The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-03-06
POSITIONS IN SLEEP.
HOW VICTIMS OF INSOMNIA MAY
WOO SWEET SLuMBER.

Positions that WOO sleep in victims
Of insomnia is an interesting study
made by a well known metropolitan
physician. Whitman V. White of
Brooklyn. Or. White is a specialist
on nervous diseases and in a mild
but emphatic manner scores his pro-
fesSional brethren for their free admin
iStratiOn of narcotics. He denounces
the practice as unnecessarily taxing
on the disorganized systems of insom-
mia patients in many cases. In his
own experience he has found simple
method adequate without weakening
after effects likely to produce increas-
ed symptoms.
Through study based on the laws
Of PHI siology in human anatomy ex
tending over a period of a dozen or
more years | have learned that under
certain physical malconditi0ns.' said
the physician, 1.-The subject may be
given relief by assuming positions at
rest that will from the ease afforded
the affected parts serve as a natural
GOmnOient agency. 1t will be readily
understood that a constrained position
will tend to prevent natural repose.
while a comfortable one will WOO it.
But what may in most cases seem to
be a position of ease may in reality be
the reverse.
For instance. dyspeptic will rest
more easily lying on the right side fol-
the simple reason that in that position
the food naturally gravitates out of the
stomach and into the intestines. while
if lying on the opposite side that or
gan, in it's weakened state, has to per-
form an uphill process of digestion.
This is amply sufficient to produce in
somnia.
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
rs hailed as a sign of rapid recovery
when a patient exhibits an inclination
to turn on either side. But at the same
time there are several disadvantages
In 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 gravi-
tate to the back of the head and to ac-
.cordingly produce troublesome dreams.
I believe that much of that weaken
Ing delirium which the physician has
to contend with in treating serious
maladies is often occasioned in this
way.
''In persons who habitually stoop in
their gait or work, either as a result
Of the requirements of their occupa-
ton or from the course of their physi-
cal development, there must necessari-
" be some distress consequent in
Strengthening the spine. 1t may not
be sufficient 10 cause pain and yet be
such a strain as to prevent perfect
ease. The result is unconscious rest
lessness, which is the producer of in
somnia.
people who have contracted chests
cannot sleep well living 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 Gre
ator of snoring, which much belabors
sleep and prevents the subject from
receiving the full benefit Of it's recuper-
ating effects.
est is desirable. therefore, in all cases
to lie on the side, and in the absence Of
special diseases rendering it more de-
sirable to lie on the weak side, which
leaves the strong lung free to expand.
the right side should be chosen
glance at any plate Of the visceral
anatomy will show that when the body
is thus placed the food il the process
Of digestion is greatly aided in it's
passage from the stomach into the in
testines. Here the principle of gravi.
tation directly applies. Then the fact
upper 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 mech
anism is under serious consideration.
''In conclusion, wish to refer to
some injurious eccentricities. or fads,
In sleeping which have observed. A
wealthy woman once came to me for
treatment for bad dreams of the or
der commonly called nightmare. Up
on making inquiry discovered that
she was in the habit Of lying at rest
with her arms thrown up over her
head, position greatly to be deprecat-
ed, although it will induce sleep in per-
sons who have weak lungs. The cir
culatioh 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.
Laconfc and Caustic.