ou cannot let go and give
way entirely to the restful power of sleep. The head must be moved up
and down, from side to side, and round and round in opposite ways,
gently and until its owner can let go so completely that it seems like
a big ball in the hands that move it. Of course care must be taken to
move it gently and never to extremes, and it will not do to trust an
unintelligent person to "prove" a body in any way. Ladies' maids have
been taught to do it very well, but they had in all cases to be
carefully watched at first.

The example of a woman who had for years been an invalid is exceedingly
interesting as showing how persistently people "hold on." Although the
greater part of her time had been spent in a reclining attitude, she
had not learned the very rudiments of relaxation, and could not let go
of her own muscles any more easily than others who have always been in
active life. Think of holding yourself on to the bed for ten years! Her
maid learned to move her in the way that has been described, and after
repeated practice, by the time she had reached the last movement the
patient would often be sleeping like a baby. It did not cure her, of
course; that was not expected. But it taught her to "relax" to a pain
instead of bracing up and fighting it, and to live in a natural way so
far as an organic disease and sixty years of misused and over-used
force would allow.

Having relaxed the legs and arms and head, next the spine and all the
muscles of the chest must be helped to relax. This is more difficult,
and requires not only care but greater muscular strength in the lifter.
If the one who is lifting will only remember to press hard on the floor
with the feet, and put all the effort of lifting in the legs, the
strain will be greatly lessened.

Take hold of the hands and lift the patient or pupil to a sitting
attitude. Here, of course, if the muscles that hold the head are
perfectly relaxed, the head will drop back from its own weight. Then,
in letting the body back again, of course, keep hold of the
hands,--_never_ let go; and after it is down, if the neck has remained
relaxed, the head will be back in a most uncomfortable attitude, and
must be lifted and placed in the right position. It is some time before
relaxation is so complete as that. At first the head and spine will
come up like a ramrod, perfectly rigid and stiff. There will be the
same effort either to assist or resist; the same disinclination to g