Little Masterpieces of Science: Health and Healing
History
Little Masterpieces of Science: Health and Healing
Medicine -- History
Sleep is closely connected with the question of diet; "good sleeping"
was a noticeable feature in the large majority of Dr. Humphry's cases.
Sound, refreshing sleep is of the utmost consequence to the health of
the body, and no substitute can be found for it as a restorer of vital
energy. Sleeplessness is, however, often a source of great trouble to
elderly people, and one which is not easily relieved. Narcotic remedies
are generally mischievous; their first effects may be pleasant, but the
habit of depending upon them rapidly grows until they become
indispensable. When this stage has been reached, the sufferer is in a
far worse plight than before. In all cases the endeavour should be made
to discover whether the sleeplessness be due to any removable
cause--such as indigestion, cold, want of exercise, and the like. In
regard to sleeping in the daytime, there is something to be said both
for and against that practice. A nap of "forty winks" in the afternoon
enables many aged people to get through the rest of the day in comfort,
whereas they feel tired and weak when deprived of this refreshment. If
they rest well at night there can be no objection to the afternoon nap;
but if sleeplessness be complained of, the latter should be discontinued
for a time. Most old people find that a reclining posture, with the feet
and legs raised, is better than the horizontal position for the
afternoon nap. Digestion proceeds with more ease than when the body is
recumbent.
Warmth is very important for the aged; exposure to chills should be
scrupulously avoided. Bronchitis is the malady most to be feared, and
its attacks are very easily provoked. Many old people suffer from more
or less cough during the winter months, and this symptom may recur year
after year, and be almost unheeded. At last, perhaps a few minutes'
exposure to a cold wind increases the irritation in the lungs, the cough
becomes worse, and the difficulty of breathing increases until
suffocation terminates in death. To obviate such risk the skin should be
carefully protected by warm flannel clothes, the outdoor thermometer
should be noticed and winter garments should always be at hand. In cold
weather the lungs should be protected by breathing through the nose as
much as possible, and by wearing a light woolen or silken muffler over
the mouth. The temperature of the sitting and bed-rooms is another point
which requires attention. Some old people pride themselves on never
requiring a fire in their bed-rooms. It is, however, a risky practice to
exchange a temperature of 65° or 70° for one fifteen or twenty degrees
lower. As a general rule, for persons sixty-five years of age and
upward, the temperature of the bed-room should not be below 60°, and
when there are any symptoms of bronchitis it should be raised from five
to ten degrees higher.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account