SLEEP SLEEPLESSNESS. 505 



the exciting cause of the wakefulness, and then to remove it if possible. If a man 

 is over-working himself it is of not the slightest use giving him drugs to make him 

 sleep, unless he will consent to go under easy sail for a time. That would be the 

 abuse of medicine, not its use. Much may be done by measures which tend to 

 improve the general health, and these are chiefly of a hygienic character. Is the 

 room in which the patient sleeps all that it should be 1 Is it large and airy and, at 

 all events, moderately well ventilated 1 ? If not, this must be remedied without delay. 

 Has the patient a fair allowance of bed-clothes 1 Possibly he would be benefited 

 by having a fire in his room at night, or a hot-water bottle to his feet. Is he- 

 regular in his habits 1 He should go to bed every night at the same hour, and get 

 up at the same time in the morning. A man who is irregular, and goes to bed one 

 night at ten, and the next not till two or three in the morning, cannot expect to 

 sleep well, and he certainly does not deserve to. Many people pass far too many 

 hours in bed seven or eight is enough for any man. We know people who are 

 never satisfied, and are always complaining because they cannot sleep twelve hours 

 at a stretch. To be able to do so would be no indication of health, but rather the 

 contrary. Many a man has been cured of his inability to sleep by taking a warm 

 bath the last thing before going to bed. Often enough there is some error in diet 

 which requires to be looked to. Many people find they cannot sleep if they go to 

 bed on an empty stomach. With many, a hearty supper of plainly-cooked and 

 nutritious food rather favours sleep than otherwise. Of course, indigestible 

 substances, such as cheese or pastry, should be avoided. A glass of good bottled 

 stout is by no means a bad provocative of sleep. A plain biscuit after lying awake 

 for some time will often bring relief. Some people sleep best when propped up in 

 bed, and others when lying quite flat on -their backs. A low pillow, a hard pillow, 

 or a hop pillow may conduce to sleep. If the air of the bedroom be dry, and there 

 is a sense of stifling or stuffiness, it is a good plan to have the floor freely sprinkled 

 with water containing a little Condy's fluid ; or if warmth as well as moisture be 

 desired, the steam may be allowed to escape into the room from a kettle on the hob. 

 Walking, riding, or driving in the open air, change of society, of scene, of air 

 (provided only that it be pure and bracing) may prove remedial. A good walk 

 two hours before bed-time is beneficial in many cases. Reading exciting works of 

 fiction late in the evening is to be prohibited, and everything possible should be 

 done to prevent the normal functions of the brain from being over-excited during 

 the day. Sometimes advantage is derived from getting rid of curtains and bed- 

 hangings. The practice of keeping the bedroom window open all night is a good 

 one. We are told that Bacon used to indulge in a posset of strong ale to subdue the 

 activity of his brain before going to bed ; and in imitation of his practice we some- 

 times recommend in cases of debility that a tumblerful of port wine negus, or of 

 mulled claret, or of hot elder wine, or of white wine whey, should be taken the last 

 thing. In other instances, where the skin is hot and dry, a glass of cold water may 

 be useful. Should the bowels be habitually constipated, this must be seen to (see 

 CONSTIPATION). If there be headache, a rag dipped in cold water and applied to the 

 forehead may give relief. Attempts may be made to get into " the land of Nod " 

 while comfortably seated in an easy chair. v 



