away of sensation; there appear to be no violent convulsions or nervous twitches.

Death from strangulation or hanging is similar to death from drowning, but the efforts are much more severe. It has frequently been noted in cases of hanging that ejaculation occurs. This suggests that not a few such deaths may be accompanied by voluptuous sensations. Persons restored to consciousness

after apparent drowning may suffer distress at moment of immersion and before consciousness fails, but this soon gives way to drowsy comfort, remaining until consciousness is completely lost. Some say it is much more painful to be resusciated than to drown.

Tyndall, once rendered unconscious by an electric shock, believed that death by lightning stroke must be painless. The development of asphyxia from charcoal fumes may be an agreeable sensation; so with inhalation of nitrous oxide, according to Sir Humphrey Davy's experience.

EASY DEATH FOR THE AGED.

In old age, the organs become flabby and atrophied; all functions are more inert, easier wearied, and there with the instinct to live is weaker, or fully extinguished. But very few die from old age alone. The great majority, however, die from disease. In many acute feverish diseases the poisonous action of the bacteria causes such a heavy depression of the nervous system that the mind becomes apathetic, whether the patient. dies or not. The old think about the possibility of death; the instinct to live can be extinguished and dying, both physically and mentally, is, in the great majority of cases, painless. Also athropy of all the tissues cause a general exhaustion and reduces more and more

the sensibility of the brain; the patient becomes sleepy; the weakened heart pumps less blood to the central nerves, and finally the individual becomes unconscious. In the same way, in diseases where dyspnoea occurs, and in many other affections, the sensitiveness of the nerve cells and fibre becomes less on account of the limited supply of oxygen, so that the intensity of all impressions is lessened. Since in the aged all the functions, mental and nervous, are weakened, they are slow to die; when asked if they are suffering, the old answer, No, but it will be finished tomorrow. When their members are already cold, asked if they feel cold, will answer: "No * tomorrow." Sometimes death arrives at the time set, though they did not expect it so soon. In general, observation and reason agree as to the easy and painless death of the old.

A physician of long experience said. to an old man patient, apprehensive of pain at death, that he "would know nothing about it," that it would "be just as easy as being born." Sir James Paget, the distinguished surgeon, believed the act of death was a pleasurable sensation. The centenarian, Fontenelle, was asked, when dying, how he felt: "Nothing at all, except that it is difficult to live." Another, ninety-three years old, when a glass of water was given him, said, "Many thanks for this service. When you become so old as I, you will see, that death is just as necessary as sleep."

Death from old age seems to consist in a gradually lessening power of elimination of poisons or excretions; their retention increases and leads to degeneration, whereby some of the vital organs cease to function; this process culminates in death.

(To be continued.)

most general axioms last of all. This is the true way, but is as yet untried. The mind longs to spring up to positions of higher generality that it may find rest, and therefore, after a little, it wearies of experiment. And this evil is increased by the order and solemnity of the disputations upon its logic. One method just glances at experiments and particulars and the other method dwells, duly and orderly, among them. One begins by establishing certain abstract and useless generalities, the other rises by gradual steps to that which is prior and better known in the order of nature. There is very great difference between certain dogmas and the true signatures that are set upon the works of nature, as they are found in nature. Axioms established by argument cannot avail, for the discovery of new works for the subtlety of nature is far greater than the subtlety of any argument. One method is anticipation of nature, or a thing rash or premature. The other method is an interpretation of nature or a reason elicited from fact by a just and methodical process. Even if all men were not made all after the same fashion, they might agree well enough, one with the other. Though all the wits of all the ages met and combined and transmitted their labors, yet no great progress in science would be made; but any means of anticipation causing radical errors in a first conception of the mind may not be cured by any excellence of functions or of subsequent riddles. No great advancement in science may be made from the engrafting of new things upon old ones. We must begin anew from the very foundations or else we must resolve to serve in a circle of mean and contemptible progress.

Take upon you the part of a guide and not of a judge, for no judgment can be rightly formed, either of your method or of the discovery to which it may lead, since you cannot be called upon to abide the sentence of a tribune that is itself on trial. Holders of the fashionable notion state that nothing can be known. I also assert that not much can be known in nature by the way which is now in use, for that goes to destroy the authority of the senses and of the understanding, whereas I propose to devise and supply

helps for the same. Men's minds are seemingly so beset that truth can hardly find entrance, or after it does enter, false notions have taken so deep root therein that they will always meet and trouble us in the very instauration of the sciences. It is a false assertion that the senses are the measures of things, because, on the contrary, all processes, both of sense and of mind, are according to the measure of the individual, and not according to the measure of the universe. The human understanding is like a false mirror that distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it. Men look for signs in their own lesser worlds and not in the greater or common world. There are human understandings that, when they have once adopted an opinion, draw all things else to support and agree with it. Even though there be a greater weight and number of instances to be found on the other side, yet these are neglected and despised, or set aside and rejected; anything at all, so that the authorities of former connections are allowed to remain inviolate. It is a peculiar and perpetual error of the human intellect to be moved by affirmatives rather than by negatives, though it should hold itself indifferently disposed to both alike. Indeed, in the establishment of any true axiom, the negative is the more possible of the two.

DEMOCRACY OR AUTOCRACY-WHICH?

Almost forty years ago a man had a vision. He believed he could put a certain community in the limelight and he entered into the publication of a medical journal. For years that journal grew and prospered, but as time went on there were those who seemed of the opinion that the pioneer was profiting to too great an extent, and so they started a competitive journal. Instead of carrying on a decent competition those men thought they could accomplish much by casting slurs upon that pioneer and his publication. In fact, theirs was a sort of dog in the manger play, for they apparently were of the mind that none but they should survive. However, in that

way they were little or no different from others in other communities who endeavored to supplant the pioneers.

Much was said by these later men about the "indecency" of their pioneer successors and the publications which have given the medical world an idea that the various communities really existed. In fact, those later men concluded that the world was theirs and that none others should exist thereon.

Many of those pioneer journals "carried on" and are still saying, with regularity, "let's go!" Instead of being mediocre, these publications are showing improvement with every issue. They are publishing good material, the sort which really gives assistance to the men on the firing line those doctors who are far from medical centers and who cannot, for one reason or another, avail themselves of frequent post graduate courses.

The editors of those pioneer journals are, for the most part, men of perception. They see to it that their journals carry that which will be of material benefit to their readers and not to those who may contribute, for they do not, as a rule, pander to those seeking self-aggrandizement. They publish material for what that material, in itself, is really worth, and not because it may have been prepared by one noted the world over, or by one recognized as an authority. Those editors recognize the fact that the crossroads doctor may, at times, be the discoverer of much that is worthy. Remember it was a country doctor who did the first successful ovariotomy. Also remember that the country doctor, far removed from urban influence and assistance, is the man who is put on his own and who is a success for that very

reason.

The Western Medical Times is the journal referred to in the opening paragraph. When Dr. Thomas Hayden Hawkins established that journal in 1882 it was looked upon as the leading medical publication of the West. It lived for years as such and until it was pronounced as indecent and unworthy by a few self-constituted critics. But the Denver Medical Times, as formerly known, lived and grew greater, for it invariably published that which was of in

terest to its readers and offered them something of a worth while character.

But many believe what those self-constituted critics told them. However, that did not daunt the spirit of those independents who believed such a journal as the Western Meical Times should continue. With its renaming it entered the national class of medical publications and since 1915 has been drawing its contributions from every part of this country as well as from the world. Those who have stood by it say it is one of the best journals published. They say it interests them and that it gives them much which increases their efficiency as doctors. Some even go so far as to say that it is the best journal in the entire West.

Under its original name, the Denver Medical Times, this journal put Colorado on the map. Under its new name it has put the entire West in like posito you that it is a journal that should tion. Because of this, is it not apparent anticipate and is entitled to your support and that of every other man in the entire West? Can you afford to overlook a thing which is bringing you and your particular section of the country to the forefront, a thing which will give you value received, to the extent of 100 cents on the dollar? Or are you of that class who cannot see others succeed without jealousy of spirit.

If you want the West to have at least one live journal of the independent sort why not give it your support, both spiritual and substantial? Why not become one of its readers and thus encourage its publishers to add further improvements? The one dollar bill you invest in the Western Medical Times may be returned to you a hundred fold. Yes, possibly a thousand fold, for one little point published in that journal may be worth all that, perhaps more, to you. Some of its readers say that such things have happened to them. Not only will some such point add to your material wealth, but it may be the means toward saving the life of many of your patients.

If you are of Colorado the Western Medical Times deserves your support. If you are of any other part of the West it will likewise deserve your attention and support, if for no other reason that