patient was absolutely ignorant, and often pressure on certain points will produce the morbid sensations in distant parts that form the reason for consultation. Thus dyspepsia is often associated with tenderness in the mid-dorsal region and in asthma there is likely to be sensitiveness in the upper dorsal. And again, pressure along the spine has started the pains and weaknesses in the upper extremities for which the victim of "piano-players' cramp" consulted the physician.

As to the value of mechanical therapy it has been established that repeated brief pressure along the spinal column brings about a certain amount of constriction of the blood vessels of the skin and muscles of the back in the neighborhood of the part treated, associated, probably with a dilatation of the vessels of the cord, on the other hand, continuous pressure along the spine dilates the blood vessels of the back and contracts those of the cord. Thus mechanical therapy is provided with a physiological basis, and a reason is given for whatever benefit proceeds from the spinal manipulations of the osteopathist.

THE MENTAL SIDE OF THE CONSUMPTIVE

ABOUT a year ago one or two articles appeared in the journals

stating in effect that tuberculosis caused mental and moral degeneration in its victims. This curious notion was immediately combated by writers of large experience in the disease. The alleged deterioration was apparently only another manifestaiton of that many sided disease, phthisiphobia; as a result, however, attention has been called to the mental side of the consumptive. One of the best contributions to the subject appeared recently in the Cleveland Medical Journal and was written by Dr. G. H. Fitzgerald of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Albuquerque is a good place in which to study the consumptive from any view point. Many "lungers" can be found there at all times. Some have recovered and are living busy lives. Some are simply resting and hoping. Some have gone there after all possible chance of benefit was gone.

Fitzgerald calls attention to a fact often neglected:-that mental activity is a drain on the vitality, as is physical activity; that rest should mean mental rest as well as physical rest. In the initial stages there is no change in the mentality of the patient. But patients who have done excessive mental work may have so lowered their vitality as to make them easy victims to the disease.

The author believes that the dread of the disease shown by the general public is sometimes unfortunate in its effect. That the victims knowing this dread are diffident and timid, and avoid society out of regard for the feelings of others. That this leads to depression and melancholy. The writer of this article believes that the danger of contagion has been made unduly prominent by many with disastrous results. The consumptives are not the selfish and inconsiderate ones, but their friends and relatives, those who should take care of them, are the ones with the mental twists.

Fitzgerald says optimism is not the universal attitude of the consumptive. This is true. There is nothing that will cause depression swifter and surer than to tell a person he or she has consumption. After a time, though, as the patient becomes accustomed to the idea, this may wear off to a certain extent. From the beginning, if rest is indicated, mental rest should be enjoined. Mental rest does not mean doing absolutely nothing, because that would mean despondency, perhaps despair. The patient would think about nothing but his condition. The consumptive needs a little mental stimulus, something to entertain or amuse in order to keep the mind off himself. That is one of the most important indications in treatment.

In the later stages of the disease different patients will be affected differently. Some will be optimistic, always claiming to be better, whether improving or not. Others will be peevish, cross, disappointed. The fact that life, for them, is drawing to a close makes them angry. But this is so in any fatal disease.

By the homœopathist the mental condition is always taken into account. In the consumptive this varies with the character of the patient, tuberculosis has nothing to do with it any more than any other disease has. In all diseases, chronic or acute, mild or severe, whatever the nature, some patients will be optimistic, some pessimistic; some resigned, some hurt and angry at their misfortune.

Benzoic Acid and Acid Auto-intoxication.—The June NORTH AMERICAN Contained an account, from the able pen of Dudley Wright, of the investigation of our British brethren into states of acid auto-intoxication, not the least interesting part of which was another exemplification of the homeopathic law in that benzoic acid had shown its efficacy when prescribed for those symptoms it produced during the course of the experimentation, which were those commonly associated with the uric acid diathesis. It is interesting to have these good results corroborated from other sources, and this is done by a correspondent of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal who, in a brief note published after the setting up in type of Dr. Dudley Wright's article, called attention to the value of benzoic acid in rheumatic conditions and the manifestations of the uric acid diathesis.

Modern Statistics. It is reported that a New York physician recently notified the city's Health Department that she had two cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis under her care. About a week or ten days later there came an inquiry from the department to know why the death certificates of these two cases had not been sent in. The answer was: "Because the cases were treated homœopathically and didn't die."

The NORTH AMERICAN has heard of quite a few cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis occurring during the present epidemic that have terminated satisfactorily under homoeopathic treatment while other cases in the same communities under old school care have been less fortunate.

It seems as though this epidemic might be able to furnish the profession and the public with some data showing the advantage of treating even so severe a disease as cerebro-spinal meningitis according to the law of similars. The comparative statistics that homœopathy relies on are old; reliable figures that can be compared with those of modern non-homœopathic methods are not to be had. The NORTH AMERICAN suggests that the present opportunity should not be missed and invites such brief details from its readers as will enable it to collate the statistics for ready use. The desirable figures are (1) the total number of cases reported in the community (a) by non-homœopaths (b) by homoeopaths; (2) number of deaths under (a) non-homoeopathic and (b) homoeopathic treatment. In addition to this it would be well if every reader who has treated a case of cerebro-spinal meningitis during the present epidemic would send a brief report of the cases, being particular to mention not only the homoeopathic remedies prescribed but also the adjuvant treatment (hot packs, lumbar puncture, etc.) used. Care should be taken to specify any means taken to verify the diagnosis.

Simultaneous Conception and Gestation in Each Fallopian Tube. Arthur G. Sandberg, M.D., and George Burford, M.B., contribute to the Monthly Homeopathic Review (June, 1905) an account of the sixth case on record of the above condition. The patient presented a typical history of extra-uterine pregnancy and was operated on for this at the London Homoeopathic Hospital. In

the left side of the pelvis, beneath adherent omentum and intestines and considerable blood clot, an adherent mass was found, which proved to be the gestation sac with adherent clot, with a live fetus hanging to it. On the right side there was a smaller tubal swelling which was removed and found to be another gestation sac containing its fetus. The fetus on the right side measured 38 mm., and that on the left 41 mm. so that it would seem that they must have been of about the same age, which was probably about eight weeks. Mr. Bland Sutton, the greatest British authority on extra-uterine pregnancy, examined the specimen and considered that the evidence. of simultaneous conception and gestation in each Fallopian tube was satisfactory.

It is possible that this case has already been reported in some English old-school journal; if not, the attention of our American contemporaries, many of whom the NORTH AMERICAN gladly recognizes are more liberal than those of the old world, is hereby drawn to it in order that it may receive its due place in medical archives, even though it emanated from homoeopathic sources.

The Electric Chair Surpassed.-A medical journal publishes the case of a patient having melencholia with suicidal tendencies who read an article on the effects of laudanum, and discovered a bottle labeled "Laudanum-Poison," beside the medical dictionary. Later the dead body of the patient was found beside the empty bottle. The bottle contained colored distilled water. A case in Hull, Eng., is cited where a girl asked for laudanum at a drug store. The druggist fearing she contemplated suicide gave her port wine, tho' he labeled it laudanum. She drank this and later died with all the symptoms of opium poisoning. Why not try this on our condemned criminals? We suggest laudanum as preferable to carbolic acid, as a substitute for the latter might cause the same agony as this corrosive poison.

The Homœopathic Hospital of Rhode Island.-We note with pleasure an article in the New England Medical Gazette telling of the new homœopathic hospital at Providence. A new charter was recently granted by the legislature to the "Homœopathic Hospital of Rhode Island" and the trustees of this corporate body are of the notable citizens of Providence and Rhode Island. The present building, which has been hired, will accommodate about twenty-five patients. Any reputable practitioner may send his patients here and personally attend them. It is a matter for congratulation that these new hospitals are being founded from time to time in different sections, and that in nearly all cases, they are open to "any reputable practitioner." Who shall say that homoeopaths are not liberal?

Homœopathy in Acute Rheumatism.-The special claim that the homœopathic treatment of disease has for precedence over the established practice, is the absence of undesirable after-effects of drugs. Sometimes it may be possible to palliate the pain in a shorter. time than possible with the homoeopathic remedy. But when this is accomplished it is nearly always found that some undesirable effect has also been produced. In the February Monthly Homeopathic

Review of London the leading editorial is devoted to a study of the subject of Homœopathy in Acute Rheumatism. Statistics of a large number of cases are presented and the conclusions are of interest.

"The duration of stay in the hospital is practically the same under both forms of treatment. The salicylate treatment has the advantage, which naturally looms large in the eyes of the patient, that the acute symptoms, the high temperature and pain, are much shortened in duration as compared with the homoeopathic treatment. But on the other hand, and as a set-off against this is the number of toxic conditions which are developed in the course of the treatment by salicylates, while under the homoeopathic treatment there are no toxic conditions produced to complicate matters. Next, the number of relapses and the percentage of heart disease are much greater unler the salicylate than under the homoeopathic treatment, leaving the patient handicapped, probably for life, by disease of the heart. Which then is preferable? to relieve the acute symptoms quickly, and leave the patient unusually liable to relapses, and his future life practically wrecked by heart mischief, or to have patience for the acute symptoms to subside more gradually, with much less risk of relapses, and the minimum risk of heart disease being developed? We unhesitatingly say that the latter is what should be aimed at for the patient's sake, since to endure temporary pain with the prospect of no permanent mischief remaining for the rest of life is infinitely better than quick relief at the cost of subsequent misery and dishealth. In this view the homoeopathic treatment stands far ahead of the allopathic in its results."

Perhaps we have heard this lesson before, but we are often tempted to treat for the present and forget the future. Let us work. for cures rather than palliation.

Vibration and Diabetes.-The increasing prevalence of diabetes attributed by many to the high tension of modern society is by the British Medical Journal believed to have some connection with the jarring and vibration produced during the frequent railway journeys business men have to make. Railroad men engaged on trains are more frequently the victims of the disease than their numbers would naturally warrant, while other employes of railroads are below the average death rate from diabetes.

If the vibration incident to car travel is a cause of diabetes the increase of automobiling should lead to a spread of the disease. It may be, however, that it is not the vibration that is the difficulty but the high nervous tension and strain that is inseparable from the care of swiftly moving vehicles.

An International Language.-The millennium is not far away. In fact for a paltry five billion of dollars it may be bought at once by the nations of the world. The one thing necessary for its acconplishment is an international language. With a world-wide speech there would follow a wonderful era in language, literature, science, education, commerce and civilization-in short, the Brotherhood of Man. Therefore be it resolved that an international congress be called at public expense to make or select a language for international use. Then offer two billion dollars in prizes to the first fifty mil