THE CARE OF THE FEET.

We have abundant information heralded broadcast on the hygiene of almost every organ and cavity of the body except our pedal extremities. As a matter of fact, the feet cause a great deal of suffering, especially during the hot months of summer. In this respect women are greater sufferers than men. It is a notorious fact that women's shoes are not properly built. The last is too narrow, the heels are too high, and they are made to look well rather than to produce comfort to the wearer. Many men also endeavor to wear shoes that are ill-fitting and uncomfortable.

The remedy for summer foot ailments is in shoes that fit the feet properly, neither too large nor too small. Painful feet are relieved by letting them go unshod at convenient hours during the day. Corns and bunious improve as the sufferer goes barefoot. If the feet sting and burn they should be bathed in cold water which contains a teaspoonful of powdered alum to each quart. After the bath sponge with alcohol or dilute vinegar, which is allowed to evaporate instead of being dried with a towel.

Foot powders are of two classes: One of these is such as are soluble in water; boric acid is typical of this class and is valuable in case of excessive perspiration. The other class of powders embraces those which are non soluble, such as starch and oxide of zinc. A mixed powder containing some of both classes may often prove serviceable.

Permanganate of potash, ten grains to a gallon of water, is perhaps the best agent to dissipate bromidrosis. Astringent powders like alum and boric acid should be sprinkled in the stockings. Bunions should be bathed alternately in hot and cold water and then painted with iodine. Corns and collosities should be rubbed with pumice stone and touched with iodine or the regulation corn remedy. The feet should be kept dry, cool and comfortable, with careful avoidance of irritating footwear if we would be unconscious of feet during the warm months.

Pneumonia is caused by cold, wet feet more often than by the inhalation of pneumonia microbes.

THE WELL-BALANCED DIETARY.

More and more we are learning that perfect nutrition and sound health depend upon a variegated and blood-making dietary. The food fad ideas are dying a slow but sure death. The individual who courts health and longevity along the line of exclusive dietetics never accomplishes his ambition. The professional dietist is never healthy, happy or long-lived. It is the person who subsists upon a well-regulated, variegated and properly balanced line of foods who enjoys the best foods and lives the longest. It is true that in certain states of perverted nutrition, e. g., obesity, fasting or dieting may prove of much avail. In many conditions abstinence from food for a day or so may help the organism to clear itself of waste material. All these are exceptional conditions. Health and vigor depend as a rule upon the, fuel which is put into the body-nourishing food. It took us a long time to learn that above all things the consumptive needs to have his nutrition improved. We are just now waking up to the fact that even the diabetic should not be starved to death as formerly.

THE NEUROTIC PATIENTS.

Every doctor has among his clientele a number of neurasthenics of both sexes who enjoy reciting their varied symptoms much better than the doctor likes to hear them. We are prone these days to regard subjective symptoms rather lightly, yet the neurotic's ailments are very real to him. It pays the doctor to go rather deeply into thesc cases. They may be of purely psychic or hereditary origin, yet the discovery of the exact etiological factors may help very much toward directing the sufferer into new lines of thinking and living through which his morbid condition may be materially benefited. A careful study of such cases often reveals the fact that there is a grave pathological status back of them. The patient's stomach disorder with all the distressing concomitant symptoms may be, after all, due to ulcer or carcinoma. At least let us give the neurasthenic a “square deal.”

THE BABE IN HOT WEATHER.

The well-nourished baby is likely to escape the horrors of warm weather, which are a part and parcel of the life of the delicate child. The diet and manner of feeding are of course all important.

much has been said on this subject and every home, however humble, has received good literature on the subject of infant feeding, to say nothing of the hand-to-hand experience gained from those especially interested in the baby welfare movement.

The scales should be used weekly. If the baby's weight remains stationary, something is wrong. The feeding is inadequate and assimilation poor. If the mother can only nurse her babe from the breast in part, it will give the delicate babe a better lease on life. The mother's milk contains certain nutritive and corrective elements that can be derived from no other source. When the babe must be fed artificially it should be remembered that the sooner the milk is used after coming from the cow, the better it is. After a few hours milk has lost many of its nutrient qualities, certain forms of bacteria are produced, and after twelve hours any milk is unsuited for a rebellious infantile stomach.

Cow's milk should be diluted from two to four times and in hot weather about onethird of the diluent should be limewater. Sugar of milk should be used as a sweetening agent and in double the strength of cane sugar. Sugar of milk should be dissolved in hot water before applying it to the milk. This sugar prevents fermentation and otherwise aids digestion.

As the child approaches eight or nine months, gruels from arrowroot, oatmeal or barley may be added to the dietary. Barley water is useful in checking diarrhea. If the child has reached the age of ten or eleven months it may be fed beef juice. This is prepared by slightly broiling good beef and expressing the juice with a lemon squeezer. It may be given warm or cold but not hot, for heat coagulates the albu

men.

We have heard or read of a dozen methods of aborting a felon. In the language of Artemus Ward, we know a great deal that "ain't so."

WHERE IS THE OLD MAN?

The old man and old lady are passing. Medical and scientific aids have rejuvinated them and made them over-and made them young. Waning vision has been almost perfectly corrected by our improved ophthalmology. The oldish man can see and enjoy things and that helps to keep him young. His teeth are made with due regard to both cosmetics and utility-to look well and to grind well. Better mastication favors better nutrition and lessens arterial derangement. He wears clothing that is made for comfort as well as neatness of appearance. He no longer wears useless hair and is not adverse to enjoying a show or a ball game. More than all else, he has given up the idea that a man is old at fifty, useless at sixty, and ready to be hauled off to the cemetery the moment he crosses the seventy yardline. He now endeavors to remain young, takes good care of himself and incidentally enjoys life as he goes along. In consequence of all these things the old man as we formerly knew him is now passe.

RHUS POISONING.

For every affection that is stubborn and troublesome we have a number of remedies. This is true of the dermatitis caused by a vegetable poison. Hot saturated solutions of Epsom salts are always serviceable. Solutions of boracic acid are also of value as well as applications of lime water. Sweet spirits of niter, alone or in combination, often sets matters right. On the whole, local remedies should be of an alkaline and antireptic character. Occasionally astringents are needed, in which event an alum solution answers the purpose. It is well to avoid applications which may be septic and cause a multiple infection. The original trouble is bad enough to contend with. If crusts form, these should be soaked loose with warm, sterile olive oil. Ointments are seldom needed, but may occasionally be indicated. Powders do not as a rule give gratifying results, as they are likely to form crusts with pockets of pus beneath.

A strong picric acid solution gives relief in severe burns.

NASAL AND ORAL HYGIENE.

The passing of many infectious and toxemic diseases is a matter of common comment. Better living and better hygiene are the basis of the increased resistance to disease at the present time. The better care of the nose and throat has helped to eliminate the tendency toward many diseases. These orifices may harbor pathogenic organisms in the passive state at any and all times only waiting some slight deviation from the normal state of our tissues or general health, when their action may become virulent. Both children and adults who frequent places where disease germs are especially liable to disport themselves will find it a remarkably strong prophylactic measure to daily spray or gargle the nose and throat with some mild antiseptic solution. Hot water is one of the best. The alkaline and antiseptic tablets, used the world over, make a solution that answers the purpose well. The mouth is especially a most excellent incubator for germs both pathogenic and benign. The mouth always possesses two requisites for the breeding of germs, viz., heat and moisture. The tooth-brush is one of the best disease-preventers we possess. Clean nostrils, clean bucal cavities and a clean thoat, all these are most valuable aids in fortifying the body against the inroads of disease germs.

SORE THROATS.

Touch sore spots with iodine. If iodine is not at hand use alcohol. Safe and gratifying astringents are alum and tannin. Occassionally an application or two of nitrate of silver may be serviceable. If chlorate of potash tablets are any good for any kind of a sore throat, we will confess that we have never discovered what it is. As a lay remedy it is extensively used, and these tablets are always to be found on the druggist's showcase during sore throat season.

An easily prepared solution which it is said will act as a tonic to the scalp and keep the hair from falling out is composed of one pint of soft water, one tablespoonful of salt and three tablespoonfuls of alcohol. Dampen the roots every other day.

HOW LESSEN CANCER MORTALITY?

The Cancer Commission of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania warns physicians about these "Cancer Bugbears": 1. Age: Don't think that your patient can not have cancer unless over sixty. It is common from thirty to forty, and may occur at any age. 2. Sex: Don't forget that gastrointestinal cancer is as common in women as in men. 3. Heredity: Don't think that your patient can not have a cancer because there has never been one in the family. For practical purposes cancer has not any connection with heredity. 4. Pain and Cachexia: Don't think that your patient has not cancer because there is no pain and the health is good. These symptoms do not come on till the later stages are reached. Be on your guard to make an early diagnosis and act promptly.

ENURESIS.

The following is a summary of the treatment of enuresis, given by Dr. J. W. Simpson, in a long article on the subject in the January, 1913, issue of the Edinburgh Medical Journal. As regards drugs, the author prescribes these according to the condition of the urine. In cases where the urine is normal he gives belladonna in fairly large doses. In cases in which there is marked acidity of the urine, potassium citrate, 10 grains thrice daily, may be ordered, and in the presence of marked alkalinity of the urine, sodium acid phosphate should be administered. When the abnormal state of the urine has been corrected the belladonna should be begun. Bacilluria is treated with formamine (urotropin), 5 to 6 grains thrice daily. In mixed infections salol is often more efficacious, and in intractable cases vaccines may be tried. In the author's experience thyroid therapy has been disappointing. If the child is highly nervous and suffers from disturbed sleep, night terrors, etc., the addition of 5 to 10 grains potassium bromide, given with the last dose of belladonna at night, often does good.

In beginning tonsillitis try painting the tonsil with pure turpentine. This will sometimes cut short the attack.

SOME IDEAS IN THE TREATMENT OF SUMMER DISEASES OF CHILDREN.

BY W. LEMING, M.D.

As practically all of the so-called summer diseases of children manifest themselves in disturbances of the gastro-intestinal tract, and are no doubt due to the added influence of an increased external and bodily temperature on a diet of unripe and highly acid food eaten either by the patient or by the lactating mother, the treatment necessarily resolves itself into a handling of acid states of the digestive tract and the accompanying high temperatures.

Proper diet and hygienic living of course would do away with the various troubles as it would with all other disease, of all other classes. Therefore as nearly as possible a condition of hygienic perfection in the surroundings of the patient should be gained before any other treatment is attempted.

Next an attempt is made to get the patient in a like state both of the external body and within. Cleansing without is an easy matter; cleansing within is a more difficult matter. To those who believe in the choice of the bath according to the acid or alkaline indications on the tissues of the body, using the ashy colored tints and flabby tissues as indicative of alkalines and the deepened colors or tongue and prostration as calling for the acids, the choice of the bath will be easier. Bicarbonate or sulphite of sodium may be added to the bath in sufficient amounts to render the water alkaline to litmus paper for the one while vinegar or hydrochloric acid may be employed for the other. The same solutions may be useful for internal drink as indicated and also employed to flush out the bowel.

In the choice of internal antiseptics I believe the doctor who uses some such indica

tions as a guidance to his remedies, will be more successful than he who thoughtlessly administers the same drug to every patient.

Food is rarely needed for the patient in the early stages of intestinal troubles of this nature, and can be given only with great danger in later stages since fermentative processes take place always more rapidly than the process of cleansing, consequently food in a dirty stomach and bowel with an accompanying fever to make matters worse, generally takes away what little chance for life the patient has. The waste of the bodily fluids call for a full supply of water, and if the stomach will retain this, water alone will in many cases solve the problem. If the stomach is rebellent, water alkaline or acid as indicated must be given in small amount, a teaspoonful every few minutes if deemed necessary. Often a few drops of aconite or rhus toxicodendron in a glass of water given an average teaspoonful once an hour, will overcome the stomach irritability and at the same time control the fever and sepsis. If it is shown that a small amount of nourishment, such as malted milk, barley water or other cereal foods, may be given, all the better for the strength of the patient. However, I believe that rarely is food absolutely needed if a sufficient quantity of fluids can be admi.istered.

A few of the leading indicated remedies are as follows:

Aconite, five drops only of a good fluid. representative. in four ounces of water, a teaspoonful every hour (average); dry skin, rapid pulse, thirst, restlessness, tongue dry, pointed. dry, pointed. Aconite is especially useful in the early fever.

Rhus toxicodendron is called for especially when the stomach is very irritable with an elongated pointed tongue, showing clevated, reddened pupilæ, pain in the pit of stomach. Rhus also is called for in menin

geal complications. Use five drops in four ounces of water, dose (average) teaspoonful every hour.

Ipecac is used in similar states of the tongue and stomach, especially if there is considerable nausea and an acid diarrhea, following a preliminary lientery. It is also useful if there is indication of loss of arterial blood. Used in small dose.

Nux vomica, tongue broad, pale, relaxed, patient generally in a like state. Vital processes low. Nausea.

Sodium sulphite, tongue pale, dirty, breath offensive.

Copper arsenite, tongue cleaning; later in the disease, where the tissues apparently have lost their recuperative strength, diarrhea with cramps in abdomen and limbs.

Hydrochloric acid, mucous tissues of deep red or brown color, tongue dry, prostration, typhoid states.

Oftentimes the older patients will chose for themselves between the acid and alkaline drinks, and this may be tried.

Dioscorea villosa is useful when there is a great deal of cramping pain in the abdomen, with tenderness on pressure as though there were inflammation present. Give in ten-drop doses every fifteen minutes to an hour apart.

Geranium maculatum is often useful when the diarrhea assumes a chronic form, where there is relaxation, little or no fever. Give in perceptible doses.

Bismuth subnitrate or subgallate is often useful at this stage also. Other fever remedies to be considered are veratrum viride and v. album (where the characteristic painful expulsive big, watery, diarrhea is present); belladonna, bryonia alba, echin

acea.

Personally I have never found any need for opium and similar drugs.

Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Dr. J. H. Garrett recommends the use of strong solution of perchloride of iron in the treatment of ringworm of the scalp. The application is made with a brush until the scalp is well stained; every second day for six days, and then every third day for eightteen days. A cure is generally effected by this time..

AN EXTREME CASE OF MYALGIA.

By H. H. SUTTON, M.D.

My excuse for writing this article is that I may report a case that well illustrates to what extent this affection may reach.

Whether our medical text-book writers consider this ailment of too little importance for more than a passing notice, or whether the obscurity in the etiology and pathology of this trouble deters them from further elucidation, I know not, but this I know, that the information gleaned from their various works, on this common and often troublesome affection, is decidedly disappointing, and any positive and definite knowledge concerning the cause of this trouble is still to be made known.

But few of the medical writers that I have consulted give myalgia any connection with true rheumatism. Although Anders, in his work, says that it is probably caused by an attenuated form of the virus of acute articular rheumatism. Some class it as a neuralgia of the sensory nerves of the muscles, while others content themselves with the statement that the cause is as yet unknown. The most plausible theory, however, concerning its pathology, and the one which I believe may hold good, is that advocated by Luff, Stockman, and other English physicians who have been investigating this trouble. They classify all so-called muscular rheumatism, myalgia, rheumatic neuralgia, etc., as a fibrositis; that is, an inflammation of the white fibrous tissue of the part affected. This inflammatory hyperplasia of the fibrous tissue may be mild or severe, acute or chronic, generally occurs in patches, and is started by wet or cold, by injury or by some irritant, microbic or toxic in character, conveyed by the blood. Poisons from the gastro-intestinal tract, produced there by an abnormal fermentation, are given as a very common cause, especially if accompanied by muscular overstrain. Another theory, however, concerning the actions of these toxins is that when the part is exposed to cold, precipitation of these toxic materials takes place, either in crystalline or amorphous form, causing stiffness and pain.

This fibrositis may completely disappear, but recurrences are common and thickened