Evening star., 1903-07-01
INSOMNIA BANISHED
MOUNTAIN AIR PRESCRIBED FOR
sLEEPLESsNESS.
Causes Which Produce Wakefulness at
Night-Excess Of Blood on
the Brain.
From the Philadelphia North American.

From the Philadelphia North American.
When Washington Irving wrote The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow" that gem OF
American literature, he did not quite over
step the realms of reason in putting his
hero to sleep for so many years. The noun
tains are known to have an exceptional
somnolent influence, although. outside OF
fiction men have never been able to emu.
late the annual sleep of our native bears.
So Rip Van Wrinkles sleep of twenty years
might be called poetic science.
Insomnia that has become chronic and
will not succumb to any prescribed treat
ment has very often been overcome by
mountain air. The effect seems to be un-
conscious and Irresistible. Persons sitting
in the ball room striving to pass away
some of the dreaded night hours, doze all
unawareS.
Insomnia never means an entire night
without sleep. Such an instance is very
rare and should Immediately be intrusted
to a physicians care Usually few hours
OF consecutive sleep is secured. either when
frst retiring or In the early morning. A
disturbed sleep, intermtted with an hour
OF wakefulness now and again. ought not
correctly to be called insomnia
When Morpheus Forsakes the Couch.
The hours from IL o'clock at night until
In the morning is the time usually re-
served by the god Morpheus to punish those
whom he has abandoned As the early
morning approaches the sufferer will prob
ably fall asleep. If circumstances permit
or that sleep to be continued past the Gus
tomary hour OF rising, by all means enforce
the indulgence. Natural sleep IS the yerv
best antidote for the Estlessness resulting
from insomnia and should be taken adyan-
.ase Oh, III possible, whenever the pro-
pensfty to sleep occurs.
Inc causes that produce insomnia are
many ana various. That which is most
common is an excess of blood in the BRAIN
Exercise is the very best method of even-
ing the circulation walk I'm the onen
air. just before retiring is excellent The
impurities are expelled from the lungs and
a q reserve or fresh air inhaled for the night.
sometimes glass of milk and crackers
or other food, eaten either before undress-
ing or during the night. will Ice effective in
sending the blood to the stomach. SO TAX
ing ii from the brain. 1t is well to drink
the milk heated. Cream is frequently nre.
scrlbed instead of milk
When the evening has been spent I'm
study or IN clerical work nothing will re-
heve the brain fatigue more than a clever
novel, While not intensely absorbing the
story must be sufficiently Interesting to
mold the readers attention and to change
the current of his thoughts
Eschew Business at BedtimA
Matters requiring discussion should not
be broached at bedtime for the same rea-
son of keeping the brain I'm a quiescent
state. A close bedroom is always disad-
vantageous to a peaceful sleep. During
mild weather the windows should be OPEN
ed wide. but invariably from the top. II
the bed is placed In line of a draught g.
folding screen can serve as a protection
Sleeping medicines of all kinds are inju-
r1ous, and must never be taken unless by
the advice of attending physician ana
never because advocated by druggist
however reliable. The druggist may have
an efficient knowledge of the use of his
drugs, but he has not a physicians knowl-
edge of his purchasers system. Some doc
tors advocate a tepid bath just before get
ting into bed. Others suggest that after
an hour or two of restlessness a cold sponge
bath VIII produce sleep.
Hot Towel as a Sleep Producer.
Obstinate cases which seemed beyond
check have been known to succumb to
what is called hot pack. The hot pack
Is simple treatment. but requires the at
tention of a second person. A bath towel
or a piece of flannel. is soaked in water
hot as the patient can endure. The towel
Is then wrung out and folded lengthwise.
rms elongated wad is placed directly on
the patients spine, and remains there for
about ten minutes before 1t is removed
When necessary the application IL repeated
after the expiration of the first ten min
utes. The patient must not be spoken 10
after the pack has been removed When
drying 1t is soothing to rub the spine with
a downward motion, always beginning at
the neck. Sleep will not be ,inducetl at
once, but when the patient does sleep It
VIII be an undisturbed rest, lasting prob
ably until morning.
Persons whose minds are sluggish during
the Wakeful hours of the mig ht do nor
suffer as do those whose active brains never
relax. Worries and plans never 'asstrne
such tantalizing proportion as when harass-
ing a sleepless individual 1t is only by
accurately comparing the phantasm witt,
the real facts in broad daylight that this
distressing state of mind be relieved.
The humor of the exaggeration is often
apparent.
Insomnia is usually the result of over
eXertion in some form. The cause should
be analysed and averted.