Copy 1, Volume 1

The code of health and longevity. Or, A concise view, of the principles calculated for the preservation of health, and the attainment of long life... / By Sir John Sinclair.

  • Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The code of health and longevity. Or, A concise view, of the principles calculated for the preservation of health, and the attainment of long life... / By Sir John Sinclair. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    770/808 (page 758)
    [760 7] for his patient, directed water to be placed in such a situa- tion, that it was continually dropping on a brass pan. Fontesque lymphis obstrepunt manantibus, Somnos quod invitet leves. Any thing that catches the attention, for instance, soft MUSIC, | or the Aolian harp, or any monotonous sound, as the murmuring of a rivulet, the humming of bees, the in- cessant sound or check of a clock or watch, will also pro- mote sleep *. | | ? If none of these practices will procure sleep, then try the effect of conning over some task that in childhood was apt to induce it, or of counting to one thousand, or recit- ing any long passage, from any ancient or modern author. By these means, the attention is diverted from uneasy thoughts, and you are overtaken by sleep, in the midst of your efforts. | 6. Much also may be effected by resolution and firm- ness of mind. A great modern philosopher, finding it im- possible to procure sleep at the accustomed hour, and suf- fering also from painful attacks resembling cramps, he summoned up his stoic principles, and by directing his at- tention to some indifferent object, such as the history and writings of Cicero, not only got the better of the thoughts which kept him awake, but even his painful sensations soon became. blunted, and were finally overcome by drowsiness ; and this remedy, he adds, he could at all times repeat with success, whenever his sleep was interrupted by attacks of this sort +. r * Code of Longevity, Vol. Il. Appendix, p. 46. + See Kant on the Power of Resolution over Disease. Code of Longe- vity, Vol. Ill. p. 152.. Hufeland, Vol. Il. p. 199, also observes, that the cares and burden of the day, ought to be laid aside with one’s clothes. . None