The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-24
DRUGS TO PRODUCE SLEEP.
They Are Rarely Necessary and Al
most Invariably Dangerous.

New York Christian Advocate
An ex-editorial writer of this city took
an overdose of sulphonal a few days ago TO
induce sleep. The result was death. The
belief has been very common that sui
phonal. which was introduced into medical
practice fifteen years ego, is a simple and
safe remedy, and thai no one will be in
danger from a dose of any size SulphonaI
cannot be taken with impunity by persons
with overtaxed hearts or inactive kidneys
The number of cases OF death from its use
has not been large but persons who resort
to any drug which Will produce sleep
should know that some kind OF a powerful
effect is at work upon their nerves in one
form or another. They ought also 10 know
that IL a person who naturally requires
seven or eight hours sleep gets an average
Of three or four hours a night he is not
going TO die for a long time a result OF
the want Of sleep, and If careful in his
way of living generally. unless there is
some cause for his sleeplessness Of a dam
gerous nature, will get over his insomnia.
We have had attacks Of IL from time TO
time, and in no instance have taken an
anodyne or hypnotic or a soporific while
some of our friends have become the vic
Tins of drugs and have been ruined in the
prime of life, WheIr few little things
would have brought them TO normal habits.
At such times the open air entirely UNI
stimulating diet, chiefly vegetables. the non
use Of tea and coffee, at all events late in
the day, the proper use OF milk as food
and not as a beverage, slipped rather than
poured down; doing no mental work OF any
kind after sunset sitting in front OF an
open fire without gas lighted in the room;
getting chilly Intentionally. and II wakeful
taking .monotonous exercise in the midst
of the night until the point Of fatigue is
reached; reconstructing half-forgotten
hymns and pieces of poetry: mentally max
ing a multiplication table that shall run up
10 fifty, and reciting IL hour after nour.
never, moving, II possible, or allowing any
part OF the body TO move; breathing very
slowly through the nostrils and counting
the number OF breaths-anything TO prevent
mental operation that stirs up many or
the brain cells; any or all of these mo-
notonously done wal in a few days put an
end to INSOMNIA. nap In the middle OF
the day is sometimes the only thing that
will calm the nervous system so as 10 bring
back sleep at night.
The best of ali rules is never to admit to
the bedroom a single thought Of ones trou-
bles, apprehensions, or business. III this
cannot be done with eyes shut. let them be
open and the gas lighted. All these expert
ments were once tried by US for two weeks
and we averaged about three hours
night. At the end of that time We strapped
a fourteen-pound knapsack on our back
and started on a pedestrian tour. The first
day we made fifteen miles: the second day
twenty, not having slept more than three
hours in the interval. The next day was
Sunday and We went TO sleep under mo-
notorious sermon. AS soon as the service
was over the bed was found. and a long
nap taken. But the habit OF not sleeping
had been fixed, and during the night but
two hours of sleep was obtained. The next
day the diet milk. three quarts being
consumed in the course OF the day. IN
somnia took fits flight. The walk was con-
tinued until 200 miles had been covered, at
an average rate OF twenty miles day,
and no sign OF sleeDiessness appeared again
for many months. y drug would have given
Us semi-coma at any time HypnOtics and
A drug habit is as bad as an alcoholic
habit. A word 10 the wise ought TO DO
sufficient.