On the other hand, all laws keeping persons from marrying because of disease or even delicate health, are cruel and unjust, and could only be enforced for cases of evident danger of contagion or obvious mental incapacity. It is true that children from sickly and weak parents are in great danger of being of little use in the world to themselves and to others, but even they, can, with proper care, become relatively strong and tolerably healthy. While the law-making and administrative authorities can do very little to insure the births of healthy children only, there is an enormous field for public sanitation with regard to the care of the State for the children once born. We are far away from seeing the absolute justice of the principle that every child born into this world ought to have an equal chance; we stand yet] on the basis of the horrible teaching that the parents' sins shall be visited upon the children. The least we can do, however, is to see to it that little babies are not killed by adulterated milk; that the children of the cities have proper and sufficient public breathing places; that the children of the poor are not crippled mentally and bodily in the employ of thoughtless or heartless manufacturers, and that the unhygienic conditions of the public schools, where the little victims are crowded into ill-ventilated localities, do not cripple the future of the nation. And when we have a child in school we ought to see that it is in no danger of contracting any kind of a communicable disease, that during the school hours its health is not impaired. Proper inspection and periodical examination of all school children by the health authorities would lead to the elimination of many dangers. We must also teach the child in school those things which will be the most useful for practical life. It is hard to see why the knowledge of the construction and the functions of the human body and the science to preserve it from unnecessary tear and wear, and protect it against damage and premature end, should not receive prominent attention. The question of FOOD is next to be considered. We must agree with the Medical Record (March 1, 1902), that it is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule of eating or drinking for a body of people, that the personal factor must be in any case taken into consideration; in truth, that it commands the situation. We know that which suits one person may be harmful to another; that change is the salt of life. We also know that fads dominate in these days a large number of people to the exclusion of hard sense; that all theories are ridden to death, and among them those concerning food and drink. It is sure that with regard to eating and drinking, the happy medium will be found the wisest course. We must, however, protest when the Medical Record asserts that "if the individual be possessed of ordinary common sense, it will not be long before he finds out what food or drink agrees with him and regulates his diet accordingly." Things are certainly not as simple as that. If the distinguished editor of the eminent Medical Record just has in view the immediate and momentary effects of the food upon the digestive organs, then we may admit that "the individual possessed of ordinary common sense" will soon find out what food or drink agrees with him; when it comes, however, to the complicated problems of the individual metabolism, then even extraordinary "common sense" without exact knowledge amounts to absolutely nothing. By the time the gouty, the obese, the diabetic, the nephritic, the neurasthenic, and several other kinds of sufferers, find out that their diet has disagreed with them it is generally too late. The stomach may easily and well digest a daily food which is a gross insult to the individual system. The signature of our present time is exaggeration in every respect, and over-feeding is as dangerous to the wealthy as under-feeding is to the poor. It is certainly of great importance to feed the organism properly at all periods of life; during childhood, however, it is even more so, because it lays the foundation for a good constitution or for all kinds of ailments and variations of dyscrasia. To the feeding of the child during the first months of his life has been given proper attention, the problems have been almost solved. Mothers are very careful with the baby, but more than careless with the child as soon as it is weaned from the breast or has discarded the bottle. The diet of the growing child, while harboring less immediate and momentary dangers, is just as important and essential. Strict individualization is absolutely necessary. The Every child can diet of a delicate or a lymphatic child must be different from that of a robust or plethoric one. Certain simple principles are applicable for all of them. be fed on milk, and plenty of it, on eggs, butter, carbohydrates in any form, green vegetables (vegetable albumin) and fruits, while the amount of meat given should be rather limited. The idea that soups and beef-tea are eminently wholesome as a food for all children has done a great deal of damage. Soups contain but the poisonous extracts of meat, the aloxur-bodies, Xanthin, kreatinin, and the kalium salts. Soups, while filling up the stomach and taking away the appetite for other food, give almost no nourishment, save when they contain rice, pastry, etc. But such nourishment is undoubtedly given with greater advantage without the soup. Ice-water (melted ice) and distilled water, probably responsible for a large majority of our persistent, almost incurable chronic catarrhs of the stomach and intestinal tract, should never be given to children. These waters contain none of the salts which are necessary in our system, and they cause swelling of the epithelia. We know very well that distilled water must not be used for hypodermic infusions. On the other hand, no one should use or give to a child water the purity of which he is not absolutely sure. The best investment in any household is the purchase of a good filter, by which the previously boiled water can be properly purified. Health and youth can thus be preserved far better than by the use of any elixir or balm of life. (To be continued.) THE Berkeley Sanatorium Association opened its Hospital at the corner of Ashby Avenue and San Pablo Avenue, December 17, 1902, The officers of the Association are: Thomas Rickard, President; Dr. Hubert N. Powell, VicePresident; H. B. Griffiths, Secretary; Brewton A. Hayne, Attorney; Guy Hyde Chick, Dr. J. Edison Kelsey, Dr. Chas. F. Gladding, Dr. S. H. Buteau and W. R. Pond, Board of Directors. THE American Medico-Psychological Association will hold its next meeting in Washington, D. C., May 12, 13, 14 and 15, 1903. PACIFIC MEDICAL JOURNAL WINSLOW ANDERSON, A. M., M. D., M. R. C. P. LOND., etc. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. W. F. SOUTHARD, A. M., M. D., Managing Editor. COLLABORATORS. U. F. BUCKLEY, B.A., M.D., L.R.C.P.Edin., etc. P. O. REMONDINO, M.D. GEO. O. MACDONALD, M.D., F.R.C.S, Ed. W. E. TAYLOR, M.D. W. S. THORNE, M.D. WILLIAM S. WHITWELL, A.M., M.D. W L. ADAMS, M.D. CARL C. HANSEN, M.D. GEORGE H. POWERS, A.M., M.D. JOHN W. ROBERTSON, A.B., M.D. C. A. RUGGLES, M.D. THOS. MORFFEW, D.D.S. FRANK HOWARD PAYNE, M,D. JOHN H. HEALY, M.D. A. W. MORTON, A.B., M.D. CHAS. E. JONES, A.B., M.D. WM. J. JACKSON, Ph.G., M.D. WM. A. BRYANT, M.D., D.D.S, WALTER F. LEWIS, D.D.S. A. SCHLOSS, M.D. GEORGE P. WINTERMUTE, M.D. H. N. ROWELL, M.D. J. J. CROWLEY, Ph.G. 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. THURLOW S. MILLER, M.D. C. M. TROPPMANN. Ph.G., M.D. B. F. WILLIAMS M.D. WILLIAM BURFIEND, D.D.S. THOS. FLETCHER, 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. J. C. HENNESSEY, D.D.S. S. L. STRICKLAND, 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, FEBRUARY, 1903. Editorial. PROPOSED MEDICAL LEGISLATION. Two or three measures are before the Legislature looking to changes in the medical law. It has been publicly charged, directly and indirectly, that the College of Physicians and Surgeons is behind a certain measure before the Legislature advocating radical changes. We wish to assert here officially, that up to this date, January 30, 1903, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has had no interest in any proposed measure. It has not introduced any bill, nor in any manner whatever influenced or endeavored to influence the character of any bill that has been introduced. The PACIFIC MEDICAL JOURNAL is in favor of one change in the medical law. It desires that the Board shall be appointed by the Governor. That this would be a just measure, and should be passed is evident for a number of reasons: First-These Medical Societies are not representative. There are in this State about 4,500 physicians; a liberal estimate of the membership of the three State Societies will not bring the number to as many as 400, therefore about nine-tenths of the members of the profession are excluded from any voice in the selection of this Medical Board. Second-Admitting that the membership of the three State Societies is as many as 400, this membership is not active. The average attendance at the meetings of the three societies is not over 100 all told. Again it is evident that only one in 45 of the physicians in the State takes part in the selection of the Board, and when we consider that these societies are run by small cliques numbering from four or five, to eight or ten, who manipulate things for their own personal gratification, and for the interest of their favorite medical schools, it is very plain why this law is unjust. Third-Supposing that the Medical Societies included all the physicians of the State, and that all of them were active and interested in the selection of this Board, does it follow that this is a right which belongs to the medical men of the community, taking from all other citizens a right to say who shall govern, and who shall administer the laws, whether these laws be medical, police, or of any other character? Fourth-The Board is at present irresponsible; that is, it is not elected by the people; it does not report to the people; it has a power given to it over and above the rights of the people; the Governor has no jurisdiction over them, and if they choose to trample upon the rights of the people there is no remedy. This JOURNAL has proved in a recent number that certain members of the Board have been unfair, have discriminated against graduates of schools which they did not favor. For such discrimination and for such injustice there seems to be no remedy except in a change of the law. Fifth-No Medical Society should have anything to do with medical politics. When a society wishes to assume the powers of police regulation it transforms itself from a scientific body to a political one. There is strife, there is |