Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : containing observations on the comparative advantages of vaccine inoculation, with instructions for performing the operation, an essay, enabling puptured [sic] persons to manage themselves, with engravings of bandages, which every person may prepare for himself, and a family herbal / by William Buchan, M.D. of the Royal College of Physicians, Edingburgh ; to which are added, such useful discoveries ... as have transpired since the demise of the author.

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : containing observations on the comparative advantages of vaccine inoculation, with instructions for performing the operation, an essay, enabling puptured [sic] persons to manage themselves, with engravings of bandages, which every person may prepare for himself, and a family herbal / by William Buchan, M.D. of the Royal College of Physicians, Edingburgh ; to which are added, such useful discoveries ... as have transpired since the demise of the author. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

    55/522 (page 49)
    fashion, ifow quickly the want of rest in due setxnm blast the most bloominjj couiploxiou, or ruin the bc^t constitution, is evident from the gliastly countenances o|'those who, as the phrase is, turn day into u'ght, and night into day. To make sleep refreshing, the following things are requisite: first, to take suth' ient exercise in the open air; to avoid strong tea or cof- fee ; next, to eat a light supper; and lastly, to lie down with a mind as cheerful and serene as possible. It is certain that too much exercise will prevent sleep, as well as too littie. We seldom however hear the active and laborious com- plain of restless nights. It is the indolent and slothful who generally have these complaints. Is it any wonder that a bed of down should not be refreshing to a person who sits all day in an easy chair] A great part of the pleasure of life consists in alternate rest and motion; but they wlio neglect tlie latter can never relish tlie former. The labourer enjoys more true luxury in plain food and sound sleep, than is to be found in sumptuous tables and downy pillows, where exercise 13 wanting. That liglit suppers cause sound sleep is true even to a proverb. Mauv persons, if tliey exceed the least at that meal, are sure to have uueasY nights; and, if they fall asleep, the load and oppression on their stomach and sjjirits occasion frightful dreams, broken and dis- turbed repose, the nightmare, &:c. Were the same persons to go to bed w ith a light supper, or sit up till that meal was pretty well diges- ted, they would enjoy sound sleep, and rise refreshed and cheerful. There are indeed some people who cannot sleep unless they have eaten some solid food at night,, but this does not imply the necessity of a heary supper; besides, these are generally persons Avho have accus- tomed themselves to this method, and who do not take a sufficient quantity of solid food and exercise in the course of the day. Nothing more certainly disturbs our repose than anxiety. When the mind is not at ease, one seldom enjoys sound sleep. This great- est of human blessings flies the wretched, and visits the happy, the cheerful, and the gay. This is a sufficient reason why every mau should endeavour to be as easy in his mind as possible when he goes to rest. Many, by indulging grief and anxious thought, have banished sound sleep so long, that they could never afterwards enjoy it. Sleep, when taken in the fore part of the night, is generally reck- oned most refreshing. Whether this be tlie effect of habit or not, i& hard to say; but as most people are accustomed to go early to bed when young, it may be presumed that sleep, at this season, wiU prove more refreshing to them ever after. Whether the fore part of the nigiit be best for sleep or not, surely the fore part of the day is fittest botli for business and amusement. I hardly ever knew an early riser w ho did not enjoy a good state of health. It consists with obs(!rvalion, that all very old men have been early risers. This is the only circumstances attending longevity to which (says Dr. V>icu a v) I never knew an exception.