A NEW METHOD OF INDUCING SLEEP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6090, 29 January 1898, Page 2

A NEW METHOD OF INDUCING SLEEP.

In the Journal of the American Medical Association of Sept. 25, 1897, Dr J. B. Learned describes the following method, which he used in his own case. For Borne years he suffered from insomnia, following a fall from his car. He tried manymethods of treatment in vain —drugs, hot water and cold water, internally and external!/, friction, over-feeding and under-feeding, exercise, gymnastics, deep inspirations, and numberless mental oflcupationa. At last the following method proved a success. The principle is to induce muscular fatigue by exercises carried out in bod. Lying on his back the patient first reaches for the foot and head board at the came time. He then raises Mb head half an inch j at the same time he breathes slowly and deeply about eight inspirations to the minute, whtoh are counted. After about twenty inspirations, the head, which beginß to feel heavy, ifl dropped. The right foot is then raised (the reaching for the boards and counting being continued) and similarly dropped "when fatigued. The left foot goes through the same process. The muscles which are used in reaching for the head and foot boards are then relieved, and the body is elevated so that it rests on the head and heels. He then turns on the right side and reaches for the head and foot boards again, and raiseß first the head and then the foot as before. The same process is gone through on the other side. Thud eight positions have been assumed and a large number of muscles used. If sleep has not been induced the same oyole m gone over again.