species of bacteria, however, seems to have for its function in nature the destruction of pathogenic organisms and also the development of a pleasant acid flavor in milk.

The acidity developed by proper incubation of the lactic acid bacteria partially digests the casein of the milk by rendering it perfectly flocculent, from which state it is readily converted into peptones for body use.

The acidity also produces in most patients a laxative condition of the digestive tract. By thus overcoming the sluggish movement of waste matter in the intestines, auto intoxication is to a great exent prevented. In extreme cases where putrifying or toxigenic bacteria in the congested waste matter attack the lining of the intestine, the result of such a laxative, containing organisms which are destructive to the noxious germs, is obvious.

According to competent authorities there are from twentyfive billion to ten trillion bacteria, chiefly putrifactive saprophytes, avoided per day by the average person. Many of these forms naturally exist in the intestinal tract, but where certain classes of protein foods are congested there, protein putrefaction of the ptomaine type frequently occurs. Any agency which aids in the eradication of these germs either by correcting a constipated condition or by introducing bacteria which destroys them, or both, has therefore a doubly beneficial effect.

To thus obtain an appreciable medicinal value, milk should be standardized to the percentage of fat required by each individual, should be properly pasteurized, or practically sterile, then inoculated with a properly incubated pure culture, and incubated at temperatures which produce the most vigorous germs. Bacillus lactis bugaricus and the lactic acid diplococcus are gaining the greatest favor in this field. Even with the most scrupulous care in the propagation of the cultures a variation in flavor frequently occurs. A uniform flavor in the commercial product is therefore obtained only by a careful selection of the propoagated samples for inoculating the bulk of milk for the trade.

By proper pastuerization all undesirable bacteria are eliminated from the milk. This milk is then inoculated with a special pure lactic acid culture which, after being properly incubated, develops this species of lactic acid bacilli in almost countless numbers.

The drink is antiscorbutic and in union with the gastric juice of the stomach forms carbonic acid, which unites with the calcium, magnesium and potassium salts that are always present

in the food, and forms carbonates which purify the blood by preserving its alkalinity. While alkaline in reaction the blood throws off uric and other waste acids which would otherwise be absorbed. .

As a nutritive tonic it has, therefore, a great diuretic and diatetic value. The drink not only quenches thirst but also contains a considerable quantity of easily assimulated food.

It is therefore obvious that for convalescing cases, either post operative or febrile, anemia, acute or chronic nephritis, where the diet plays an important role, disarrangement of the stomach, or wasting diseases, such a drink properly made and standardized according to the requirements of the individual, is a most important diet.

The question is frequently asked, "What would you advise where too much lactic acid exists in the stomach?" There is no beverage or medicine which will cure all diseases. In many cases, however, where too much lactic acid abnormally exists in the stomach it is due to improper digestion, or a spliting up of the sarco-lactic and dextro-lactic acid of the sugars of thefood which sets up a fermentation. The ingestion of a pure culture of lactic acid bacilli in ripened milk, in most cases, tends to correct the disorder, even though the drink itself forms an additional quanity of lactic acid which is present in the stomach for a brief time only.

After having used this drink, trained athletes on it, and experimented on others with it for the past seven years, the writer is fully convinced of its value as a nutritive tonic.

Since this drink was introduced in Omaha, several of the leading physicians have prescribed its use for patients suffering from malnutrition, neuarasthenia, ptomaine poisoning, typhoid fever, intestinal disorder and dropsy. Most excellent results have been reported by the use of this nutrient in these cases.

Two miserable looking hoboes called on the dean of a medical college and proposed that he purchase their bodies for the dissecting room, as they were on the verge of starvation and had not long to live.

"It is an odd proposition," hesitated the dean.

"But it is occasionally done," suggested the spokesman eagerly.

"Well," said the dean, "we might arrange it. What price do you ask?"

"Over in New York," replied the spokesman, "they gave us forty dollars."-Lippincott's.

This department will be in charge of Dr. F. A. Long of Madison, Neb. it will include the consideration and discussion of any matter pertaining to the practice of medicine, not of a scientific nature, such as business methods, medical ethics, social and political relations of physicians, etc. communications for this department should be addressed to Dr. Long at Madison, Neb.

All

Practice of Medicine-a Definition.

A committee of the American Medical association has suggested the following: "A person practices medicine and surgery within the meaning of this act, who holds himself or herself out as being able to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe for any human disease, pain, injury, deformity, physical or abnormal mental condition and who shall either offer or undertake by any means or methods to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe for any human disease, pain, injury, deformity, abnormal mental or physical condition."

Cities Healthier Than Rural Communities?

In the so-called "good old days," which in point of time have perhaps passed us only a decade ago, so fast are we seemingly traveling in this rapid age, much comment was made on the salubriousness of country habitations. People were advised to leave the disease-reeking and germ-infested atmosphere of the cities, and find health in abundant measure amid rustic surroundings. But without going into that deadly dull routine of advancing statistics, with which we can prove anything, that places where many people do congregate are far more conducive to health and longevity than the bucolic regions once so extolled by poets and theoretical farmers. Cities have become far safer places of residence simply because of the presence of health departments, food and dwelling and school inspectors, etc. Sanitary laws are better understood in the centers of population. Prevention is taught everywhere, and when disease is contracted the many hospitals furnish a ready means of treatment, even though it is to the detriment of the average city physician's financial interests. These may be matters of such common knowledge as to be regarded as platitudes; and yet the disproportion of mortality rate of city and country must be continually reiterated to make rural health authorities, such as they are, sit up and take notice.-Lancet-Clinic.

The Doctor's Right to Dispense.

American Medicine treats this subject in a long editorial and in a very intelligent manner, extracts from which follow:

"The right to dispense his own remedies is one of the most fundamental of the physician's calling. Limit or modify this right in the slightest degree and his whole usefulness as a practitioner of medicine is entirely destroyed. The more one considers the amazing suggestion that medical men should be prevented by law from dispensing whatever their judgment dictates, the more indignant one becomes."

"The question of drug dispensing by the medical practitioner is one that can properly concern nobody but the individual physician and his patients. With the individual physician the question: (1) whether he will supply no medicines whatsoever; or (2) a part, such as tablets and the medication he wishes to give immediately, writing prescriptions to be filled by the pharmacist for the balance and more important part of the treatment; or (3) whether he will furnish everything and ignore the druggist entirely, can only be decided by each physician according to the exigencies of his practice, such as location, nearness to or distance from well-eqipped and trustworthy drug stores, the custom of the community, his personal needs, etc., or his inclination and belief.

"We doubt very much if the most rabid opponent of medical dispensing will deny its necessity for the physician in the small country town far away from even the poorest drug stores. Here the needs of the patient decide the matter and the physician would be delinquent if he did not dispense everything he makes a practice of using. Likewise in a community where all of the physicians dispense and always have, patients expect their doctor to furnish the medicines, and he is either obliged to do so or suffer the consequences.

"In the larger community where there are plenty of wellequipped and trustworthy drug stores, the question becomes one for each physician to decide solely on his inclination or belief. We insist, if a doctor wants to dispense his remedies exclusvely, it is his right. It may qualify his professional position, cheapen his services, and in some communities seriously jeopardize his standing, for he may be classed with the quack vendor of medicines. Under such conditions, the inclination of few physicians would lead them to dispense their own remedies exclusively. Indeed, it is always good judgment to adjust one's methods to the local requirements, even to the extent of writing a prescrip

tion for a single tablet, granule or pill, if to dispense the same tends to cheapen the service or lower the physician in the estimation of the patient.

"There is a factor in the situation that has grown in importance as pharmacy has extended and that is the difficulty of obtaining pure drugs or drugs of dependable and uniform strength. Many a physician, therefore, has been driven to dispensing by the discovery that his prescriptions were being substituted or compounded with inferior drugs by inferior, ignorant and unscrupulous clerks. In such cases, dispensing of a more or less complete line has been a matter not only of self-protection, but of real duty to one's patients; and while the extra work entailed has been distasteful and much of it actually humiliating, more than one physician has been exceedingly gratified to note how rapidly his knowledge of therapeutics has extended and how materially his armamentarium has increased.

"Fortunately, pharmacologic efficiency and drug store integrity have been extending and most pharmacists have recognized the advantages of making the most of an unswerving honesty. Today it is the exception to fail to find one or more thoroughly reliable and well-equipped drug stores in any town or city of one to three thousand inhabitants. It is usually a good policy for each and every physician to arrange with the local drug stores to carry the remedies he intends to prescribe regularly. Then with the tactful dispensing of such tablets, pills, granules and other drugs as he wishes to administer himself under his own immediate supervision and control, the average physician will be able to maintain his professional standing free from every criticism, he will be able to meet every need of his patient from his own and his druggist's equipment, his knowledge of drugs and their physiologic actions will increase, his prescription writing will wonderfully improve, and last, but by no means least, he will establish relations with his druggists, that cannot fail to prove of the most far reaching benefit.

"The clean, honest, capable pharmacist and the clean, progressive, upright physician have need of each other and the service that each can render to each other. Their interests. surely need never to conflict and working conscientiously they will never trespass on each other's legitimate field of activity. It will require no law to keep physicians from dispensing when they can feel sure of their druggists' co-operation, nor will it require a law to prevent druggists from counter-prescribing and dispensing when they know they are receiving the patronage of honorable physicians. The whole proposition of how to correct