Importance of Good Sound Sleep.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 843, 27 April 1888, Page 4

Importance of Good Sound Sleep.

‘Natare's sweet restorer, balmy sleep.’ ‘lf he sleepeth he doth well.’ Numerous passages like these oau be quoted, both from inspired and uninspired writings, on the importance of good, sound sleep. Eight hours of healthful sleep each night are necessary for all ordinary mortals. A few exceptional cases, such as that of Alexander Von Humboldt, may be quoted, where individuals slept only four hours and lived to the age of ninety. Hundreds of examples of men great aud nseful as Humboldt, can be adduced who tried to cheat nature cut of its required rest, reducing thoir hours for sleep to the minimum, and, thereby, unquestionably shortened their lives by many years. Sleep is the best medicine, the surest restorative, worth more than all the nostrums, specifics and curatives, allopathic and homeopathic. Early rising is positively injurious to health unless it is preceded by early retiring. Retire at 9 and rise at five, or retire at 10 and rise at 6. This gives nature enough for sleep, provided no more than half an hour is lost in falling asleep, otherwise making the time for rising half au hoar later. Never rise immediately on wakening. It is too severe a strain on the system. Never force or drag a child out of bed the moment he is awakened. Never rouse him out of a sound sleep, the nervous system may be wrecked for life thereby. Never fcrce a child to bed before he is sleepy. It is both cruel and injurious to health to do so. Always ease your nerves by pleasant reading or conversation before retiring, so that you may fall asleep as soon as you reach the bed. Don’t sleep under heavy cover. It will interfere with the circulation of your blood and cause you unpleasant dreams. Two comfortables, or a comfortable and a blanket, are entirely sufficient. If not warm enough under these place a few newspapers pasted together at the edge between them. Always have plenty of fresh air in your bed-room. Even in the coldest weather the sash of a window may be lowered a few inches to admit fresh air. The temperature of the bed-room should not be above 65°. If you are a father or a mother, never send your child to bed crying or angered, or under punishment, without giving him a kiss. Remember, it may be the last night on earth, or a burning fever, diphtheria or croup may deprive him of reason, and you will never again be able

to make amends for your cruelty and devilishness, or ask his forgiveness.—