tor are required, they have to pay the usual fees for the doctor's attendance. This sometimes amounts to a good deal, even among poor people. Therefore, the statement that "the doctors would get more out of smallpox than vaccination" is absolutely false, and the man that made it must have known that it was intended to mislead. This being the only statement in the whole argument not directly derived from vaccination statistics, about which nothing whatever can be known, the reliability of the rest of the paper can be judged by this one single statement, concerning which the facts are before us. At any rate, the writer has revealed a willingness to resort to a subterfuge to carry his point, and it raises the suspicion at least that the whole thing is a subterfuge. Not one doctor in twenty has ever seen a case of smallpox. Not one doctor in one thousand has ever treated a case of smallpox. T To Cure Appendicitis. By A. BROKAW, Litchfield, Ill. HE query by P. H. A., of Canada, telling, in the May issue of THE COLUMBUS MEDICAL JOURNAL, of the young wife of a friend of his afflicted with suspected appendicitis, brings to my memory a simple home treatment to be tried before the doctor is sent for. It was given by the eminent John Dill Robertson, M. D., of Chicago, who at the time was surgeon in Cook County Hospital and the American College of Medicine and Surgery, and was published in the Chicago Record-Herald at the time King Edward was afflicted with appendicitis as an answer by an expert. Dr. Robertson believes that the most potent cause of appendicitis is constipation, and that Nature can best be served in her curative efforts by measures which will attract an increased flow of blood to the parts, as well as to stimulate the large bowels to action. This can best be accomplished by hot water applications, properly applied. These applications must be of the right material, of the right size, not too wet, hot enough, changed often, and changed quickly. For home treatment, he says, the skirt of an old woolen shirt serves much better than if it were new. This should be made into pads twelve inches wide and fifteen inches long, so as to reach from the pit of the stomach to the pubes, and from the navel to the point where the right side touches the bed when the pa tient is lying upon his back. This cloth should be four-ply in thickness and the layers should be sewed together; two of these pads are necessary. As to the question of having these cloths hot enough and dry enough so that the patient's bed will not be soaked, there are several methods of wringing the cloths, but the following is the most satisfactory: Bring into the room a small metal tub or large pail, place it on a gas burner or any contrivance to boil water. When the water is boiling put in one of the pads, and with an ordinary table fork pick up the end of the pad and place between the rollers of a wringer. When through the wringer, immediately transfer it to the abdomen of the patient. The first two or three times it must not be too hot, but it should be gradually brought to the maximum heat. It is a good practice to anoint the skin. with turpentine and lard, taking one part of turpentine and three parts of lard melted together. After the cloth or pad is applied, several thicknesses of paper or oil cloth should be placed over it large enough to completely cover the cloth. This will help to retain the heat. The second cloth should be placed in the water to heat and the one on the abdomen to remain but two minutes, then taken off and the hot one, just wrung out of the hot water, placed on quickly and again covered with the paper or oil cloth. Hot Applications for Appendicitis. Dr. Robertson further says that in ninety-five per cent. of the cases of appendicitis this simple treatment will cure. In the other five per cent. an abscess will form which will push up the cecum and small bowel until they are close against the abdominal wall in front. The hot applications have increased the circulation of this region so that Nature has warded off the abscess completely and made it possible to open it and permanently relieve the patient after Nature has thus protected the system and placed the patient in good condition for the surgeon to evacuate the pus. The doctor does not give the time necessary to continue the hot applications, but the presumption is that it 353 should be continued until relief is obtained, probably extending over a period of several hours. I am strongly of the opinion that most all cases of so-called appendicitis will get quick and permanent relief by the hot water applications as outlined, for very often it is nothing but a prolonged case of severe belly-ache, which we know the hot applications are sure relief. In addition to the hot water application, as a preparatory measure, a copious slushing of the colon by hot water injection would certainly assist in the relief. The doctor says that the large bowels should be emptied of their contents by oil enemas. T The Health Magazine. By LAURA E. GROH, Breathedsville, Md. zine is a very in their bearing upon or relation to the vital forces of the body. Thus, a study of the various principles and theories assumes a three-fold interest and importance, exerting a most patent influence for the improvement and elevation of the human race. It would almost seem to hold within its grasp the panacea for all human ills; the key to unlock the portals to a new, ideal era of the world's history, as radiant as the millennial dawn; an era in which mankind should attain physical and mental perfection, if possible, free from pain, sorrow, envy, malice, anger, and all the other diseases which now so sorely afflict the human family. For, as the first law of life is selfpreservation, it follows that the strong est, most persuasive and effective possible appeal for the higher life, is the one addressed to that impulse. And when it is fully understood how great is the effect of the mental attitude upon the body, a new and powerful impetus should be awakened in striving to maintain that peaceful serenity of temper, that patient, forbearing spirit and placid, well-poised state of mind so conducive to health, happiness and longevity, not only to the individual himself, but to all with whom he comes in contact. This is an ideal condition well worth striving for on its own merits alone, since there can be no real, lasting happiness, no stimulus to love this world and earnestly crave continued existence, without it. And when its co-operation with the physical forces is considered, it becomes altogether the most important matter that can engage our attention. and the most far-reaching toward evolving a higher civilization. Although this theory was proclaimed by Hahneman nearly one hundred years. ago, in the statement that "As the condition of the organism and its healthy state depend solely on the state of life. that animates it, in like manner it follows that the altered state which we term disease," etc.; and the same opinion voiced by Virchow eighty-four years later (as quoted from Dr. G. R. Sutherland in the New England Medical Gazette), yet it is only in recent years, since the advent of the various health journals, with their up-to-date information, that the attention of the unprofessional has been called particularly and impressively to these closely sympathetic relations between mind and body, in which we learn that disease, worry,.or any other mental unrest, is so apt to find. its corresponding bodily condition; that disease is often but the outward and visible sign of the inward distress of spirit or mind. Considering that the world of thought rules and directs the world of action (intangible governing intangible) this seems a quite logical conclusion. This doctrine, when rightly and gen. erally understood and applied, would establish the practice of the Golden Rule on the surest, most practical basis possible, that of a wise and wholesome selfinterest; and the ordinary span of human life might be greatly prolonged. Then would be realized, here and now, that happy perfect state of life, which now is only hoped for beyond the tomb, and which hope directs the life forces toward dissolution for the realization of those alluring regions of the perfect life, for which the soul here sighs in vain. It is also to the modern health magazine that the public is indebted for a proper understanding of the questions. of vaccination and vivisection and medical legislation, which are of such grave importance. Yet all these difficulties would vanish as mists before the morning sun, could all mankind become imbued with the value of this doctrine and seek health of body through an effort to maintain the best possible mental attitude-kindly, honest, loving, forbearing and forgiving. Even if this failed to impart physical health, life would be rendered far happier than if the best of health, accompanied by the reverse of these conditions, prevailed. This line of thought is so frequently and forcefully presented in the leading health magazines as to give them the first place as a moral agent, as well as an aid to the recovery and care of health. No institution is more worthy of the support of all who wish to aid in establishing a higher civilization and better physical conditions, than our many excellent health magazines, and this one in particular. If all could be induced to read them thoughtfully, the reign of peace and good will might be anticipated as a fact. There can be no better missionary work than the dissemination of just such literature. A Some Medical Pointers. By DR. C. D. WOODRUFF, Holden Block, Reed City, Mich. STITCH in time saves nine. An old adage, as fully adapted to mending the ills that flesh is heir to, as to the mending of tears and rips in clothing. Having had forty-seven years' experience in the treatment of diseases of all sorts and kinds, I feel fully competent bring desired results in the ills that are to give pointers that have never failed to so common to men, women and children in all walks of life. Take la grippe, to open with. You have chills up and down the spine, headache, bones ache and a mean, despondent sort of feeling generally. Keep on hand one-half ounce each of tincture of gelsemium and the fluid extract of boneset. Put one-third teaspoonful of each into onehalf pint of pure water, and take the mixture, one teaspoonful every hour till fully relieved. As a general thing, in six, eight or ten hours you will be cured, but it is best to take a rest of three days or more, lest a little overdoing will bring a relapse which will require three times. as much medication to overcome. For a cough, which is very apt to follow la grippe, fill a four-ounce bottle onethird full of syrup of tolu and add five drops of tincture of capsicum. Fill bottle with pure water, shake well and take from one-half to one teaspoonful every hour or two, or less often, as it requires Vibration Cures When Drugs Fail 355 to quiet the cough and loosen it. This is stimulating influence of rhythmic motion. very simple, harmless and effective. Who has not felt the stimulating influence of a street band or organ? Who has not felt the tremendous influx of soul from listening to an orchestra? It is chiefly rhythm that does this. Our body responds to rhythmic sounds as well as motion. For a watery or thin diarrhea, get the third trituration of mercurius solubilis, two drams. Take a powder size of a bean dry on the tongue, every time the bowels move, till cured. It never fails. For dysentery, or bloody flux, get two drams of mercurius corrosivus, third trituration, and take a powder size of a bean every time the bowels move, till the bloody flux and straining are gone. If very bad, use an enema to bowels, a solution of milk, molasses and water, say one tablespoonful of each, adding onethird teaspoonful of laudanum to onehalf pint of water, lukewarm. Use once in four hours, if needed. I have used the above prescriptions for thirty-five years without one single failure. As a prominent medical editor writes: "The air is full of vibration." It has passed through the various stages of charlatanism and cure-all quackery, and has attained the recognition of physicians and medical scientists as a dependable palliative of pain and legitimate curative agent in many ailments that do not readily yield to ordinary medical treatment. The professional masseur or beauty specialist finds in vibration a more efficient means of controlling facial contour and complexion, removing and preventing the crows-feet and wrinkles characteristic of age and care, than in any of the various lotions or manual manipulations formerly used for these purposes. It not only involves the primitive principle of rubbing a sore or numb spot to stop pain, but it applies to disease or a depressive condition of the body the The vibrators which produce rhythmic motion are of many kinds. Some of them are operated by hand, some by electric. current, and, again, others by water pressure. The ones most available to persons of limited means are those operated by hand. They are necessarily cheaper and smaller, and in some cases they are quite as available for practical purposes. Then there are larger machines, more portentous ones, for office use as well as family use, in which electric current or some other motive power is called upon to operate them. Of these there are many kinds and they command various prices. The applicator, or that portion of the machine that touches the part to be treated, has presented its own problems. To use the same applicator on different patients is undesirable and absolutely unpermissible in many cases. The vibrating rubber head has been invented to fill this want. Little soft rubber diaphragms, capable of powerful distention, are so arranged with the end of the applicator, that it only touches the skin and conveys vibrations. These diaphragms are very cheap, purchased by the dozen, and hence need not be used the second time on the same patient; or, at least, need not be used for different patients. This vibrating rubber head is more essential in machines used for office purposes and those for family use. I heartily endorse rhythmic vibration as a treatment, and feel perfectly safe in saying that a great many chronic cases can be overcome in this way that medicine is utterly powerless to reach. We give the names of the vibrator companies that are advertising these at present. By writing to either one of these vibrator companies a booklet will be sent free which will explain all the parts. Dr. G. H. A. Schaefer, 113 W. 20th St., Erie, Pa. Eureka Vibrator Company, Department 94, 1269 Broadway, N. Y. Lambert Snyder Co., Dept. 16-A, 41 W. 24th St., New York. Lindstrom, Smith Co., 253 LaSalle St., Dept. 2075, Chicago. Home Vibrator Co., Dept. W, 10-12 W. 22nd St., New York, N. Y. EYES AND SPECTACLES. By V. DEANE REESE, Optician, 300 Columbus Sav- good care of their eyes as they do of their complexion, and how many men even think of their eyes unless they are causing pain? Of course there are many conditions which, unfortunately, are extremely difficult to remedy; for instance, when one is obliged to pursue daily occupations in the dim light of stores, workshops, etc., amid poor hygienic surroundings. Nevertheless, even when very delicate work is done all day long by poor lights, these same people can be seen in the evening homeward bound on dimly lighted and rough riding street cars, reading a paper or a book, and upon arriving home will continue the reading or close work, probably by the aid of a poor light, or one not properly shaded, until the eyes, no longer able to stand the strain, close in sleep. The visual organs are no better qualified for constant work than is any other organ of the body, and yet, how much oftener are they abused! The demands of modern business, the struggle for existence, make demands on no other organ to so great an extent as the eyes. When we stop to consider these things it is not so surprising the number of people we see wearing glasses. If we could attend to our eyes when we first notice any trouble, most of us would only need glasses for close work and possibly then for a short time only; but we usually delay it until our eyes are so bad we are compelled to wear glasses constantly. Many are troubled with reflex symptoms, such as headache, nausea, etc., and they don't even suspicion trouble with their eyes, because their vision is normal. But normal vision does not exclude eye strain; in fact, it is the slight errors of refraction, as a rule, that cause the most trouble, as good vision can be obtained. by straining the delicate muscles of the eye, thus causing an excessive waste of nerve energy, which is bound to exhaust the brain, while the more serious errors cannot be overcome, so the eye muscles simply relax and one is compelled to contend with poor vision or wear glasses. Very few realize what a necessity glasses are, but if you could stop to consider what the results would be if all the glasses in the world would be discarded, I think you would appreciate their value, especially if you wear them yourself. There are thousands of our statesmen who are entirely dependent upon glasses, naming the most prominent one, President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt would be practically blind without the aid of his glasses. It would be impossible for him to engage in any more of his hunting trips, or in any of his out-of-door exercises, hence affecting his health more or less. But with glasses his vision is nearly |