he puts on the market are endorsed by the leading men in the medical profession. See his attractive advertisement on the first page and inquire into the merits of Mercauro.

Mulford's Antitoxin has become a "household word" with the progressive physician. The firm also puts on the market tablets of recognized value and will send samples of their newer projections on application. Write them for trial bottle and recent literature of Lithos.

Speak of hypophosphites and you think of Fellows'. If you are not acquainted with the value of this particular preparation write them for samples and literature. You will find their advertisement on the page preceding editorial.

If neurasthenia is the American disease, Freligh's tonic must be the American remedy, since it acts almost as a specific in this and allied conditions. Note the advertisement of J. O. Woodruff & Co. elsewhere and send for samples, literature, etc., of the Freligh remedies.

Schieffelin & Co. handle only the best and most reliable drugs and physicians' supplies. Send to them for samples of Gibbs' hollow and glycerine suppositories as mentioned in their advertisement.

Are you troubled with the patient who wants to get rid of superfluous flesh? Have you tried Phytoline? If not, write to the Walker Pharmacal Co. of St. Louis for samples. See adv.

If you are going to treat your summer diarrheas antiseptically, try the Waugh-Abbott Intestinal Antiseptic. The firm will send samples on application. Their advertisement in this issue gives full particulars.

Send for a sample bottle of Celerina for use in your next case of mental fatigue in singers, speakers, or other public workers. The advertisement, elsewhere, of the Rio Chemical Company, will tell you about it.

What is the use of paying big prices for your surgical instruments when you can get them without "middlemen's" profits, of Geo. C. Frye. Send for his catalog, and note the prices quoted in his adv.

The Lentz hot air apparatus has always proved satisfactory. If the advertisement which appears in this issue doesn't tell you all you want to know write them for catalog.

The Walker-Green Co., proprietors of the "Six" preparations, (see adv.) are sending out a useful souvenir to the profession. Write for it. Flavell & Bro. are good people to remember when you want anything in the line of elastic goods. See adv.

Cataract is a terrible thing, and heretofore the fact that its only remedy has been the knife, has prevented many from seeking relief. The new remedy for medical treatment, succus cineraria maritima, is winning golden opinions. Send for literature to the Walker Pharmacal Company, whose advertisement is in this issue.

It is never too late to have a pretty calendar, and the Welch Grape Juice Company are still

sending out theirs. Their advertisement will tell you about it. Write for a calendar and a booklet.

Teutonic malt is a superior up-builder. Use it in cases of general debility. See adv.

Davis' aseptible instrument case is worth possessing. See advertisement for particulars, and write for catalog.

Write to the Globe Mfg. Co. for a circular describing their multi-nebular vaporizer.

Pills that are soluble and pills that are reducible are both vaunted, but when a pill is both, there is no room for contention. Write to Wampole & Co for samples of their pulverous pills. You can find out about them from their advertisement in this issue.

Do you ever have to prescribe a truss? The Automatic Truss Co. have something special. See adv.

Write to Mercer Chemical Co. for details of their Pill Vita, Blue. See adv.

Listerine is the standard antiseptic, and should be in constant use by every physician. Write Lambert Pharmacal Co. for descriptive literature.

In recovery from typhoid fever, or any disease accompanied by faulty nutrition, Armour's nutrient wine of Beef Peptone is indicated. See adv. and write them concerning it.

Give your neurotic patients Keith's conct. tr. avena sativa. See the adv. in this issue for particulars, and send for a sample bottle and liter

ature.

Send to W. V. Willis & Co. for new circulars concerning their goods, and do not purchase new surgical instruments before consulting their advertisement.

It makes a doctor groan in spirit to get a case of piles to treat. But if he once uses S. G. P. 0. he will thereafter feel an easy confidence. See adv. of F. W. Stewart in this issue and send for a sample.

Phillips, of Atlanta, Ga., wants you to send for his price list for aseptic instruments. His ad., elsewhere in this issue, will give you particulars.

Sharp & Dohme claim that their tablets for hypodermic use are exceptionally soluble in both cold and hot water. See their adv. elsewhere and give them a trial.

Do you know of the merits of Pabst Malt Extract? There is none better on the market. Read their adv. and investigate.

A well-known New York physician, the surgeon of the Third Avenue Cable Railroad Company, returned to the New York office of the Norwich Pharmacal Co., 94 one-pound empty Unguentine jars, and said they represented the number of pounds of Unguentine he had used in 10 months. He said: "I have from 12 to 15 cases a day, motormen, conductors, and stablemen, suffering from slight wounds, abrasions, cuts, bruises and burns, and about the only

treatment I make is to give them a small box of Unguentine. It is certainly my sheet anchor in practice, as in every instance it heals all the above cases quicker than anything I have ever used." Read the company's advertisement on another page and send for a sample.

One of the chief obstacles to efficient local medication has been the lack of a topical remedy which could be safely entrusted to the patient, a want now fully supplied in Micajah's Medicated Uterine Wafers. These are cleanly, unirritating, easily applied, and aid in establishing normal circulation, thereby causing the absorption of exudates and assisting the natural process of involution. Their advertisement is worthy of attention. Send for sample.

Be a Missionary.

On page 227, last issue, I gave an account of Mr. Jay D. Miller's little book, "Finance and Transportation." I said that I wished one hundred of our readers to join me in the pleasure of perusing this book. I stated that I had ordered at my expense 100 copies to be sent free of charge to the first 100 of our readers that would request the same, stating to Mr. Miller that you are a subscriber to THE MEDICAL WORLD, that you will carefully read the book at your earliest convenience, and then pass it to some of your leading patrons, preferably Republicans, as Mr. Miller is a Republican. This arrangement has been so satisfactory, and so much good has been done, that I have decided to " go another hundred," to be distributed in the same way, but this arrangement will not continue later than June 20th. Mr. Miller writes me that he will make a special price to those of our readers who have already gotten the book, of 15 books for $1.00, for the purpose of distribution among friends. This would indeed be a good investment of $1.00. Try it. When you begin to spend time, effort and money for the benefit of the country you will find that it will become progressively easier, until after a while you will feel that you must do something for the general good, as long as there is any need. Mr. Miller requests that orders be sent, not to his law office in Chicago, but to his residence, Oak Park, Ills. He says that the book is selling very fast. He also suggests that young men can do good missionary work and make good profit by selling the book. He says that he has received a complete indorsement of his book from Henry George, Jr., and several prominent Republicans.

Our Monthly Talk

In this free and glorious country we doctors are only humble citizens; I say humble because we citizens are under the complete domination of the men whom we elect to office. We have no right to vote on measures; we can only vote for men, and we ought to know by this time how uncertain men are. If we had the Initiative and Referendum, as they have in Switzerland, the oldest republic, we would not have to depend entirely on men in office, but citizens themselves could determine public questions. As we have

not yet progressed as far as Switzerland in the rights of citizenship, all we can do is to look sharply after the men now in office. This we neglect too much; we depend too implicitly upon the patriotic motives of these men-but the corporations, trusts, etc., are wiser than we. They can size up these "patriotic motives" to a nicety, and too often succeed in substituting other motives-motives of gain. But most of their work is not done as directly as this. They or their representatives are always on hand, offering politeness, flattery, entertainment in different ways, offering personal favors in various ways, presenting specious arguments, facts colored up to suit their purpose, etc. But we "humble citizens" trustingly send our representatives to Washington to attend to our business there, while we attend to our business at home. The corporations and trusts feel the importance of looking carefully, systematically and persistently after the men elected. This is the way that they have gotten the immense hold that they now have, and this is the way they hold it. It is important that we begin some work of this kind.

In

I wish to say here that I do not wish to imply that all public men are venal. There are various artful ways of influencing them, of which the professional lobbyist makes a special study. Direct bribery is done in comparatively few instances. This is the old and crude form of influencing legislation, but still practiced, however, as, for example, in the recent water-works bill recently before the Philadelphia Councils. The refined, but no less successful and harmful, methods of influencing legislation are those referred to above, in addition to promises for aid in re-election, political advancement, etc. this way the hopes of the "tool" are played upon with telling effect. If this don't work, he is threatened with political annihilation. Quite an effective way is to engage the congressman whose vote and influence is desired for or against a certain measure as a special attorney for the interest to be served, with a suitable salary. If he accepts the engagement, he can be counted for the private interest and against the people. If the congressman can be caught in a tight place financially, he frequently becomes an easy victim. Then there are many other ways, as helping to secure appointments for friends; social attention showered upon the congressman's family; appointment of a son to good position in the corporation to be served, etc. This is only a faint glimpse upon the inside. But there is an outside. We are on the outside, and pressure brought to bear from the outside is not entirely disregarded. If we say plainly to our representatives just what we want, and that if they will not work for the measures we favor we will vote for men who will, they will then usually give the matter careful consideration at least.

Postal Savings Banks.

The Farm Journal, which has a circulation of several hundred thousand copies, has given great attention to the above subject, and has received thousands of petitions from farmers in favor of Postal Savings Banks, to present to congress. Mr. Wilmer Atkinson, the editor of the

Farm Journal, recently went to Washington to talk the matter over with some of the political leaders. As is well known, Postmaster-General Gary (now superseded) was a warm advocate of Postal Savings Banks. In the May issue of the Farm Journal Mr. Atkinson gives an interesting account of his trip, including a conversation with Senator Hanna, the well-known Republican leader in the Senate, and Mr. Bailey, the dashing Democratic leader in the House. He was discouraged to find that both these leaders of the two dominant parties were strongly opposed to Postal Savings Banks.

After reading this I determined to endeavor to learn where every man in both houses of congress stands on this and a couple of other questions upon which we have had more or less to say in these columns, and to publish the same, so the medical profession of this country can see just how their representatives of all parties stand. To each one I sent the following letter:

PHILADELPHIA, PA., MAY 13, 1898. DEAR SIR:-Every issue of THE MEDICAL WORLD reaches over twenty-five thousand physicians in all parts of the country. For the reason that physicians lose much because of the inability of their patrons to pay, our readers have become deeply interested in those public questions that have a bearing on the prosperity of the masses of the people. Among the questions that our readers have become interested in are: Postal Savings Banks, Government Telegraph, and Government ownership of the postal cars.

You are doubtless familiar with the facts and arguments bearing on these questions.

Nearly all the progressive nations have postal or government savings banks, furnishing convenient and secure depositories for the savings of the poor, with a reasonable interest. A bank account makes a man a better citizen; and if the Government is his banker, he becomes a more patriotie citizen.

The rapid transmission of intelligence is an important public function, which should not be owned nor controlled by private individuals. All the civilized countries of the world conduct the telegraph as a part of the postal system except Bolivia, Honduras, Cyprus, Cuba, Hawaii and the United States.

As is seen by the reports of Post Masters General Vilas, Wanamaker and others, we pay an annual rental for the postal cars equal to the value of the cars. As the average life of a car is twenty years, why should we pay for them twenty times, and then not own them? Besides the rental we pay an extortionate rate (8c. per pound for an average haul of 448 miles) for the hauling of mail matter in the cars.

For the information of our readers, particularly those in your State, please answer plainly the following questions:

1. Do you favor Postal Savings Banks, and will you vote for them in Congress if opportunity presents? If not, why not?

2. Do you favor Government ownership and operation of the Telegraph as a part of the Postal System, and will you vote for the same in Congress if opportunity presents? If not, why not?

3. Do you favor Government ownership of the postal cars, and a requirement that the railroads haul them for the Government at as low a rate as they grant to other parties for a similar service? and will you vote for the same in Congress if opportunity presents? If not, why not?

A stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed for reply. Definite "yes" or "no" replies are desired to the three questions. The doctors of the country want to know how you stand on these questions. If you wish to add any remarks, they will be published if not too long, particularly if they are on the negative side. I think I can safely say that the members of the medical profession of this country are generally in favor of these questions, but they are not only willing, but eager, to consider arguments on the negative side, if there are any.

Very respectfully,

C. F. TAYLor.

This letter was sent to the 88 Senators and the 355 members of the House of Representatives443 in all. The cost of this operation was as follows: Postage on 443 letters $8.86; postage on return stamped envelopes inclosed, the same, making a total for postage of $8.86 + $8.86 = $17.72. Cost of stationery, type-writing, etc., was over $15, making a total of over $33. I do not specially need Postal Savings Banks, but that is not the way to look at it. The people in all parts of the country do need them, and if they are thus enabled to keep even with their doctor, the doctor can better afford to subscribe for THE MEDICAL WORLD. Our interests are intimately associated with the interests of the masses.

I hoped to be able to show in this connection just how the parties in Congress stand on these three questions; but politicians are wily, you know, and many of them will not "show their band." But these men are our representatives. We have a right to know how they stand on these questions. If they hesitate and equivocate, we should demand that they take a definite stand, and if that stand does not suit us, we should work for the election of men that will represent our views. I wished particularly to bring to the surface the position of the Republican party on these questions, as that is the party now in power, the party able to give us these things if it were so disposed. However, below I present the position of all the parties so far as heard from. I will continue to push this thing, if I have to send a representative to Washington to interview each delinquent, and next month will publish further developments.

Doctor, as I have done so much, can't you do a little to better the conditions of the masses? Suppose you write to each Senator and Representative from your State who has not answered, and urge him to send a reply to my questions. You see above what I have already spent, and as some might complain at the space occupied with this, I will extend it into the advertising space, thus yielding valuable advertising space to this cause. Now can't you spend a few postage stamps and write to the representatives (of all parties) from your State, and try to bring them out? Also write to those of all parties nominated for Congress to be voted on next fall. Oppose (Continued over next leaf.)

The summer months, with their unusual quota of acute disorders, are perhaps more dreaded by the busy practitioner than any other time of the year, since he feels the enervating effect of the heat as well as other workers, yet must stand ready at all times to render aid to those prostrated. The affections he meets at this time are generally of a nature proving rapidly fatal or leaving permanent ill effects. In addition, they are apt to yield more readily to general therapeusis than to medication, and hence the physician is apt to think that the laity do not accord to him the degree of credit for the successful issue of a

medicine vial more in evidence.

Fortunately there is not so prevalent a belief in the verity of hydrophobia that there was five years ago, and so the maddog scare has been to a large extent eliminated from the burdens the doctor has to bear, but the acute effects of heat are ever present as a source of worry.

The effects of exposure to extreme heat have long been recognized, and the possible eventuating fatality noted. Perhaps the earliest recorded case is that of the Shunamite's son, as detailed in Second Kings, 18th, 19th and 20th verses. Still, the cure of such cases in the manner there given is scarcely probable in these latter days, altho the so-called Christian Scientists claim the possibility of miracles in even this degenerate time. But the physicians are few who would place their faith in the means employed by Elisha, much as they may desire such efficient therapeusis.

Perhaps the average American is more likely to be prostrated by the heat because of the unhygienic habits he has formed and is so slow to change. At any rate, heat prostration is one of the things that the general practitioner must expect to reckon with in some one or the other of its forms, and it is well to prepare for the emergency before it presents.

Types of Heat Prostration.

There are two principal types of prostration from the heat, one of which is generally known as heat syncope or heat exhaustion, and the other variously as sunstroke, thermic fever, heat apoplexy, insolation, coup de soleil, etc. Possibly the most favorably considered term to-day for the latter is that of thermic fever, given it by H. C. Wood, Jr., in his famous Boylston prize essay, which made him a recognized authority upon all affections produced thru excessive heat. To these forms a third is sometimes added-the socalled ardent continued fever or febris continuis communis, identical with the

peculiar type of typhoid fever found at Key West.

Certain forms of entero-colitis occurring in children during the long continuance of atmospheric heat are no doubt also a form of heatstroke, possessing, in common with cholera-infantum, the choleraic fecal discharges. This type of heat prostration possesses also the pathognomonic symptom of rapidly increasing body temperature continuing after death.

Prophylaxis of Sunstroke and Heat Exhaustion.

Altho the forms of heat stroke mentioned vary widely in symptomatology and treatment, the modes of prophylaxis are the same in all forms. Necessarily, certain predisposing conditions surround the occupations in which there is the greater likelihood of prostration. Yet much can be accomplished by forced ventilation in such places as factories, laundries, refineries, etc., and by the adoption of clothing suited to the nature of the work, where the person is exposed to the sun directly, as in the case of a day laborer or mason. The usual dress of the working man is dark, heavy cloth, stiff black hat, usually a red flannel shirt, and this even in such laborious work as digging trenches, handling freight, etc.

The clothing should be as light and loose as is possible, and wherever possible the shade should be sought. Working people seem to consider "dudish" anything in the line of rational dress, and the man who would appear in linens and pith helmet for hard work would be apt to be hooted by his fellow laborers. It is an exceedingly good idea to wear cool green leaves, or constantly wet cloths inside of the hat.

The theory that the stroke is due to the loss of serosity of the body from long-continued perspiration would lead to inference that free drinking of cool, not cold, water is an excellent measure for those who are exposed. The use of all kinds of alcoholic drinks should be avoided.

A point that has been noticed in postmortems is the lack of coagulability of the blood, and it is thought that the drinking of lemonade would be of good prophylactic effect.

A recent article in the Medical Record, by Dr. Kinnear, states that all those pre

disposed to heat exhaustion will find safety in the employment, two or three times daily, of cold to the spine. He gives clinical facts in support of his theory that in the least seems to entitle it to consideration.

The colonial governments of Australia, where heatstroke is quite common, have issued thru their medical boards instructions embodying the following points: Intoxication or indulgence in intoxicating liquors is the most common and dangerous of all predisposing causes, and it is dangerous to employ them as agents during an attack. In many cases sunstroke has practically been alcohol stroke, and life may be endangered by the further use of the drug as a therapeutic agent. Even by the abstinent such precautions are advised as the wearing of proper clothing, of light, non-radiating head-gear and moderation of exertion.

Packard, in addition to the above, also advocates sexual abstinence, and the adoption of a farinaceous and fruit diet. The use of salines, to keep the emunctories active, is also advised, besides the drinking of small quantities of water at frequent intervals, to which has been added small amounts of claret or some other light stimulant.

Etiology of Acute Heat Prostrations.

Perhaps in no other matter has there been so great a diversity of opinion as to just the manner in which the effects of exposure to heat are brought about. Of course the general cause is the exposure to heat, whether to the direct rays of the sun, to radiation from blasts or furnaces used in industrial operations, or to an overheated atmosphere. It is known that the most complete darkness is no protection, many cases occurring at night. It was no unusual thing among the British troops in India to first become aware of an attack thru hearing the stertorous breathing of the victim as he was sleeping, and this often during the early morning hours.

Gihon says that it occurs when the hygrometric state of the atmosphere interferes with the normal refrigeration of the body by evaporation from its surface thru perspiration. Packard says that as the body cools itself more rapidly in a dry than in a f moist atmosphere, it is able to resist the influence of a dry over-heated air much better than where there is no moisture.