectly
represented, as is not at all unlikely to be
the case must secure ialr modicum OF
rest. The question Of Sieep4eSSneSS, al
WAYS prominent in nerve troubles, is too
wide to permit of any diScusSl OF IL III
these pages. The causes of SieeplesSnesS
are as varied the characteristics or hu-
manity themselves, but II a general irrlta-
bilty of the nervous system. que to over
work, or other cause. lies al the root OF the
trouble. then the subject may be able TO Ell
feet Il cure on hygienic principles. Thus
by shifting his camp to another sleeping
apartment, by Altering the hours OF his
meals, by the avoidance Of tea and coffee
late at night, by the taking OF the Old
fashioned ..nisht-cap" tmeaning thereby an
alcoholic potion taken at bed-tImel by the
securing of perfect quiet and of a pure at
moSpherc, the drowSy god may be Wooed
back again to our domain. | should strong
" advise people troub ed with SleeplessneSS
to take no Opates or narcotics. save under
rhe advice of their medical man. Apart
from the obvious danger of an overdose
which awaits those who indulge in narcot-
les there is also the disadvantage that a
very much increased amount of the opiate
hos h.. fail tn 10
AT first followed a moderate dose. The
cure becomes worse than the disease, and
the subject of excessive narcotiSm Is apt
therefore to develop ubiy s4eepless con-
dition-thc one phase due to the original
trouble and the other to the action of the
narcotic. If there is any justifiability for
a sleepIcSS or neTvOusy irritated man tax
ing anything to produce sleep or to soothe
him his action should be that of dosing
himself with the simplest and least harm
full of scdativeS Possibly a dose of bro
mide of potash bromide of sodium nay
relieve a simple uncomplicated case of
sleeplessness or worry, but such cases as a
rule are not quite easily treated. and
the repetition of the advice to consult a
physician in such cases is warranted, if
only by the fact that SO many persons
tamper with narcotics.
The latest contrivance for producing a
healthy sleep in case of insomnia is os-
cilating bed. This bed has been tested in
various hospitals. and has received favor
doctor reports that he regards it a very
decided aid in the treatment of insomnia.
The bed is fixed at its center, and by
means of automatic mechanism of simple
character the head of the couch is alter
nately elevated and lowered so that a gen.
tie rhythmic movement is impaired to it
The movement is entirely under the control
of the person resting in the bed, and IN
nervous cases appears to exert decided
effect in inducing sleep and in soothing the
patient
There can be no doubt that in the nerve
troubles which affect our modern existence,
rest must be deemed one of the chief; if not
The principal. condition for cure. The age
We live in is a restless one. and the want
of sufficient repose may undoubted lie at
the root of q vast deal of the irrita bility
which prevails. Rest. however may he
relative We may have absolute rest. which
we endeavor to obtain in sleep, when such
of our physical and mental powers as are
not completely at rest have at least become
slowed down and modified in their action.
But the term rest is not always synony-
nous with sleep, and a man may sleep
fairly well and at the same time suffer
from the effects of want of true repoSe.
The constant and unremitting attention to
one or few details of his business may
produce in any man brain-fag of as distinct
type as that which marks the man who
suffers from insomnia. The rest required
by such man typical of large class
nowadays is not so much repose as change
OF occupation.
He needs q hobby which will provide.
him with a change OF occupation, turn the
working of his brain cells into another
channel. and liberate his nerve energy in
fresh directions. and by instituting new
connection. between the group of brain
cells, make the brain a more efficient in
strument for the governance and control of
the body.