hands tremble,
in the advanced stage. The speech is jerky and slow. Syllables are dropped
and repeated. One early symptom is retention of the urine. There is
another annoying symptom--a constant grinding of the teeth. The walk is
very spasmodic, but in advanced stages it becomes slouching or dragging.
The skin may be red or blue. When the feeble-mindedness is fully developed
the mind does not perceive anything accurately. He sees imaginary things,
and things that he does see do not appear to him as they are. Finally he
has no mind.

Treatment.--The end is sure. You can relieve the distress partly. Personal
attention by a physician is needed.

[NERVOUS SYSTEM 299]

INSOMNIA.--Insomnia is not a disease, but a symptom of disease. It may,
however, become so active, prominent, and important a symptom as to
constitute a condition which merits individual management and treatment.

Definition.--Insomnia is the term employed to denote actual or absolute
sleeplessness, and also lack of fully restful sleep, which might be termed
relative sleeplessness.

Causes.--Organic causes. Disease of the brain and spinal cord. Toxic
causes due to poison circulating in the blood which by irritation of the
brain and cord (axis) and especially of the brain, cause such diseases as
nephritis (chronic), jaundice, typhoid fever and consumption.

Primary causes. Depend upon insanity.

Nervous or simplest causes.--These are present in nervous persons and
comprise the two conditions of congestion and anemia of the brain. The
brain congestion is typified by the nerve-tire of the student; over-study
and anxiety bring too much blood to the brain and necessarily too much
activity and then insomnia. Anemia of the brain acts in the opposite
manner. The brain cells are not properly nourished and hence irritated,
and sleeplessness follows.

SLEEPLESSNESS. Mothers' Remedies. 1. Hop Pillow Stops.--"People affected
in this way will be very much benefited by the use of a pillow composed of
hops, or cup of warm hop tea on retiring. The hops have a very soothing
effect upon the nerves."

2. Sleeplessness, Easy and Simple Remedy for.--"On going to bed, take some
sound, as a clock-tick or the breathing of some one within hearing, and
breathe long breaths, keeping time to the sound. In a very short time you
will fall asleep, without any of the painful anxieties attending
insomnia."

[300 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

3. Sleeplessness, Ginger at Bedtime for.--"Ginge