A small pipe, communicating with a wind-mill on the top of the house, insured the renewal of air.
It might seem that the tenant of such a chamber ought to be able to command slumber, but it was rare that I slept well, even there, two nights in succession.

So accustomed was I to wakefulness that I minded little the loss of one night's rest.

A second night, however, spent in my reading chair instead of my bed, tired me out, and I never allowed myself to go longer than that without slumber, from fear of nervous disorder.

From this statement it will be inferred that I had at my command some artificial means for inducing sleep in the last resort, and so in fact I had.

If after two sleepless nights I found myself on the approach of the third without sensations of drowsiness, I called in Dr.Pillsbury.
He was a doctor by courtesy only, what was called in those days an "irregular" or "quack" doctor.