extract gold from sea water. These elements exist there, even though it would seem that one would precipitate the other completely. Although some substances are considered so insoluble by the chemist we may suppose that there must be a slight solution, and in this extremely dilute solution, there are no undissociated particles; i. e., all the particles are ionized completely. These ions are in a condition to be absorbed, and act on the system directly.

Seventh-I have spoken of electrolytes as those substances that would conduct the electric current, and as the ones that would be dissociated into active ions. How about the vast number of remedies that are not bases nor acids nor salts; that are simply extracts of drugs? In very many cases we do not know that these drugs contain salts; in many other cases we do not know that there are salts, but we infer that there must be. In opium, for instance, the morphine exists as meconate of morphia; in nux vomica the strychnine is present as a salt of igasuric acid; in aconitum we have the alkoloid united with the aconitic acid; and numerous other cases might be cited. There seems to be no reason to suppose that similar salts are not present in all the drugs that contain alkaloids. When we have these organic salts there is slight dissociation, enough probably so that in dilute solutions we should get the effect of the active ions. Some experiments made in the laboratory of the University of Kansas with the help of my associate, Dr. Franklin, seem to indicate that there is a state of partial dissociation in some common drugs. We experimented with the mother tincture of nux vomica and the mother tincture of bryonia. In the case of nux vomica we found resistance of 318.8, and in the bryonia a resistance. of 202.4. These figures are only relative, yet they show that these mother tinctures do conduct the current, and consequently they are partially dissociated. Now, we cannot tell what molecules are decomposed in the case of a tincture, as the substances present are so numerous, and the possible decompositions are also very numerous. The case is entirely different from that of a simple salt, as kali bichromicum for instance. Tannic acid is a very weak organic acid that is liable to be present in very many vegetable infusions, and this no doubt plays an important part in aiding the dissociation.

Eighth-Another reason why we should infer that the action of dilute solutions would be different from that of the molecules is that the electrical condition is different in the two cases. We may regard the molecules as having a neutralized charge, while the ions are partly positive and partly negative. Who shall say that the system is not so constituted that it can take care of and receive an im

pulse from the ions, since their electric condition is entirely dissimilar to that of the molecules, which it cannot receive from the latter?

Ninth-It should be distinctly noted that the statement is not made that there are more ions in a dilute solution, but that the proportion of ions to undissociated molecules is greater in the dilute solution. From this it would follow that as the condition of complete ionization was gradually reached, it might be possible that the system would be more susceptible to the dissociated particles than to these same particles when mixed with a lot of molecules that acted in a different way. The effect of the molecules would be probably different, when the remedy was presented in a concentrate condition, and this difference would be on account of the dissociation.

Tenth-The nature of the solvent should be more carefully considered if the above theory is true. Water is the best solvent, and in this more than in any common solvent ionization takes place. If then we wish to get the action of a dilute solution at as small a degree of dilution as possible, waters should enter into the diluting material. Water itself is ionized very slightly into H and HO, but this can be neglected. Alcohol is not a solvent in which ionization takes place readily, but it is a pure substance to use as a diluent, and if it contains some water, as it certainly must, ordinarily no doubt it gives opportunity for sufficient ionization. Some experiments on the "dissociation of substances in a mixture of water and alcohol" have been recently reported in the "Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie," which seem to indicate that the replacement of water by alcohol has no effect on the degree of dissociation. The suggestion is therefore made that dilutions might profitably be studied from the standpoint of dissociation in connection with methods of proving. I hope in some way to continue the investigation on the dissociation of mother tinctures and of the dilutions, though I recogize the difficulty of getting absolute results, when we have to deal with vegetable extracts whose composition is so little understood. Relative results, however, I believe, will be of value to the profession.

Finally, this application of the modern theory of solution seems eminently simple and practical. Taking this as a working basis it may be possible for some one to still further develop it, or at least deduce facts that substantiate it more thoroughly, or substitute some better theory in its place. We get below the mass action of a medicine-if we may borrow the term from the chemists-down to the action that takes place inside the molecule, namely, to the action of

the ions themselves. Just why these particles, with their peculiar electrical conditions, should act upon the system therapeutically in such a way that like cures like, we may not be able to conceive, but we can understand that in this condition more than in any other there must be a state of energy such as is most favorable to absorption and to subsequent therapeutic action.

A CONSIDERATION OF REMOTE AND IMMEDIATE PREMONITIONS OF DEATH.*

D

By CHARLES S. WINTERS, A.B., M.D.,

Binghamton, N, Y.

ETERMINED efforts to restore health are recognized as the supreme duty of the medical profession. It is further binding however, on the medical man to know when to yield to the inevitable-not at the last moment, when confusion and shock throw friends into paralyzing dismay and grief-but in time to allow of suitable business transactions, of friendly farewells, and of personal resignation and consolation.

Perhaps there is nothing that costs the physician so much of his well-earned fame, as failure to give due warning of death. The world will never grow accustomed to the presence of the "grim destroyer." It can only tolerate him after repeated warnings, with closed eyes and shivering nerves. Sudden death it bears only with shock and confusion, more or less profound. It demands therefore due warning from competent doctors. And the weight of sudden, unwarned death falls with more crushing force upon the medical attendant, than even upon those nearest the soulless clay. Successive events of this nature indeed are sufficient to declare his total incompetency and to threaten his loss of practice.

Unceasing efforts in gaining the mastery of disease, will lower the mortality record. To the end of time, however, a shadowy hand may be seen-now reaching out to the victim, now withdrawing, till the hand falls, and the grinning, mocking, triumphant skull boldly reveals itself. He cannot come, however, without some sign. Therefore, it is not deemed out of place to consider all known evidence, both fixed and uncertain, of the near or remote approach of death.

* Read before the Interstate Homœopathic Medical Society, 1898.

It is said that an impenetrable veil ever is pendant between hu man vision and death. Fatalists, however, claim to give no concern for the approach of death, believing in the immutable decree of the time fixed and foreordained for that event. They put forth unanswerable arguments in support of their conclusions. The fatalist nevertheless must conceive an interest in the physician in relation. to the period of ordained death, if the latter can warn him of its certain approach.

It would revolutionize insurance if the companies could secure medical advisers sufficiently accurate to predict the extent of life, barring accidents, even within one year of dissolution. It would. on the other hand, annihilate every life insurance company on the globe, if the people knew to a certainty that any medical man could foretell, even approximately, the tenure of life.

To estimate the remoteness or nearness of death in persons of apparent health, or in disease, it is essential to possess an acquaintance with a fundamental unit of strength and endurance. This must be the same for every human being, differing only relatively in individuals, as the degrees of circumference, always three hundred and sixty in number, yet differ in size for every circle. This unit of strength can only be appreciated in its relation to the one great organ of the body, the activity of which ceasing, powerful muscles, gigantic intellects, both are inert, and return to their constituent elements. To the heart primarily therefore must this unit of strength be applied, and the result is the measure of endurance of the brain and body in approximate units of time.

The strength and endurance of the heart, both in health and in disease, can be measured. A standard has been established by the average estimates of males and females whose lives have been longer than the average, and who have, within the same span of life, encountered the same diseases. Also, this measure of strength and endurance, or the cardiac unit, has been computed without allowance for a lifetime filled with the hardest manual and intellectual labor. It is indeed an absolute unit, and the element of disease is entirely eliminated.

In computing this unit of vitality four points must receive the most profound consideration. For a mistake in one makes the unit an error; and an error in the fundamental unit cannot but render vital calculations total failures. These four points are:

(1) Absolute size of the heart.

(2) Thickness of its walls.

(3) Action of its valves as to closure and elasticity.

(4) Time elapsing between aortic closure and the impact of the radial pulse, and time elapsing between the closure of the same valve and the impact of the posterior tibial pulse.

Having the measurements of the average heart, that is, the corresponding points of the body between which it must rest; knowing the thickness of its ventricular and auricular walls; observing that the closure of all the valves is perfect, their activity and elasticity sufficient for the necessary quick recoil and for the complete emptying of the cavities, and confirming the power of the ventricular muscles by the speed with which the radial and posterior tibial arteries respond to the cardiac impulse; an absolute unit of vitality can be computed which cannot be altered by disease. Neither does accident cause it to vary. For mention can be made of authentic cases wherein the brain still carries its leaden guest, and in which the heart bears its ventricular scar.

Having a clear conception then of this cardiac unit, it is possible for the medical man, when a subject appears before him whose heart answers to every computation of this unit, to measure out for that fortunate individual at least eighty years of life.

But what are the computations which make up this unit? Before these are mentioned, another point, outweighing all others must be offered. This fifth point is the measure of cardiac susceptibility to shock. This is shown by he tumult, varying in degree, produced by a moderate blow over the heart, and by its action under sudden excitement induced by the examiner as he may devise. This point may be termed the measure of cardiac innervation.

It must be acknowledged that given a heart combining these five essentials of power, the disease is not named that can, within eighty years, annihilate physical existence. It must likewise be conceded, that given this unit of power, it is possible to calculate approximately, the length of life in health, in disease, its favorable or fatal termination. Also, that thus informed, the medical man can so measure the weakened cardiac power by this unit as to calculate with reasonable accuracy the day and hour of dissolution in any disease.

In health, there is a joyous unconcern for the future. It is only when the physical well-being is disturbed, does the outcome become an anxious query. The immediate premonitions of death therefore possess the greater importance. Indeed, to the physician they are the omens which most of all engross his attentions at the bedside, and which follow him like spectres of evil through his dreams.

Typhoid may be said to be a disease, the outcome of which,