and at the same time supplying the natural form for absorption. It serves excellently the purpose of preventing the destruction of other nucleo-albumens in the digestive tract by the sulphur compounds, for other forms of iron are sometimes slow to act, and the nucleo-albumen is destroyed before they succeed in taking up the sulphur compounds present. This does not hap pen with hemaboloids. The use of nature's own method of supplying iron by giving it as a nucleo-albumen is a distinct step forward in iron therapy. It lifts the subject from the hazy domain of empiricism into the realms of rational therapeutics In discussion Dr. Stoll said that for most physicians the administration of iron is mainly empiric, but that studies like Dr. Porter's give promise of raising it to the highest plane of rational therapeutics. While the tincture of the chloride of iron has always seemed to be of most benefit to patients suffer. ing from Bright's disease or from loss of albumen because of albuminuria in general hemaboloids have proved the most useful form of iron. It is of benefit in a greater proportionate number of cases of anemia from all causes than any other form of iron medication. Especially does it seem to do good in cases of chlorosis in which neither the chloride of iron nor Blaud's pills are effective. One of the disadvantages of Blaud's pills that is not borne in mind sufficiently, is their liability to be furnished by the pharmacist when not fresh. Old pills of any kind are apt to be inefficient, but of Blaud's pills this is espe. cially true. Perhaps if we could always be sure of a recent preparation there would not be so much to find fault with in the old favorite prescriptions of iron. It is in this respect that hemaboloids is of advantage; it does not seem to deteriorate when kept for a time. In closing the discussion Dr. Porter said that this matter of the freshness of Blaud's pills when used is extremely important. Old pills have their chemism completely satisfied and they do not take up the sulphur compounds in the intestinal tract and so fail entirely of their purpose.-Medical News. Dr. Houghton on Pharmacology. The following brief abstract of the discussion of Dr. Houghton's paper is reprinted from the report of the meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association published in the October number of the Bulletin of Pharmacy: In introducing the subject of Dr. Houghton's paper Chair man Rusby said that he "had come firmly to believe that pharmacology must come in as one of the pharmaceutical sciences whether it was used for standardization purposes or not." Professor Hurty expressed the opinion that it was just as necessary for the pharmacist to go into the physiological action of drugs as into a study of their botany or their chemistrypharmacology, indeed, was just as properly a department of pharmaceutical study and research as were either of these. Professor Lowe said he was glad attention was getting to be paid in pharmacy to the physiological action of drugs. He thought pharmaceutical students should certainly be taught this among other things; the result would be preparations which are not only satisfactory from a chemical or pharmaceutical standpoint, but from the standpoint of physiological activity as well. Too many "elegant" pharmaceutical preparations are sorry things from a physiological point of view. Professor Hallberg said the work in pharmacological experiment which had been done in this country during the last few years was the first that had ever been done here, and that it would do much to restore favor to old drugs which had sunk into disfavor through uncertainty of physiological action. Parke, Davis & Co. have done much towards the scientific standardization of drugs in the United States, but more especially towards the physiological activity of pharmaceutical products. What's Worth While? It is worth while to sustain the patient in a definite way with the least effort on his part; to furnish essential elements of rational tissue building in a readily assimilated hydrocarbon of a type such as Angier's Petroleum Emulsion. The thoughtful physician is ever willing to take suggestions, and when the source of these suggestions is the bedside experience of competent overseers" whose hints show reason and allusions care,” the practical importance of a remedy is established, independent of theory. The trend of professional effort to-day is to create a soil inimical to the life of bacteria; to kill the bacteria and neutralize their toxins. Resulting from these factors we have prostration, cachexia and blood poisoning, and it is precisely for such conditions that Angier's Petroleum Emulsion is par. ticularly applicable. Angier's Petroleum Emulsion not only keeps the patient at par, but it also raises the processes of nutrition to their highest possible point, and in addition is of value especially in pulmonary phthisis, chronic bronchitis or other wasting diseases, as a true blood-maker and tissue-constructor. From the nature of its composition it does not interfere with or crowd out other elements of nutrition, but it is cheerfully co-operative and is of distinct value as a demulcent expectorant. Secondly, Angier's Petroleum Emulsion is a powerful vasomotor stimulant. It seems to exercise a sedative influence in checking the paroxysmal coughing so frequently associated with earlier stages of phthisis. The clinical test is the certain test. When Angier's Petroleum Emulsion is used in a class of cases for which it is indicated, it cannot fail to demonstrate its remarkable efficiency as a reliever of cough-a restorer of rest. According to Loomis, the hypophosphites of lime and soda are serviceable where intestinal digestion is imperfect. Angier's Petroleum Emulsion is nutrition and rest combined. Where it has been prescribed a rapid gain in flesh and strength is invariably noted. An Increase in the Army Medical Staff. A bill which has been prepared by Surgeon-General Sternberg will be presented to Congress during its present session. The bill provides for the addition to the corps of four assistant surgeon-generals, with the rank of colonel; ten deputy surgeongenerals, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; thirty surgeons, with the rank of major, and eighty assistant surgeons, with the rank of first lieutenant, who shall have the rank of captain at the expiration of five years of service. Acting assistant surgeons to the number authorized are to be appointed, subject to the usual examination, for a probationary period of six months, during which they will attend the Army Medical School in Washington, at the end of which time, if their standing is good, they are to be commissioned to fill existing vacancies. This probationary service is waived in the case of candidates who have rendered satisfactory service as acting assistant surgeons or as commissioned medical officers in the volunteer army for a period of six months or more. The vacancies occurring in the grades of major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel will be filled by seniority promotion.-N. Y. Med. Record. PACIFIC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. XLIII. FEBRUARY, 1900. Original Articles. No. 2 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON CONTINENCE AS A FACTOR IN HEALTH AND DISEASE. By P. C. REMONDINO, M. D., San Diego, Cal. The anatomical and physiological structure and functions of the parts implicated in the generation and storage of the seminal fluid have furnished a number of authorities grounds for denying the possibility of any disturbance arising from an over supply or storage of the fluid; arguing that by a self-governing function the generation of the fluid is checked when not needed, by the compression of the distended walls of the seminal vesicles upon the blood supply calculated for the nutrition of the seminal fluid producing organs. While all these are undoubtedly correct and scientific grounds for believing that nature has provided a means for the prevention of that physical suffering, or for those reflexes that lead to sexual perversion through incontinence, the actual results, as too palpably observed, do not warrant us in relying upon these physiological checks which are more theoretical than actively or practically real. In the great diversities of human nature, with their varying qualities and degrees of physiological, mental and psychological developments, no hard and fixed laws can be framed for the government of the whole. Society, however, for its own protection and which in its great desire for equity contemplates the greatest good for the greatest number, has formed a series of written and unwritten laws that govern our moral and civil life, laws whose wisdom is generally recognized and which are tacitly accepted, even by those who break them. It is generally understood that a small minority may be made to suffer, but it is also as well accepted that it is better for these very few to suffer than that by abrogating these laws, the whole fabric of Society should crumble. Catholics and Episcopalians have taken this very positive and just view concerning the question VOL. XLIII-6. of divorce, as they rightly look upon this as a fatal blow to the root of the welfare of society-the family-justly arguing that it were better for the ill-mated few, either silently to put up with their grievances as becomes Christians and continue to live together, or if that is impossible or impracticable, rather than to endanger the stability of society through the failure of the family institution-the latter being the initial unit upon which the stability of the state really rests-to legally separate, but not with permission to remarry—as the desire to remarry some one younger or deemed more attractive has been but too often the real cause that has led to that coldness, neglect, or even positive abuse or cruelty which have ended in divorce. This is a sad flaw in the moral tenets of most of the reformed churches, who either through silence or otherwise have neglected to follow the dictates of Mother Church in these regards. The same written and unwritten moral and civil codes have determined that the Christian shall, if a benedict, follow a life of strict and undeniable monogamy, both in the letter and in the spirit, and that if remaining a bachelor, his life should be one of unsullied continent celibacy. The first of these questions, that of monogamy and its observance, is correct as far as seen in rural or provincial life, but otherwise even in the most Christian countries, while the letter of the law is complied with, the spirit is not, for, as observed by a European authority, while the average wealthy continental European is outwardly and dejure a monogamist, he is, whether benedict or bachelor, by instincts, impulses, tastes and proclivities inwardly and de facto a most pronounced polygamist-he enormous extent of private and public prostitution, concubinage and morganatic marriages, largely favored by the surplus of females over males, being ample evidence of the existing state of real morality in this direction,-kings and princes, as well as political bosses in general, setting the pace, whether in absolute or limited and constitutional monarchy or in a republic, a pace which is but too often imitated by those whose means will permit them in indulging in some form of a western reflection of the refined domestic haremic practice of the Orient. As my friend Dooley expressed it when on the subject of polygamy: "A Mormon, Hinnissy, is a man that has th' bad taste an' th' rellijion to do what a good many other men ar-re restrained fr'm doin' be conscientious scruples an' th' polis. I don't want anny wife; ye, Hinnissy, ar-re satisfied, not to say cor-tint, |