HOW TO GET SLEEP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2065, 27 April 1907, Page 4

HOW TO GET SLEEP.

SOME SIMPLE CURES FOR INSOMNIA. Tlit, present generation sorely needs instruction in the Rouble nrli of Bleeping. 11l tho first place, we sleep either too much or 'too little. The average healthy adult should sleep from sovon to nine hours nightly. Youth and ago require more timo—from oiglit to ten hours—and infancy most of all, fourteen hours at least. Tho old adage of tho “hoauty .sloop” before midnight is now nil exploded theory, says a writer in the Chicago Tribune, but sinco most oi the world transacts its business in daylight, it is as well to arise as early as possible, and from ten or cloven in tho evoning to six or seven in tho morning seems tho ideal time for slumber. Too much sleep, liow.ivor, is ns bad as too little, and the habit of oversleeping comes in time co bo almost a disoase. Many an unfortunate has envied that romarkiblo professor who, at seventy-nine, wrote: “As I grow older 1 find 1 ueod more and more sleep. Whereas two hours once sufficed me, I must now take almost four.” But, alas! ho sooms to ho a rare bird indeed amon tho somnolent mortals. After the duration of slumber the next point to observe is the ventilation and heating oi the sleeping room. Our grandmothers insisted on warmth—tlio hotter tho hotter. IVo, on tho contrary, in the loud beliel that we are “hygienic,” assert that cold and fresli air are tho two essentials. To a certain degree this is true. But a. draught is both unpleasant and injurious, and so it is better to sleep altogether outdoors than indoors with windows open. There are to-day many advocates or outdoor sleecping., and they are all enthusiastic. For consumptives or those suffering from nervous complaints, it is not only desirable, but imperative, that 'they should spend as much time as possible in the open air. The rest of us would probably find it too strenuous a performance. What is wanted is not so much the cold air in the room as the heated air out of it. Heat rays rise to the top, and if the windows are opened above, instead of liolow, the desired result will ho obtained. Having settled the questions ol hours and ventilation, lot us turn our attention to the bed itself. Nearly everyone nowadays knows that brass or iron hods are much hotter than the old wooden ones, and there are fow people now who cling to the feather bed. Felt or cotton mattresses are preferable to hair ones which are much more likely to be of inferior quality, and much more dangerous if they are. In regal'd to tho pillow, if possible abjuro ono altogether ; if not, use as low and as hard a one as you can. The first great rule of position should be—-do not lie on tho hack or abdomen. Tlio second should be—do not lie always on the same side. The third should he—do not throw your arms above your head. Tlio violation of the first of those rules jiroduces headache and gives a heavy appearance to the eyes in the morning; of the second, curvature of the spine; and of the third, nightmare and insomnia.

Other minor rules there are, also. Do not curl yourself up into a ball like a kitten in sleeping, as some persons actually do, for this will suroly retard the circulation. Do not pillow your face in hands or arms, unless you would court innumerable wrinkles. Cover tho feet warmly if you woxdd sleep all night without waking. Do not pull the covers over your head, or headaches and dull eyes will be the result in the morning. And these covers should bo neither too light nor too heavy. If, after all these precautions, you still cannot sleep, try eating an apple or a few biscuits before retiring. If you are really troubled with insomnia, keep something of the sort near your bed and eat when you awake. One woman I know cured herself of insomnia by taking a walk or a ride every evening and returning to a hot bath, a cold shower, and peaceful dreams. Still another good rule for everyone to observe is to put on a heavy dressing-gown the last thing at night, throw open a window, exhale all the impure air from the lungs, and inhale long, deep, delicious draughts of pure oxygen.

THE MEAT INDUSTRY. PRAISE OF NEW ZEALAND METHODS. Tho representative of tho British War Oilice, who is paying an official visit to the meat export works of this country. Major Long, has returned to Wellington after inspecting Abe works of the South Island and those of the Wellington province. “In all the works I have inspected,” Major Long told a representative of the New Zealand Times, “the sanitary arrangements are excellent,' and the Government inspection is admirable ; there is no ‘boodling’ about that. It is very well conducted, a keen supervision being exorcised over all meat slaughterd. Then the meat companies on their part are apparently anxious that nothing but the best quality should leave the colony. Prior to leaving England, Major Long studied the methods in vogue at Deptford, where all the live stock imported from America to England is slaughtered. Asked as to how the arrangements and procedure at Deptford compared with the conditions at New Zealand meat works. Major Long said a comparison was all in favor of New Zealand. The real mission of Major Long is to inquire into the canning business. This lie has found, of course, to ho a mere secondary consideration in the New Zealand works. But this department. subsidiary as it is, lie found to be conducted ill a thoroughly up-to-date manner. ’He was very much impressed with the methods employed and the sanitary arrangements of all the canning departments. Nothing, considers Major Long, could ho more satisfactory. From what lie saw, there is .apparently a much better class of meat used here for canning purposes than in America. And speakingiof quality of the meat used, Major Long was reminded of the frequent use of the term “reject” in connection with the frozen meat business. This, lie considers, is a word conveying an absolutely wrong impression. To the ordinary lay mind the term would he associated with unfit for use, whereas it merely means a carcase which has been slightly bruised in travelling or handling, and is quite suitable for canning or for a critical local trade. Major Long found much to admire in the fine freezing plants of New Zealand, and in the way in which they are managed. In a few cases he found the premises rather old and requiring to he removed, hut they were all very clean. Noivliero in the world, he believes, would there be found works of a higher standard of efficiency. The question of whether New Zealand will have an opportunity of supplying tinned meat to the British army is one which depends entirely on the price at which it can be supplied, Major Long points out, for price, given satisfactory quality, must naturally decide the source of supply.