One hundred years ago
CURES FOR SLEEPLESSNESS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'SPECTATOR'
SIR,—As one who has suffered much from insomnia, I read with interest `F. P. C.'s' letter in the Spectator of July 21st. His theory that sleep, when broken, can be renewed by carrying on in thought the preceding dream, I can confirm; but it does not deal with the most difficult case of insomnia, — when one lies down after a long day's work thoroughly tired and yet vividly awake. For the latter case, I venture to offer some suggestions, which I have myself found useful.
1. A glass of cold water, which is an excellent solvent, and, by setting the Digestion to work, draws away the blood from the head. 2. Go over some scene in a novel you are familiar with, endeavouring, if possible, to call up the dramatis personce before the imagina- tion. 3. Count up a series of numbers, substituting for some number—four, or six, or seven, &c.—and for each multi- ple of that number, a simple word. If you make any slip, such as pronouncing the number (or its multiple), begin again. 4. An attempt to compose a sermon or a simple dialogue between two characters will often induce sleep. 5. Sleeplessness often arises from viti- ated air, for which an open window is the obvious remedy—I am, Sir, &c., F.R.S. The Spectator, 28 July 1888
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