intelligence to disease is a clinical reality. The habit of mind seems to be an important factor in determining the occurrence or issue of disease, a proposition of no mystical nature, if the well established relation between emotion and physiological process be kept in mind. If this be true, as I think it is, the therapeutic deduction is obvious." It has been demonstrated frequently by many competent observers, that the unconscious mind when mentally stimulated by the hypnotist can produce redness, swelling, edema, rise of temperature, and other physical effects, and there is no longer any question as to the influence of psychic action over organic processes. Schofield, in his late work on "Unconscious Therapeutics, or, The Personality of the Physician," page 55, in speaking of the term vis medicatrix natura, says: "This therapeutic agency has such a unique power that it is essential to all recoveries, whatever other therapeutics may be employed. It is absolutely indispensible to the patient's cure, if the disease tends to death, for whatever therapeutics may be used the patient can never recover in the absence of this natural and unconscious force; and further, every disease tends to death where this therapeutic power is wholly absent. It acts also quite apart from the will or knowledge of the patient; in fact, the power is wholly outside of consciousnes, and is yet mental in character, being purposive, conservative, and, having the power apparently of choice, it is capable also of acting rightly in entirely novel emergencies. It is the manifestation of the action of the unconscious mind in the tissues and organs of the body." That Schofield is correct in calling the force "Vis Medicatrix Naturæ," the "Unconscious Mind," is proven by the fact that it is the unconscious mind that tides us over the periods of unconsciousness while we are profoundly asleep. During these periods, which constitute nearly one-third of our lives, it is absurd to think that all the various functions of the body are performed regularly and normally without intelligent guidance. The heart beats normally, respiration is regular, the processes of digestion, assimilation, secretion and excretion are regularly performed. That sensation is normal can be easily demonstrated. Can all of these various and delicate processes be kept up without intelligent direction? If, then, the unconscious mind controls the vegatative functions of the body in health, can it not also control them in diseased conditions? This is a vast, intricate and interesting subject, and with the time at my disposal I can only call your attention to the subject as one which I consider of great importance to you and to your patients. It is a subject which is but little understood as yet, and one which has been tabooed by a large majority of our profession, and, in my opinion, greatly to the detriment of patients and the profession. It is not a cure-all, but it is an important factor not only as a cause but in the cure of disease, and it is worthy of your careful attention and study. Ukiah, Calif. Scientific Work on Coca. It may be of interest to note that the Mariani products have not been merely pushed upon the market commercially, without any regard to scientific details. In the laboratories at Neuilly, France, the Coca plant is studied botanically and chemically to determine how best to develop its properties. From there thousands of plants have been sent to the principal botanical gardens throughout the world, and every effort is constantly made to study this substance, and to afford others an opportunity for its scientific investigation. This is related not as a matter for mere praise, but to impress the fact that here is the largest manufactory of exclusive Coca preparations in the world. This could not have been so extensive, nor so successfully maintained through all these years, if it was not founded upon merit and conducted upon those liberal principles which unite all that is possible scientifically with mere commercial interest. Thus it will be seen, that whatever has been done toward advancing the popular use of this restorative substance, has been the outgrowth from the original conception of preserving the true qualities of recent Coca in a nutritive wine. These are but some reasons why it would seem that whatever this firm has to present to its friends, the practitioners, should command consideration. Vin Mariani was nearly fifty years ago introduced to the medical profession. It has been endorsed by physicians everywhere, and whatever success has been achieved through it is due to those physicians who, having recognized its worth, have since continued to employ it.-The Coca Leaf, Nov., 1902. PACIFIC MEDICAL JOURNAL WINSLOW ANDERSON, A. M., M. D., M. R. O. P. LOND., etc. W. F. SOUTHARD, A. M., M. D., Managing Editor. COLLABORATORS. O. F. BUCKLEY, B.A., M.D., L.R.C.P.Edin., etc. P. O. REMONDINO, M.D. GRO. C. MACDONALD, M.D., F.R O.S.Ed. W. E. TAYLOR, M.D. W L. ADAMS, M.D. CARL C. HANSEN, M.D. GEORGE H. POWERS, A.M., M.D. J. H. DAVISSON M.D. O. A. RUGGLES, M.D. THOS. MORFFEW, D. D.S. A. W. MORTON, A.B., M.D. OHAS. E. JONES, A. B., M.D. F. F. KNORP, M.D. WM. J. JACKSON, Ph.G., M.D. WM. A. BRYANT, M.D., D.D.S, P. A. DUBOIS, Ph.G. WALTER F. LEWIS, D.D.S. FRED. W. LUX, M.D. A. SCHLOSS, M.D. H. N. ROWELL, M.D. CLARK L. ABBOTT, M.D. SOPHIE B. KOBICKE, M.D. LOLITA B DAY, M.D. ROBERT E. O'CONNELL, D.D.S. CHAS. W. MILLS, A.B, M.D., D.D.S. B. F. WILLIAMS M.D. WILLIAM BURFIEND, D.D.S. JOHN M. STOWELL, M.D. BERTHA WAGNER-STARK, M.D. J. H. SEYMOUR, M.D. CALVIN W. KNOWLES, D.D.S., M.D.. LUTHER A. TEAGUE, D.D.S. CORYDON B. ROOT, M.D., D.D.8. J. C. HENNESSEY, D.D.S. The Editors are not responsible for the views of contributors. All matters relating to the editorial and business departments should be addressed to the PACIFIC MEDICAL JOURNAL, 1025 Sutter St., San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER, 1904. Editorial. THE BARBER SHOP AND TONSORIAL ARTIST. Every practicing physician meets with many cases of disease contracted at the barber shop. It is gratifying to note that our San Francisco Board of Health is endeavoring to prevent or at least minimize the disseminating of diseases through barber shop and hair dressing establishments. Undoubtedly many diseases are conveyed from one person to another by means of scissors, razors, combs, hair brushes, rotating brushes, shaving brushes, soap, towels, powder puffs, as well as by the hands and clothing of the barber. Seborrhoea capitis (dandriff or dandruff), pityriasis, alopecia furfuracea, impetigo, and many varieties of ringworm,―tinea tonsurans, tinea imbricata, and various forms of eczema may readily be transmitted through the barber's instruments, brushes, etc. There is probably not one hair brush in 1,000 that is free from contagious microorganisms. One can readily see how these microörganisms may be communicated by the cutting instru ments, brushes, soap, etc., from the scalp and face of one infected person to many other persons. Sycosis parasitica, or "barber's itch," caused by a pyogenic coccus. is frequently observed as a result of direct infection. Alopecia, or baldness, is also frequently contracted in a similar way to say nothing of the more loathsome diseases met with occasionally as a result of filthy barber shops. The Remedy.-Every person should have his own razor, brushes, soap, and towels, etc. This would prevent contamination from one person to another. But who ever saw a barber wash his hands carefully after finishing one person and before beginning on another? Who ever saw a barber sterilize his hands even in the slightest degree on any occasion? The barber and hair dresser should be free from any skin disease, for obviously the clean instruments would soon become contaminated. The barber's clothing should be clean and made of linen. He should have no pockets into which to drop his scissors or brushes to contaminate them. Clean towels should be provided. In ordinary and the poorer shops, where the customer can not afford to have his own implements, the barber should disinfect his scissors or razors by means of 5 per cent formalin in absolute alcohol before they are used a second time. Combs should be of metal and boiled, as should the brushes. If one inspects any ordinary brush in a barber shop, one readily sees why ringworm, barber's itch, and other diseases are disseminated. Combs and brushes should be boiled for half an hour in water containing 1 per cent carbonate of soda and kept in sterile towels ready for use. Liquid soap should be used. It should be boiled and kept in half an ounce or one ounce phials so that each person may have a sterile bottle for his own use. The use of alum on a cut surface is bad practice, for the same piece of alum is used 20 times a day; it is smeared with blood and forms a good breeding place for bacteria. Alum in solution in water or 1:15 bichloride solution to apply to cut surfaces would be better. Powder puffs should be replaced by fresh pieces of sterilized cotton that can be burned after each time they are used. The barber was at one time the surgeon. He draws blood even now-a-days and that without a leech. Why, then, should he not be compelled by law to keep clean his hands and nails, cloth ing and implements, in order to safeguard the public from whom he makes his living against contamination. Public baths, salt water swimming tanks and Hammam baths should be carefully inspected by the health authorities. The bathing suits, towels, soap, combs, and brushes -all may readily convey diseases of the scalp, hair and skin, from one person to another, unless some plan of sterilization be enforced. The Gynecological Importance of Prolapsed Kidney. Dr. Augustin H. Goelet, of New York, presented a paper with this title, at the annual meeting of the New York State Medical Association, October 17th to 20th (Medical Record, Oct. 22, 1904), in which it was shown conclusively that prolapse of the kidney has an important bearing upon diseases of the female pelvic organs. He pointed out that the misplaced kidney is instrumental in producing and maintaining pelvic congestion, by pressure directly upon the ovarian vein, as it ascends along the spine and coincidently diseased conditions that may arise therefrom. Hence a cure of such conditions is not possible oftentimes. until the kidney has been restored to its normal position by operation. The importance of recognizing prolapse of the kidney in gynecological patients is emphasized, and he regards the diagnosis of gynecological conditions incomplete without examination to determine its presence or absence. He cited a number of cases showing needless operations had been done on the pelvic organs, such even as removal of ovaries, because prolapse of the kidney had been overlooked, as subsequent operation for restoration of the kidney to its normal position had proven. Attention is also directed to the diseased state of these kidneys in consequence of the constant interference with their circulation and function, owing to their abnormally low position. He finds that an erroneous impression. of the gravity of the operation for fixing the kidney is often given the patient, by those who have not had experience with it. He has done 197 consecutive nephropexies, in 47 operating on both kidneys at the same time, without a death Hence the operation cannot be said to have any mortality. Failure to obtain relief from the operation, of |