REST AND SLEEP 279 



a state of serious sleeplessness. Perhaps they lie 

 awake a long time after going to bed, or maybe wake 

 up far too early in the morning. Possibly the wake- 

 fulness continues through the greater part of the night. 

 The body's reclining position and lack of effort may 

 be restful to their muscles, but their brains get little 

 rest without sleep. People thus affected may continue 

 their regular duties for a long time. They cannot, 

 however, work with their accustomed skill or vigor. 

 Nor, if regular habits of sleep are not restored, can 

 they escape the nervous prostration or other break- 

 down that is sure to follow. 



Sleeplessness is thought to be caused by some dis- 

 order of the circulation. It may be too much blood 

 in the head. Perhaps some digestive difficulty causes 

 an uncomfortable accumulation of gas, or there is some 

 nervous irritation. Plain food and fresh air purify the 

 blood and strengthen the circulation. Hence both are 

 conducive to sleep. It is also true that indigestible 

 foods and impure air help to bring on sleepless con- 

 ditions. Hard study or other difficult or exciting 

 mental work just before retiring, draws an extra sup- 

 ply of blood to the head, and so it should not be done 

 by any one inclined to wakefulness. For a similar 

 reason, worry, which is a common cause of sleepless- 

 ness, should be carefully guarded against. Forget 

 both work and worry is a good rule for any one to put 

 into practice on retiring at night. 



It also naturally follows that anything which draws 



