THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 



lated sleeping apartment, from which disturbing sounds 

 are as far as possible excluded; proper coverings, and 

 the like are almost axiomatic expedients. But especial 

 attention should be paid to the digestive system. All 

 impulses from all the organs in the body are recorded 

 in the brain, even if not within the ken of conscious- 

 ness; and during sleep, when most other stimuli are 

 withdrawn, these " organic" impulses assume greater 

 relative importance. If then at this time the diges- 

 tive system is forced to undue activity, as by the in- 

 gestion of hearty food shortly before retiring, its opera- 

 tions are almost sure to be registered in the brain with 

 disturbing force. 



A misunderstanding has arisen regarding this mat- 

 ter from the fact that milk or other easily-digestible 

 food is often prescribed at bed-time for the relief of 

 insomnia, or in case of patients of impaired vitality. 

 But the food is given in these cases for a strictly thera- 

 peutic effect; it being sought with its aid to withdraw 

 blood from the head to the stomach in the case of in- 

 somnia and to furnish pabulum for continued repair of 

 wasted tissues in the neurasthenic patient. It is a 

 temporary expedient in each case, to meet a particular 

 indication; and even then the food given is small in 

 quantity and of digestible quality. The patient who 

 is benefited by this measure would find it disastrous to 

 eat a hearty meal before retiring, and even persons in 

 health cannot do so with impunity. 



For persons in ordinary health, it is better that the 

 stomach should be empty when the period of sleep is 

 entered upon, provided that a sufficient amount of 



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