HEALTH NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 12

HEALTH NOTES.

SLEEP—AND SLEEPLESSNESS. The following notes on the above subject by “A. Physician” appears in a recent issue of the-/‘Spectator’’: in ■_ 1." The physical phenomena, of which a lowered temperature is the chief, are for the most part, ; though perhaps not altogether, due first to the fact that we do not feed at night 1 , and secondly to the muscular and cerebral inactivity of sleep. They occur to a much greater extent in hibernation. .

2. I't is characteristic of healthy sleep that it is a complete break in consciousness. The more dreams the less complete the sleep. Consciousness implies perception of what are technically called stimuli, which include all ive hear, or see or feel. The perception is not passive, but it is the result of continuous mental, with which coincide cerebral, activity. The brain tires, like the muscles, and how much fatigue is due to the former may he gauged by the difference between sleep and mere rest.

3. The process of recuperation is. as unknown as the process of growth. 4. .What becomes of myself, which includes my soul,- when I am asleep, or under chloroform, or drunk, or mad ,or derid I neither know nor am likely to know. It is not I who'rest, but my body and brain.

. 5. Difficulties in going to sleep are sometimes physical, .more often mental. The physical, under ordinary circumstances, are duo to the circulation. The following are a few practical hints. Some sleep better half sitting 1 up with three pillow's, sojne better with none; some with little covering, some with much. Hot drinks or a hot bath jus,t before sleep,,liot bottles to the feet, are often useful. Tobacco often increases sleeplessness. Sometimes, the darkness seems exciting, and one can sleep with a lighted candle. Intermittent noises, as of a rattling win- ■ dow, hre always bad, but a continuous noise is often a lullaby. ... Moderate fatigue aids, 1 bjjt' bxhausiion.prevents, sleep. Orteriest : sleeplessness is , mental r and springs from want of self-control. Either one subject the mind, or a succession* of* ideas'. ’' Til either case the sleepless, must make the effort to stop thought. It is best done by attending continuously to some monotonous and unexciting idea, which is self-hypnotism. Some count, some breath slowly as if asleep, some tlcok at imaginary sheep going through. a gate. .One. of the best ways is to watch those curious appearances whiclvoome; to closed eyes, a purple hare fading into a. star, which becomes an irregular line,• and*again changes to something else. They cannot be seen

when first, sought, but will come with a little patience. In ail these the purpose to fix the attention on some object which will arouse no associations. It re-

quires steady effort to do this, and to prevent the thoughts wandering, but exercise increases the power to succeed. The half-hour before bedtime should he spent quietly. 6. To lie late encourages, not corrects, sleeplesness. To sleep much is to shorten life, and is also bad for the health.