The Family Circle.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 262, 2 December 1876, Page 2

The Family Circle.

MODE OF PROCURING SOUND AND REFRESHING SLEEP. Let the sleepless man turn on his right side, place his head comfortably on the pilloAv, so that it exactly occupies the angle a line draAvn from the head to the shoulder Avould form, and then, slightly closing his lips, take rather a full inspiration, breathing as much as he possibly can through the nostrils. This, however is not absolutely necessary, as some persons breathe always through their mouths during sleep, and rest as sound as those Avho do uot. Having taken a full inspiration, the lungs aro then to be left to their oavii action — that is, the respiration is neither to be accelerated nor retarded. The attention must noAv bo fixed upon the action in Avhich the patient is engaged. He must depict to himself that he sees the breath passing from his nostrils in a continuous stream, and the very instant that he brings his mind to conceive this, apart from all other ideas, consciousness and memory depart, imagination slumbers, fancy becomes dormant, thought subdued, the sentient factdties lose their susceptibility, the vital or gang honic system assumes the sovereignty ; and, as before remarked, he no longer Avakes but sleeps. The train of phenomena is but the effort of a moment. The instant tlie mind is brought to the comtomplation of a single sensation, that instant tlie sensorium abdictates the throne and tho hypnotic faculty sleeps in oblivion. Spunging the body before retiring to rest, Avhether in Avinter or summer, antl rubbing the surface afterwards Avith a coarse towel, are preliminary steps which conduce much to sound repose. If sleeplessness be the effect of mere pain, an anodyne, under advice of the medical attendant, may be taken ; but this, if possible, should be avoided. If from cold feet, a blanket at the foot of the bed between the sheets Avill give the necessary heat ; or, Avhat is as effective, sponge the feet Avith a coarse toAvel dipped in Avater ; dry them well and put on a clean pair of Avorsted socks. This precaution should be taken by all persons who are liable to colds, coughs, and asthmas, and East and West Indians should never, till they have become acclimatised, sleep without them. On no account should the bed be placed so that the rays of light from the AvindoAV should fall upon the eye, or be allowed to stream in upon them horizontally. In such cases, sound sleep is nearly impossible. The bedroom should be large and airy, and in winter a fire should be lighted in it at least tAVO hours before the period of retiring. The reprehensible custom of going from a parlour or draAvingroom heated to 70 or 80 degrees, to a room where Avater is probably freezing, is the remains of a barbaric ignorance, the existence of Avhich seems to us almost incredible in the nineteenth century. The saving Avill be very great, not only the doctor's but the butcher's bill, for Liebig observes — "Our clothes are not equivalents for our food. The warmer Ave clothe ourselves, the we moro lessen the necessity of eating, because the loss of Avarmth, the cooling, and thereAvith the compensation to be effected by food is lessened. If we Avent naked as the Indians, or Avere exposed to the cold in the north by hunting or fishing, Ave should be able to devour half a calf, and aftenvards more than a dozen tallow candles, as Avarm clothod travellers with astonishment have told us. We should be able to consume the same quantity of spirits, or of oil Avithont injury ; because the carbon and hydrogen Avhich they contain serA'e to counterbalance the external temperature."