ams but
these occur in the later hours of sleep, as every mother has observed.
The man or woman well advanced in years who can secure the same depth of
sleep that a vigorous child en joys will undoubtedly spend the bigger
part of the night in sleep and will acquire exceptional vitality as a
result.

Bodily rest, even without sleep, is undoubtedly of great value for
purposes of recuperation. To a certain extent such rest,
especially if associated with a state of very complete relaxation of
the muscles, will make it possible to take less sleep without
serious devitalizing results. The man or woman who suffers from
insomnia should learn that he can recuperate to a considerable
extent through simple physical relaxation without the unconsciousness
of sleep. Undoubtedly the physical inactivity common among civilized
races has much to do with their ability to keep late hours. But of
course this involves more or less nerve strain. The brain does not get
sufficient rest, and the loss of sleep involves such an expenditure of
energy through the brain as to constitute a serious drain upon the
nervous system. Even though rest for the body during consciousness is of
certain value, it cannot go very far in taking the place of true sleep.
To the higher centers of the brain and nervous system an
opportunity must be given for the complete relaxation that comes only
with the entire loss of consciousness.

As I have already said, those who are lacking in vitality and who are
trying to build strength need more sleep than those who are
already strong. Especially those who find it difficult to sleep need
additional nervous strength and should carefully observes rules that
will promote sleep. One will often hear sufferers from insomnia
complain that they never sleep! They are convinced that night after
night and week after week passes without their being able to close their
eyes in slumber. They are deluded in every case, because they could not
maintain life for more than five or six days if this were true. The
fact is that they drop off to sleep and then awaken without being
conscious that they have been asleep. At the same time, in all such
conditions, it is necessary to improve the quality of sleep so that it
will be truly refreshing. I have already referred to the influence of
good healthy muscular fatigue as a means of enabling one to sleep.
Walking and out-of-door life will in almost