OUR MONTHLY CLINIC.

Please notice that our CLINIC department is not used to "boost" proprietary remedies, almanac fashion. THE MEDICAL WORLD has no interests other than to give to the medical profession the greatest amount of honest service possible. Those who wish an immediate response by mail may obtain same by inclosing check or money order for $2. The letter will then receive immediate attention and reply. Name and address of subscribers requesting assistance will be withheld if requested; but anonymous communications will receive no attention. Always sign your name. Come freely for help, but read up as fully as you can before coming to us.

Readability of Medical Literature.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-How is it that medicine is made so attractive in popular journals that many doctors turn to them for information, and discard the old dry textbooks? Is there any reason why a scientific fact cannot be presented in an attractive manner? Really, we have learned more of real value from men like Woods Hutchinson than from the heaviest pedantic bulky textbook volume that ever was printed. As students we were compelled to study such works, but later as doctors we revolt, shrink from them. This same observation may apply to school books on physiology. We have seen such that for honest-to-goodness information and instruction, beat a mile those heavy volumes of high-brow literature, illustrated with weights, levers, and heaven knows what. Isn't it about time that we printed professional books the reading of which gives one real pleasure instead of a headache? Pa.

G.

[Physicians' ability as writers varies like their application of medical knowledge. There are some well-written medical books and there are some that are not so well written. I have seen some that were a travesty on good language, yet their value to their readers was sufficient reason for their publication. Some physicians ask the indulgence of their readers, recognizing their own deficiencies in that respect. Medical articles for popular journals must be written attractively or they will not be accepted by the editors. They must be more or less sensational, or of the "scare" variety also. Plain, prosaic, matter-of-fact articles can find no place in popular literature.

Writers should study how to present their thoughts in clear perspicacious language, free of redundancy and using the exact words that present their thoughts perfectly. Writing is an art. Some do not possess it. Some realize this and fear to write. If a physician has material for a book, but fears to write it because he cannot put it in good language, he should seek the assistance of some one more capable of writing. There are plenty of good scholars thruout the country who will assist in the work. Seek their aid. You will find them in your neighborhood.

We have always invited the profession to send us their articles for our publication. We will do our best to put them in good form for publication. Many physicians in general practice perhaps also specialists-feel

uncer

tain as to their ability to write good English. They need not hesitate to send us their articles. We will correct them-if necessary-before

printing them. We suggest that the writers, however, do not crowd their writing, but allow some room between the lines for our writing and changes.

In "The Surgical Clinics of North America," vol. i, No. 1, Dr. W. W. Keen writes, in the "introduction":

My own rule in every paper I write is first to be sure that my facts are right, my reasoning logical, my conclusions valid. Then finally I read over most carefully and usually more than once every word solely with a view to its English style. And how often I catch myself lacking in clarity, using too long sentences, committing even grammatical blunders, or else a locution far inferior to one which now suggests itself to my mind. If possible, I always like to lay my paper aside for a month or more and then revise it anew. One thus reads it almost as if it had been written by some else. His mind is fresh, unleashed from the network of the well-worn familiar phrases, and he always finds means to improve and polish his English.

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So if Dr. Keen admits that he must take special pains to polish his writings, we lesser lights need not fear to admit our deficiencies in that line. Let us do our best, and help the others if we can. It is to be hoped that all our book writers will do as Dr. Keen does.-ED.]

When Do You Find Time To Read?

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Will you kindly ask the "brethren" to kindly enlighten a fairly busy practitioner how they plan their work so as to do a reasonable and necessary amount of reading and their share of literary work and not interfere with their medical duties and their obligations to their own family?

After some years of practice, I must confess that I have been unable to plan my work so as to allow this being done and I would welcome some aid along this line.

NEW YORK.

[Let us hear from our readers along this line. Many busy physicians do their reading and writing at night, but may be robbing themselves of necessary sleep. It cultivates the habit of wakefulness at those hours. It would be far better to get up at four or five in the morning to do the reading and writing, while the robins are singing.-ED.]

Gouty, Rheumatic Condition.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-As a member of the family for more than twenty years, I am now sending out an S. O. S. call for help. Any suggestion you or "the family" makes will be gladly received.

My trouble started in the right great toe five years ago-pain, fever, soreness; had to wear an old shoe for a week. Have not had this exact condition since, but as from out of a blue sky the pain will start any time in my limbs and in an hour the parts are sort to the touch, and painful to walk on. It may be gone in a few hours or it may last one or more days. As a general thing the trouble is from the knees down. When the condition is at the best my feet and limbs are tired in the late afternoon, so I have to change position often; also shoes; yet the feet do not swell.

I am O. K. but for this gouty, rheumatic condition, but I can't depend on myself. Am O. K. for a while, but in ten minutes am limping.

Now I have taken rhus tox, bryonia, colchicum, salicylates. The latter in 25-grain doses cause the trouble to hold up, but do not keep it away, for even when my head feels the drug it will start in again. And the salicylates after a course leave the stomach "on the bum," and by the time I get it to working the limbs are at it again, and so the cycle continues.

The stomach is an old offender, "acid." Am careful as to eating-meat once a day, no pickles, strawberries, tomatoes, as these things not only make stomach distress, but always show themselves in limbs later. Sola bicarb. does not give the results that ac. hydrochlor. dil. does. Bowels constipated. Must take laxative every day. Have tried all kinds of food, but it don't work; so take some pill at night or saline in the morning.

I am fifty-two, weigh 190 pounds, am the picture of health (not beauty), moderate eater, never any specific disease, never drank, smoke moderately, but sometimes cut this out for weeks, but no change. Typhoid at twenty-three, operation for appendix at forty-four.

Forgot to say have tried serobacterin, but this was negative.

Will you not ask "the family" to help? and you do likewise, as I am afraid the old heart some day will show the strain.

RHODE ISLAND. [Doctor, you need considerable treatment. You have indigestion and the ac. hydrochlor. dil., with nux and a digestant such as pepsin, diastase, etc., is needed, as you found out. You need careful dieting. Have you tried Dr. Jennett's diet given in April WORLD, pages 123 and 124? I advise you to follow that diet for a while.

Your gouty condition might yield to salicylate thoroly and properly given. You could rub on the legs and feet an ointment containing 2 drams of methylsalicylate with adeps benz. to make 1 ounce. Use this frequently together with acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or sodium or other salicylate internally. Colchicine and methylsalicylate (also known as colchisal) may benefit or cure the condition.

Another good remedy is atophan, now made in this country and sold as cinchophen, phenylcinchoninic acid, tolysin, etc. This drug has very much less disturbing qualities toward the stomach and produces results when other drugs fail.

Exercise is also beneficial, especially in maintaining the general health.

We will be glad to hear from our readers on this subject.-ED.]

Causes of Twins.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-In this part of the United States (eastern Kentucky) there is a certain stigma or disgrace attached to the giving birth to twins. The infamy is not very great, and the subject is referred to in whispers and insinuations quietly given, but the

stigma attaches, just the same. This perhaps does not fit the more intelligent classes in the mountains, but it is common belief. I think their objection is based upon an ignorant belief that twin children are begotten when the female allows a sexual embrace to be followed "too quick" by another.

I have heard this same objection to the birth of twins in southern Missouri. I want to ask WORLD readers in other parts of the United States to tell me more about this. Tell us the grounds of objection that seem to be the cause of the disgrace attached to twin births.

[The following is the letter.] DR. TWINEM:

Will you please send this in your own words to some medical magazine? I just must know what sort of death I am doomed to face! If insanity, I want to try an operation instead. Question: In what way does death come to one with prolapsed stomach and intestines 4 inches below normal? A nervous collapse followed the flu last winter, and an x-ray examination shows the above condition. No sleep in the whole 24 hours except induced by an opiate, and then only between 2 and 3 in the morning and 6 o'clock. Is the heavy, dull feeling in my head due to loss of sleep or catarrh, which is badly fixed in head and in bronchial tubes? And my ears are becoming deaf.

The hurt in the pit of my stomach two hours after meals is the same place it was before prolapsed stomach. No drugs have any effect

at all, and I'm wondering now how many more days I can endure the suspense of knowing what awaits me. Please let the M. D.'s have a chance at these questions. MRS. B.

[Mrs. B. first wants to know what form of death awaits her on account of her ptotic viscera. The condition is not lethal. She may live a hundred years longer. A properly fitted belt that lifts the viscera upward may relieve her of her troubles. Her loss of sleep may be curable. Undoubtedly her headache is due to lcss of sleep. She should be treated for her nasal catarrh. She needs careful dieting; perhaps liquid diet. What have "the family" to say to her?-ED.]

MILTON DUNN, M. D.

[Ptomaine poisoning from common foods requires purgation-calomel, croton oil, etc. Wash out the stomach if possible. Apomorphine or lukewarm water or gagging the patient with finger or spoon will empty the stomach.

Colon washing may be advisable. Forbid all food until patient recovers. He may require supportive treatment, such as strychnine, coffee, etc. Hot water bags may be needed. Opium in some form may be required to stay peristaltic movements. Or zinc sulphocarbolate or the triple sulphocarbolates will answer the purpose where pain does not call for an opiate. -ED.]

NOSTRUMS.

Nurito.

EDITOR MEDICAL WORLD:-Will you be cour teous and kind enough to publish the ingredi ents of "Nurito," a powder for rheumatism, put up by the Magistral Chemical Company? DELAWARE.

["Miscellaneous Nostrums," published by the American Medical Association, gives the following information: Nurito was analyzed by

the A. M. A. chemists and found to consist of milk sugar, phenolphthalein and pyramidon. One statement made by the firm was that "Only U. S. P. ingredients are used in Nurito." As neither of the two essential drugs in this nostrum, phenolphthalein and pyramidon, is in the United States Pharmacopeia, this claim was evidently false. The third ingredient was milk sugar.-ED.]

Palmer's Lotion.

The Propaganda Department of the Journal of the American Medical Association writes us as follows:

We have record of a "Palmer's Cosmetic Lotion," put out by Solon Palmer, New York. Oleson's book, "Secret Nostrums and Systems" (1903), quoted the Western Druggist to the effect that this preparation is a 1 per cent. solution of sulpho-carbol of zinc in glycerin and rose water. Whether this represents its present composition, we do not know, as we have never had any previous inquiries regarding it.

Tekarkin, Edward Percy Robinson's "Cure" for Cancer.

Therapeutic Leaves, which has a saffroncolored cover, is said to be published by the National Bio-Chemical Laboratory, Mount Vernon, N. Y. The National Bio-Chemical Laboratory seems to be a style used by Dr. Edward Percy Robinson. The "editorial offices" of Therapeutic Leaves are given as "501 Knox Bldg., 5th Ave. at 40th St., New York," which is a roundabout way of describing 452 Fifth Avenue, the office address of Edward Percy Robinson. The first number (February, 1921) of Therapeutic Leaves gives the names of the "editors" as "E. P. Robinson, M. D., and W. A. Jenner, B. A." In addition, there is "Assistant Editor, F. J. Geiger," and "Gen'l Manager, Beverly K. Robinson." The first and second numbers of Therapeutic Leaves (February and March, 1921) are practically identical, being evidently printed from the same plates. Thera peutic Leaves purports to be a periodical published as "a medium for the dissemination of knowledge pertaining to therapeusis." Actually it is an advertising medium dealing with the products of the National Bio-Chemical Laboratory: "Osmo-Calcic Solution," "Tekarkin" and "Osmotic Mangano-Potassic Solution."

cancer.

These three preparations are said to be the "formulas" of Dr. Edward Percy Robinson, who lives in Mt. Vernon, N. Y., and has an office at 452 Fifth Avenue, New York City. They are used by Dr. Robinson in the treatment of At an earlier stage they seem to have been known under different names: "Tekarkin" was first "Hypotonic Sal-Cella" and then "Neoanabolin-X; "Osmo-Calcic Solution" was "Osmotonic Calcic," while "Osmotic Mangano-Potassic Solution" was "Osmotonic Drops." The three solutions are put up in one package containing 4 c.c. (about 65 minims) of "Tekarkin" and one ounce each of the other preparation. The package sells for $10.00. "Remittance with order. . . . We have no agents."

Robinson advances the theory that cancer is caused by an excess of sodium chloride (table salt) in the blood and tissues and that it can