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tically sleepless ou this account. In the day time felt too fatigued, tired 

 out. to be inclined to exert herself physically, but the mind would per- 

 haps be very active. Often had "bright thoughts'" at night and wanted to 

 get up and jot them down, for she was unable to recall them the next 

 morning, but her physician had told her not to do this, as it would ag- 

 gravate her insomnia. When she came to me. I promptly advised her to 

 jot down her thoughts, that with a little practice she could do this in the 

 dark : at the same time I instituted measures to reduce the blood pressure 

 — and when the pressure went down the automatic action of the brain 

 ceased and sound sleep returned. How to bring down a high blood pres- 

 sure is a medical question that need not be discussed here. 



Mb. D. Middle aged man in whom a tendency to increased blood 

 pressure gradually developed, along with much dreaming at night and 

 subconscious mental activity, the thoughts coming at such times being 

 utilized in his work. Problems and matters awaiting solution would be 

 taken up and worked out at such times. This subconscious activity was 

 always orderly, entirely different from that of dreams, fur in the latter 

 there were all sorts of incongruities and anachronisms. A change in 

 environment caused the high pressure to subside and with it the subcon- 

 scious mental activity, but the dreaming continued as formerly. Now and 

 then there is a period, or it may be but a single night, of automatic ac- 

 tivity, and the question is to find out the why and the wherefore of this 

 activity. 



Mr. E. The most literary man in a small community: past middle age; 

 mind always at work. Came to me complaining of symptoms of ill health. I 

 suspected cardio-vascular disturbance and on examination found a high 

 blood pressure. I at once proposed a systematic examination, with health 

 supervision. But to be literary does not necessarily imply the possession 

 of good common sense, and instead of following my advice, given him at 

 length, he adopted an easier and simpler course ; he changed doctors. He 

 went to a man who merely gave him a little medicine. A short time ago 

 he died suddenly of cerebral hemorrhage. 1 



Ordinary people when they have a rush of thoughts at night may 

 simply worry because they are not able to sleep, whereas the brain worker 

 who utilizes his thoughts may welcome at least an occasional such rush 



1 There is a possibility that in this case arteriosclerosis had sot in. hut I am 

 ineined to believe Lliere was none at the time he came to me. It should be kept in 

 mind that in this paper I am excluding children and the aged, as well as those 

 afflicted with well-defined diseases or pathologic processes, J 



