CURE FOR SLEEPLESSNESS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 452, 4 March 1909, Page 4

CURE FOR SLEEPLESSNESS

Willi his accustomed enterprise. Mr W. T. Stead has succeeded in getting together some interesting facts and opinions regarding sleep. The other day we gave a detailed account of the views of some of the great people as to how many hours we ought to sleep. These opinions vary very much. Pro-, hably the most sensible one was that of the ex-editor of London Punch, who said that he slept as many hours as he could get. And yet multitudes aie not able to sleep all the time that is at their disposal. Insomnia is the commonest complaint of our time, yet it is not a modern disease. The evidence of its existence is embalmed in all literature. For instance, one has only to read Hebrew poetry, as embodied in the Psalms, for an illustration. One is struck with the frequent reference to sleeplessness in these. But if it is not a modern complaint, it is, perhaps, more intense and more widespread in our day than ever before. The reason of this is not far to seek. It lies, for the most part, in our methods of life. The pace at which we drive on, the fierce competition, the struggle of existence so passionate and so strenuous —these get upon the nerves during the day ; they take their seats upon the mid-night pillow, and turn the hours of rest into feverish wakefulness. Cures for sleeplessness are many, Mr Stead’s correspondents give a variety. We venture to add another. Some time ago an article by a distinguished college president appeared in an American magazine. It was an elaborate diagnosis of the causes of insomnia, and a cure at least for one form ol it. We will not bother our readers with the metaphysics, but we will tell them the antidote to sleeplessness as given by this writer. _ In brief, this is his recommendation : Lie on your back in any easy position, fold the hands over the chest, or let them lie stretched out by the side. Close the eyes, slowly and deeply breathe out and in ten times in succession. With every inspiration slowly open the eyes, and with every expiration close them again, letting the lids slide gently and slowly over the eyes. Go on with these two processes alternately lor a little time, and you will find sleep gradually slipping down upon you. “ We have tried the experiment and when the insomnia is nervous in its origin it is a most effective remedy. The distinguished scholar who recommended it said it only wanted one thing to make multitudes resort to it—that he should keep it a profound secret, and charge a big price for imparting it to patients. But as it is, its freeness and its simplicity will cause it to be little thought of.