Sleep by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 3, 1866

Sleep.

By J. Clarke

In a country like ours, where there is so great a reward for industry, and so many inducements to enterprise, it is not surprising that many are very solicitous to grasp the profit there may be in the passing hour.

All this would be laudable, if kept within proper bounds; but often it is not so and covetousness hurries on the property-seeker to work on more hours, and sleep less, than nature, if she could speak, would allow.

Many work so hard, and sleep so little, that they cannot sit down for an hour to read, without falling asleep; others allow themselves to be disturbed at night by anxious thoughts and cares, until sleepless nights become habitual.

It has been remarked by those having the care of insane persons, that insanity is generally, if not always, preceded by loss of sleep; and it may be safely conjectured that fanatical persons are generally weakened in the same way.

Many parents lose their patience of mind, after long nights of watching with their sick families; and many a mother is worn out with watching and weariness, and care, and sinks into the grave before life has reached its meridian.

Nothing so taxes nature, as continued privation of sleep. Many suffer from this cause, and are not aware of the injury they sustain in consequence; as it weakens the judgment and the memory, and stupefies the finest perceptive faculties, while some other faculties act irregularly.

How then can this be remedied; how can the anxious man lay his cares aside at night, and sleep quietly, till his needed sleep is gained?

In answer we may say, that no means, however thorough, will avail with some, for they cannot, or will not, set about the matter aright; they will try your recipe in some of its parts, but fail in others. Some have no command over their thoughts, which run at large, unguided, and unrestrained.

With many, the following simple remedy will suffice:

Place in your sleeping room a basin of cold water, and a towel. When you wake, try to compose your mind; if this fails to bring sleep, arise, leave your bed with the quilts thrown down to take the air; wet your head with cold water thoroughly; now wet the towel, and wring it moderately; wind the towel around the head, so as to form a cap, and pin it so that it will be moderately tight. Now lie down again in the easiest position you can, and cover up warmly, and commence mentally repeating some familiar chapter in the Bible. Repeat the same chapter or verse, over and over; and soon, perhaps in a few minutes, you will sleep soundly, especially if you have a good couscience. If not, the best time to rectify these matters, and repent, is after good sweet sleep. If you wake again before you have gained your quota of sleep, get up again, wet your head as before, repeat the same chapter or text of scripture, and the same result will probably follow.

Faithfully follow out this direction, and you will soon sleep at the right time, without any trouble; always avoid taking sleep in the afternoon, and follow, at the same time, Dr. Jackson's rules of diet.

I speak from experience.

J. Clarke.