The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-21

!
er rule is to train ones self TO fall
! asleep without delay Immediately af-
ter retiring. We cannot sleep If we
continue to think; we should have done
with all serious thoughts before en-
tering our bedroom. If this cannot be
accomplished, an attempt should be
made to turn the thoughts into differ
ent channels. This may be achieved
by dose of light literature, which,
however, must not be so interesting
that one keeps awake to read. Anoth-
er plan is to think of something defn-
lite, something pleasant and attractive,
calm and reposeful The subject is
bound to vary according to each per-
| sons individuality. To the romantic
will appeal the moonlight on quiet
sea; to the more material, the con-
temptation of the good things to enjoy
when the ship comes home"
Some people retire to bed with the
expectation that because they did not
sleep on former nights they will have
another bad night. To try hard to go
to sleep is often the surest way to
keep awake. When one does not
sleep, and is impatient because of it,
and keeps turning over and over, and
growing more and more vexed, one
creates an agitation which hnders
sleep. 1t is necessary for the sleep
less to lose all fear of insomnia and
approach the night with a perfect in
difference; for sleep is like pigeon
| it comes to one if one has not the ap.
pearance of looking for it, and it flies
away when one tries to catch it.
The one procedure which most uni
versally disposes to sound sleep Is get
ting well tired. Often people fall to
sleep at night because they take too
much rest by day. For them, active
exercise in the open air is to be recon-
mended. Unfortunately exercise for
the mere sake of exercise is so unin-
teresting a procedure that few people
will follow it out. An element of inter-
furnished by the various outdoor
sports which are now open to both
men and women.
Needless to say that in order to
sleep wei one must be thoroughly COM
Portable in bed. The bedroom should
: be spacious, not encumbered with furn-
| ttrr Irnp nd
ed, without exposing the sleeper to
draughts. Some people sleep we'll
when they have a change of room, and
others when they have change of air.
Those who seek complete rest from
work should remember that the dis.
turbances of sleep most often come
from within, and that the occupation
of the vacation must be such as will
displace their morbid mental activities
by healthy ones. If man has nothing
at all to think about, he will be sure
to think of his troubles.
Many people believe that their
chance of good night Is enhanced
if they take little spirits-and-wat
before going to bed; with others it has
a contrary effect. Some people take
a glass of beer before retiring its ac-
tion is due to the hypnotic principle
contained in the hops. OF course, not
everybody can drink beer or spirits,
and it would not do to keep up the
habit. Most people find that a moder-
ate amount of food promotes slumber.
Anyhow, it is difficult to get to sleep
on an empty stomach" or at least
when the stomach has been empty so
long that gnawing and hunger are felt;
on the other hand. an overloaded stom-
ach is not conducive to refreshing
sleep, although the condition makes
one drowsy.
, less night and it's incapacitating ef-
fects the next day, 1t is not surprising
] that specifics for it's relief should be
, so eagerly sought after. Though per-
missible in skilled hands, the self-ad.
ministration of sleep-compelling drugs
is dangerous, for they are all poisons
/ and drug habit is easily formed
Moreover, they do not remove the
: cause which gave rise to the sleepless
I ness. Often the sleeplessness is a
, symptom of bodily trouble-of diges
, tive arrangements, disturbances of the
: heart or circulation. asthma, gout, and
l other diseases, which require the at
l tention of the physician.
a When the insomnia Is of psychic or
t igin, psychic treatment is the best
i In such cases it is our duty to ascer
}. tain the disturbing element in the pa
tents mental constitution. It may
s. be that ungratifed desires and aspira
f tions, which do not trouble the per
d son consciously, but are buried in his
n subconsciousness, affect him just
whan ha on tho nOint Of ppipy II