ference of cancerous elements by the blood or lymph stream produces a local condition which the vitiated blood current develops into a fresh local lesion.

The apathy of surgeons to medical suggestions of their own distinguished members, past and present, is very surprising, but not less so than the practical disregard of cancer by physicians. One finds the strongest expressions in regard to the constitutional relation of cancer by Lambe. Abernethy, Willard Parker, Sir Astley Cooper, Sir James Paget, Esmarck, Sir Arbuthnot Lane, and others; and finally Dr. William J. Mayo, in his recent president's address before the American Surgical Association, asks, “Is it not possible, therefore, that there is something in the habits of civilized man, in the cooking or other preparation of his food, which acts to produce the precancerous condition ?"

And yet there has been relatively little serious attempt to investigate the line of thought or to test the principles underlying the metabolic theory of cancer, and its relation to diet and mode of life, as influenced by so-called civilization. While the microscope and laboratory work on animals have undoubtedly advanced the science of medicine prodigiously, they seem to have reached their limit in regard to cancer. The negative conclusions, however, have paved the way for the medical man through clinical study and physiological chemistry to reach the real basic cause of the disease in the activities of the system as a whole, as influenced by diet and mode of life.

This plea is made, therefore, with the hope that the matter may be thoroughly investigated and tested and that it may result in a more rational treatment than the present one of attempting only to remove the product of the disease, the local tumor, while the cause of the formation of the malgrowth remains still active. Only by a rational treatment of the cause can we hope to restrain the steady increase of cancer, and to reduce its frightful mortality of 90 per cent, of those whom it has once attacked. Berwyn, Ill.

A Simple, Efficient, Easily Prepared Neutralizing Cordial.

BY G. W. HOLMES, M. D.

For many years I have used the following formula as a substitute for the more complicated neutralizing cordial as recommended in King's Dispensatory. Its action appears to be about the same, it is pleasant to the taste, contains no hydrastis, less alcohol and it is therefore less expensive and very easily and quickly prepared.

Rhubarb pulv. Sodii Bicarb. Alcohol, aa viii. Sugar, white, lbs. ii. Oil peppermint. Oil anise Oil cinnamon, aa3ss. Oil spearmint. Infuse rhubarb in 4 quarts of boiling water for one hour. Add sugar and carefully add soda. When cool add the oils cut in the alcohol. Sharpes, Fla.

Materia Medica and Therapeutics

EDITED BY

JOHN WILLIAM FYFE, M. D.

Short Articles giving definite indications for remedies are solicited, and may be sent to DR. J. W. FYFE, Saugatuck, Conn.

Overdose of Aconite.

In an article on the use of aconite, recently published in one of our journals, the author says:

"I add fifteen to twenty drops of the specific medicine to four ounces of water and direct that a teaspoonful of the mixture be administered to children every hour."

This constitutes a dose unnecessarily large. In fact, it is more or less poisonous, and, of course, does not meet the indications for aconite given in our books on Specific Medication. It should always be remembered that the specific medicines are very active preparations.

Good Fall and Winter Remedies.

Aconite moderates the force and frequency of the heart's action—increasing the power of the heart and the tone of the blood vessels. It is useful in dysentery, tonsillitis, croup and the continued fevers when the pulse is small and wiry, the heart's action rapid and the temperature elevated. R Specific Medicine Aconite, gtt. iii to v; water, iv. Teaspoonful every hour.

Asclepias affords the most efficient means of removing sharp cutting pains. In this condition ten to thirty drops of the specific medicine, in very hot water, should be administered every half hour. In pneumonia it is indicated when the pulse is full and soft, cough severe with scanty expectoration and the skin is inclined to moisture. Asclepias, gtt. x to 3i; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every two

or three hours.

Baptisia is a remedy of much value in typhoid fever, as well as in all typhoid conditions occurring in other diseases. It is especially indicated when the pulse is frequent, full and oppressed, the tongue and mucous membranes purplish in color, the breath sweetish and offensive, a smooth, grayish and viscid coat on the tongue, sordes on the teeth and lips and a prune junce-like expectoration. B Baptisia, gtt. x to xx; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every hour to R every three hours.

Belladonna is an efficient remedy in all diseases characterized by congestion. In the early stage of pneumonia and in scarlet

fever it is the first drug to be considered. It never should be neglected in any disease when there is impaired capillary circulation, dullness, drowsiness, dilated pupils, dull, heavy, aching pain in the head, or blueness of the face and extremities. R Belladonna, gtt. v to x; water, živ. Teaspoonful every hour to every three hours.

Bryonia is a remedy of great usefulness in pneumonia, pleuritis, bronchitis, peritonitis and rheumatism. It is especially indicated when the pulse is full and tense, the respiratory movements restricted, there is pleuritic pain, or a suppressed hacking cough. R Bryonia, gtt. v to x: water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every hour.

Cactus is our most valuable remedial agent in functional wrongs of the heart. It gives speedy relief, and when continued for a reasonable length of time effects a cure in many cases. As a means of sustaining the heart in pneumonia and other severe diseases it is employed with gratifying results. Cactus is a needed. remedy when there is cardiac insufficiency, irritability and feebleness of the heart, a sense of oppression in the chest or an uneasy sensation in the region of the heart. R Cactus, gtt. xxx to 3i; water, ziv. Teaspoonful every hour to every three hours.

Echafolta (echinacea) is a potent remedy in typhoid fever, intermittent fever, and in pneumonia with typhoid tendencies, and is especially called for when the mucous membranes are dusky in color, there is a putresent odor from an excess of broken-down material being eliminated from the system, the breath offensive, or there is pulmonary gangrene. REchafolta, gtt. xx to 3i; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every two or three hours.

Gelsemium is perhaps our most frequently needed fall and winter remedy. It is useful in all fevers when there is irritation of the nerve centers. It prevents determination of blood to the head and spinal cord and checks .spasmodic action. It is always indicated when the face is flushed, the eyes very bright, the pupils contracted and there is restlessness and indisposition to sleep. B Gelsemium, gtt. 10 to xxx; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every half hour to every two hours.

Ipecac often constitutes a remedy of much value in acute bronchitis and pneumonia. In passive hemorrhage from the stomach it. is a remedy of superior merit, and in dysentery it has often constituted an essential part of the treatment. Ipecac is indicated when the respiration is oppressed, expectoration deficient, there are mucous rales and an irritating cough. R Ippecac, gtt. v to x; water, ziv. Teaspoonful every hour.

Jaborandi is an excellent remedy in acute inflammatory conditions of the respiratory organs and in rheumatism it is employed with much benefit. Among its reliable indications are the follow

ing: Extreme dryness of the mouth and throat, dry hot skin, lack of secretion in the bronchi, pleuritic pain, associated with a strong pulse. Jaborandi, gtt. xxx to 3i; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every two hours.

Sanguinaria is one of our most efficient remedies in diseases of the throat and air passages when there is an irritating cough, a sense of rawness and constriction in the throat or a muco-purulent expectoration. R Sanguinaria, gtt. x to xx; water, 3iv. Teaspoonful every hour.

Veratrum is a remedy of great usefulness in many diseases, including pneumonia, rheumatism and malarial fevers when the pulse is full and bounding, and thus showing great cardiac exciteR Veratrum, gtt. v xxx; water, iv. Teaspoonful every

ment.

hour.

Kidney Diseases With Indicated Remedies.

Albuminuria-Acidum gallicum in doses of 3 to 10 grains every four hours. Crataegus oxyacantha; the dose is 2 to 10 minims of the specific medicine every three hours.

Acute nephritis accompanied by dropsy-Apocynum cannabinum; the dose is one-half to 2 minims of the specific medicine every two to four hours. Eryngium; the dose is 1 to 5 drops every two to four hours.

Acute and chronic nephritis-Eryngium aquaticum; the dose is 1 to 10 minims of the specific medicine every three or four hours.

Albuminuria in pregnancy-Santonin; the dose is 1⁄2 to 2 grains. three times a day. Apocynum; add 10 to 60 minims of specific medicine to 4 ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every two or three hours. Acute edema Apis mel.; add 5 to 20 minims of specific medicine to 4 ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every two hours.

Alkaline urine-Acidum benzoicum; the dose is 3 to 10 grains two or three times a day.

Chronic haematuria-Rhus aromatica; add 1 to 4 drachms of specific medicine to 4 ounces of aromatic elixir and give a teaspoonful every two to four hours. Distilled hamamelis; the dose is half a teaspoonful every two to four hours. Belladonna; add 5 to 10 minims of specific medicine to 4 ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every two hours. These may be combined as indicated.

Chronic albuminuria-Santonin; the dose is 5 grains of the first trituration every two hours. Calcium phos. 3x; the dose is 5 grains every two or three hours. Potassium phos. 3x; the dose is 5 grains. every three or four hours.

Dropsy resulting from inefficient action of the kidneys-Adonis vernalis; the dose of specific medicine is one-fourth of a minim to 2

minims every three hours. Apocynum; the dose of the specific medicine is one-half to 2 minims every three hours. Buchu; the dose of the speciflc medicine is 10 to 20 minims every two to four hours.

Dark, heavy, scanty urine-Apis mel.; add 5 to 20 minims of specific medicine to 4 ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every two hours.

Lack of free secretion from the kidneys-Triticum repens; the dose of the specific medicine is 5 to 10 minims every two to four hours. Muddy, foul-smelling urine-Agrimonia; the dose of specific medicine is 5 to 10 minims every three or four hours.

Scanty secretion of urine-Adonis vernalis; the dose of the specific medicine or fluid extract is one-fourth to 2 minims every one to four hours.

Strangury in young children-Galium aperine; the dose of the specific medicine or fluid extract is 10 to 30 minims every half hour to three hours.

Supression of urine-Menthae viridis; add 10 to 60 minims of specific medicine to 4 ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every one to two hours.-Abstract from an article by Dr. A. F. Stephens in American Medical Journal.

Drug Aid in Diagnosis.

The value of drugs as aids to diagnosis is frequently overlooked. Sodium salicylate has distinct value in therapy from the standpoint of specific diagnosis, or that diagnosis which recognizes the relationship between diseased conditions and the known remedy therefor. It is even possible to determine some obscure forms of rheumatism by the administration of selected anti-rheumatics, as has been done with Rhamnus californica. Macrotys, oil of wintergreen and other agents sometimes quickly aid in determining whether a condition is one of rheumatic character or whether due to other causes. Sodium salicylate is so positive in its action when a true acute rheumatism exists that a diagnosis can almost certainly be made early between it and other inflammatory infections. Nor is this departing from specific medication, for the cause of acute rheumatism is now known to be a streptococcus which is antagonized by this sodium salt. Dr. Locke used to say of aconite that it was a valuable diagnostic aid in fevers. If the fever yielded within twenty-four hours, it was most likely not to become typhoid in character; if prolonged or unaffected after its administration, the chances of a typhoid infection were more than probable. Thus we sometimes gain time and a foresight into the possible future of a disorder by the manner in which it responds to medication. The value of iodide of potassium, as a diagnostic aid in advanced syphilis, is a well-known therapeutic fact.-Eclectic Medical Journal.