HEALTH HINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 13 May 1911, Page 10

HEALTH HINTS.

THE CARE OF THE EVES should form part of the toilet routine. 1 Bathing the eyes with cold water once or twice a day is excellent, and whatever promote* general health is beneficial to the eyes and eyesight. Avoid reading in trains or busses, as the vibration causes strain on the muscles of accommodation. Never use the eyes when you are tired and out of sorts, as that causes them to become dull in color. The best and simplest application for the eyebrows is a little pure vaseline, which can be applied with a camel hair lirnsh every night:. This k also excellent for the eyelashes; and the white of an egg bun ten up with two tablespoonfuls of cold water is a tonic for weak Sashes. ]f a little of this is put in a saucer and the eyelashes dipped in it every night considerable benelit will accrue.

HOW TO SLKKP WEUI. Insomnia, or inability to -deep, is rather n common ailment, especially among people of nervous temperament The term may refer to ca.ses in which it is ilillicult .or impossible for the individual to get to -leep. or to patients whose complete repose is frequently interrupted or completely broken by periods of restlessness and waking. The ueueral types of insomnia are those ca.ses due 'to the presence of distinct and directly disturbing pain; those due to a general systemic underlying condition or disease, and, finally, the most frequent and common type, that which is caused by cither congestion or anaemia of the brain. Or there may be an underlying condition which is irritative to the nerves and produces reaction in the form of neuralgia pain in some part of the body, ns, for" example, a nervous affection of the heart. In all these cases the sufferer is kept, awake, or sleep is broken primarily because of the pain; that is, if the pain stops he is able to sleep. Treatment of these conditions is, of course, to find and remove the cause. Have the teeth looked after; treat the earache or remedy the eye-strain, as the cause may he. llerc drugs are useless for the symptom of insomnia itself. There is but slight relief from their use, and this is only temporary. Xo cure can be/ effected until the causative factor or factors are removed or attacked. Insomnia due to an underlaying functional derangement or constitutional disease is always manifest as a. symptom of such affection, and it is obvious that to overcome it the predisposing condition must be treated. Kidney trouble, disturbance of the liver, gastric and intestinal indigestion are predominant in this connection. Indigestion, whether due to abnormal stomach action or intestinal inactivity, may give rise to formation of toxic or poisonous substances which, remaining in the digestive tract, are absorbed into the blood and circulation, through which they become directly irritating to the nervous system and, preventing its proper rest, cause sleeplessness.

'Finally, the form of insomnia which is most frequently met with, and the one from which most of us suffer, is due either to an excess of blood or a deficiency in amount of the liquid going to, remaining in,- or leaving the blood vessels of the brain. This i.s known as cerebral or brain congestion, or anaemia, and is predisposed to by the neurotic or emotional disposition and nervous temperament of many individuals. The chronic or prolonged state of congestion arises from an obstruction which prevents sufficient blood leaving the brain, as a general disease, prolonged anxiety, persistent disregard of good hygienic manners of living, as irregular lu>-.':s and the factors already spoken of. .Symptoms due to increased cerebral blood supply are, of course, headed by insomnia, inability to get to sleep, or sleep disturbed by dreams of a depressing nature, fti addition there may be dizziness, headache, loss of memory, and irritability of temper.

fiisomnia from lack of sufficient blood in the head vessels is caused by a chronic disturbance of the heart and blood vessels—sudden shock, distress, fright, poor condition of the blood itself, and, together with the causes given anything tending to Tower the general vitality. What we can do for insomnia. Here we refer to the common forms, either due to congestion or anaemia. The other varieties have been spoken of. When congestion is present n laxative should lie in ken, as a saline, upon arising in the morning, and repented dailv as required. Bathing is one of the main .stand-bys—-a hot bath at bedtime is indicated. In sonic cases, however, reaction to the heat sets in after a time and congestion returns. To overcome this many people are benelited by a cold sponging of the entire body surface directly after the hot plunge. The body should be immersed in the hot water, then, standing in the tub. the patient sprays or sponges himself with tool water, the while continually nibbing or massaging the skin. This is done just before getting into bed. Exercise is important. A quick walk in the open air with deep-breathing, or ten minutes of light calisthenics before retiring, are very helpful. In many cases avoidance of a hearty meal at the end of the day and taking onlv a light, easily digestible dinner, with omission of coffee and alcoholic beverages, is of great benefit.

During the evening hours, preceding bedtime, avoid all mental exertion and exciting conversation. If the head is hot, with marked feeling of fullness, an ice bag or cold cloths applied for a time or at intervals, with a hot foot bath, if the feet are cold, will bring relief. The hot bath mentioned, however, takes the place of this treatment, with perhaps the addition of the cold to the head. It is well to recall that a number of conditions are necessary for normal, healthy sleep, as, for example, one should have the room about 111) degrees Fahrenheit and well ventilated. The bed covers should be light in weight and sufficiently warm, without acting as a heavy pressure upon the body. The head should he raised a little, and exce-s of light should, of course, be avoided.