SLEEP WHEN WORK IS DONE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3958, 25 January 1900, Page 2

SLEEP WHEN WORK IS DONE.

During the late summer (1896) I passed several weeks in a foreign city nearly 700 miles further south than London. We had about ten days intense heat, and for six nights, when it was worst, I do not think I slept as many hpurs altogether. The resulting nervous collapse, was simply awful. My brain reeled, I could neither understand nor do anything rightly. I walked, as the book says, “in a vain show.” What a blessed thing is sleep; ! how destructive, how killing to lose it. In healthy sleep the nervous system is inactive—more especially that of the brain and spinal cord. The body lies quiet, the muscles relaxed, the pulse slower than when we are awake, and the breathing less frequent but deeper. Then Nature—wise keeper of the House of Life —proceeds to renew the energies expended through the day. To miss this renewal, even in part, is to tread the edge of insanity and to look into the mouth of death.

“Methought I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no more,; Macbeth doth murder sleep !' ” So said Macbeth himself; but there is a power which murders more sleep than ever did Duncan s assassin; and to that Mrs Beattie alludes when she says of her daughter,. “She got no sleep.” “In May, 1891,” writes the lady, “my daughter Letitia fell into a low, weak condition, and could not get up her strength. She had no appetite, and what little food she took gave her great pain at the chest and side. She got no sleep at night, and became very nervous and low-spirited. “As time passed by she became weaker and more feeble, and we thought she would never get better. A doctor _ attended her, but none of his medicines seemed to suit her case, and for two years she continued to suffer. “One day she read in a book about Mother Seigel’s Curative Syrup and what it had done for others. She got a bottle from Air Nicholls, chemist, Donegal Place, and after taking it began to improve, being able to oat, and her food agreeing with her. After having used this medicine for a short time she was strong and well as ever, and has since been in good health. For a long time I myself suffered from weakness and indigestion, and seeing what good Mother Seigel’s Syrup had done, I took it and was completely restored to sound health. You may use this statement as you like. (Signed) (Mi's) Mary Beattie,'23, Trinity square, Belfast, August 14, 1896.” “In the early part of 1894,” writes another, “I began to suffer from indigestion. I had a poor appetite, and all food gave me pain at my chest and a gnawing feeling at the stomach. No matter how light the food I took I had pain and sick headache.

“For over a year I was tormented like this, when Mr John Weir, living in this place, told me how he had been cured by Mother Seigel’s Syrup, and recommended mo to try it. I did so, and soon, all pain left me, and I have since enjoyed good health. I know, many persons residing in this district who have been benefited by taking the same medicine. Often in my shop I hear persons say what it has done for them. You are at liberty to publish this’ letter, ; (Signed) Alexander Wilson, general merchant, Castlewellan, Newcastle, Co. Down, Ireland, August 15th, 1896.” ' Indigestion or dyspepsia destroys the power to sleep by starving, and thus weakening, the nervous system. Indeed the whole body starves, and is thrown in.to profound disorder. Food may be taken into the stomach, but, as people constantly say, “It does no good.” No ; but in a sense it does harm. Fermented, soured and undigested it develops poisons which act upon the system somewhat as a pestilence does upon a coinmuni ty. Flesh is lost, strength gives way to trembling weakness, courage is supplanted by fear, and life is dreary and desolate. That Mother Seigel’s Syrup should be able to cure a disease so common and so terrible is reason for gratitude to us all. For the healthy—work and sleep. .