Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-09-21

Hints from Medical Men on Over
coming Insomnia.

Hints from Medical Men on Over
| coming insomnia.
That one person does not get a. much
sleep a. another may, 10 no sign OF in
somnia, for one individual may require
much more than his neighbcr in order to
supply the bodily demands, but when be
who for years has been able to sleep from
10 p. m. to ea. m, or eight hours, dis
covers that for two or more hours out OF
the eight he lies awake, in spite of his
desire to sleep, then IL can be said he IL .
| victim of insomnia.
In some persons the wakeful period IL
that Immediately following the retiring
hour, while others may easily fall into .
| more or iess profound slumber which lasts
| only till one OF the small hours OF the
night. In other words, few hours' nor
NAL sleep i. succeeded by . prolonged
state OF wakefulness In early morning. A
the habit becomes more established, the
victim grows respondent, irritable,
emaciated and debiIitated, and in not .
few instances really breads the approach
OF night.
Some memory cuiturists advise their
students on retiring, to carfully review
the details Of the days events. This may
be beneficial to the memory, but to the
system 1t is pernicious, for, after this habit
is once formed, the act becomes involun-
tary, and insomnia is the aimos. inevita BILE
result. Happy, indeed, is he who can
Danish every care ~ soon ss his head
touches the pillow, compose his mind, and
fall into refreshing sleep. Determined
efforts may make this possible.
As insomnia 10 symptom only, medical
treatment for temporary relief, especially
hypaotics and narcotics, is out Of place,
and drugs should be the last resort.
The cases, according to Emerson, may
be divided into four groups: Initiative
causes, toxic causes, including alcoholism,
dyspepsia, intestinal diseases, ETC.; physi-
cal causes, such Is hysteris, neurast henia,
grief, hypochondriasis, ETC., and causes
arising from changes in the mode OF life,
such - occupation, climate and diet.
Many persons in or past middle age,
particularly those accustomed to an &C.
tive early life, eat too much and exercise
too little. This class includes nearly all
professions. II the brain was not 90 often
everworked or abused, and the body
brought more frequently to the point Of
physical fatigue, sleep would be more
readily wooed.
No part Of the body can be long misused
without disastrous effect to either that
part or some other, for we have an organ
ism made up OF sympathetic factors, each
requiring its full quota Of exercise a. well
as OF rest.
The first step toward treatment 10 to take
9 mental inventory of your condition. II
you are in . habit OF taking your daily
cares and worries to bed with you and
brooding over them, quit It - quickly -
possible. Attempt repose Of mind - well
- body.
II you are not getting enough physical
exercise, institute some method by which
you can reach . mild degree OF bodily ex-
haustion. Don't let the thought that you
cannot st all times get to sleep when you
wish cause you any anxiety, for often the
fear OF insomnia has . worse effect on the
system than the lack OF sleep.
Often . bath just before retiring 10 ad-
vsntageous. Make the attempt to learn
why you do not sleep lido this during the
day, not ~ night), then make every
possible effort to correct your habits, and
you will succeed.
Brsin-workers are particularly liable to
sleeplessness- Their occupation brings
overstrain OF the nervous system, and
when they go to bed they toss upon rest
less pillows. The cure 10 osone, and not
drugs.
There is . very common fallacy, generally
believed, that one hours sleep before mid
night is worth two after it. Healthfui
sleep is good at any time, and no one set of
hours is better than another. Yet, like
most of our mistakes, there ID . truth
about il somewhere, and this truth ought
to be seen. but seldom Ia. It il worth
while for every woman who has . family
whose best interests hang upon her health
and life, to closely study the meaning at
the bottom OF the mistake.