Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1897 — How to Go to Sleep. [ARTICLE]

How to Go to Sleep.

At the recent meeting in Montreal of the British Medical Association, in the aaetton of therapeutics, Dr. J. B. Learned, es Northampton, Mass., gave his expeiience with the many methods of inviting sleep without taking drugs. He sets the brain to work at once on retiring—it is to direct the respiratory process. It is to count respirations to see that they are fewer in number, regular, deep and somewhat protracted. In addition, certain groups of muscles are employed in routine order in silent contraction. By constant change other groups are brought into use. He has completed a systematized routine of contraction and relaxations. A slight elevation of the head from the pillow for a definite time by count of respirations is one of the many changes of position. All this without any commotion, and need not be recognized by 9 sleeping companion. Brain and muscle and all parts of the body soon come Into the normal state that precedes and invites sleep. A sense of fatigue soon overtakes one while thus employed, and before he is aware the brain has forgotten its duty to regulate the breathing process, the muscles have ceased to expand to the call made upon them in the beginning, and sleep is In control of all the forces and all the organs—New York Journal.