Dropsy-Cause and Effect.

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without any recompense, to his suffering patient. As it so strangely was, several months after the above conversation, it happened the writer met a gentleman who had been a patient, and had received the particular infliction of the searing iron from the Doctor's own hand. What the Doctor's after - reflections were, the writer knoweth not, but will leave it to the imagination of the humane reader. "We have yet much to learn."

Dropsy.

One of the many fatal complaints flesh is heir to, is dropsy, and there is one fact connected with this disorder that has struck the writer very forcibly, and which he does not think himself singular in remarking. It is this:-That in all cases of dropsy, the skin of the patient has ceased to act; there is no perspiration, perceptible or imperceptible. He has looked into scores of cases that have passed under his notice, and never knew one case to the contrary. Does this not show that dropsy is only the effect, and that the stoppage of the pores is the cause? The inaction of the skin will be acknowledged by-and-by to be the cause of nine-tenths of the maladies of humanity. The safety-valve of life not acting properly, is the cause of nearly all the suffering we endure. Where can the exhausted material go to, when the pores are closed, the safety-valve fixed? It cannot get away, but must accumulate within the skin, averaging from three to four pounds per day, and in a week, from twenty to thirty pounds weight, and hourly and daily increasing. No wonder there is an overflow on the heart, bringing death to the patient.

Case P.-It was the practice, not long ago, to treat a

patient suffering from dropsy, which would be creeping up the legs, to burn a ring round the thighs with caustic, and the doctor, acting as foolishly as the flatterers of King Hardicanute, tried to make his patient believe he had the power to say to the rising flood, "Thus far shalt thou go and no further." Vain presumption! He would also liberally administer calomel, in repeated doses, till the poor suffering patient endured salivation, and the loss of all his teeth. How much better would such treatment leave the patient? Would he be freed from the dropsy? Nay! but rather much worse would he be from such horrible and unnatural treatment. To believe in the rule of thumb-work is absurd. Let us trust such a practice is not continued at the present day.

Although "we have yet much to learn," I would not listen to any argument, or take the opinion of any man, medical or otherwise, if those arguments or opinions were not based on the lines of natural law. Can any man defy the laws of nature, and succeed in defying those laws? Impossible. Those who object to this assertion may as well think it over, and accept it. They must act upon its principles without further wasting their time. Such laws are the only true laws of science, and the nearer we approach them, the more perfect shall we be in knowledge and happiness, and the more able also to assist our fellow-creatures the world all over.

Singeing the Hair, Unventilated Hats, &c.

It is very common practice for hairdressers to advertise, "Hair cut and singed;" and many of their customers accept this from a supposition that, as this offer is made by professionals who are supposed to understand the

Every Hair a Tube.

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human hair, and would not venture to act in any way, or prescribe anything injurious to health, the willing customer yields to the tempting offer, and sits very placidly while the singeing operation is proceeding, little dreaming of the mischief the operator is making, and its consequences-never perhaps reflecting that every hair is a tube which passes the exudant from the brain, and so keeping the brain cool, and in proper health. The singeing seals up every hair so singed, and at once stops all relief from the natural action of perspiration through the hair. Nature is thus turned out of her course by this performance, and as no derangement can occur without some inconvenience, a certain amount of mischief must follow-besides which, if constantly practised, the result of losing all the hair must be a necessity from this barbarous treatment.

To the use of the ordinary variety of hats worn, there cannot be a much worse producer of baldness than those which have no ventilation. No hat should be worn without having a hole, or holes, on the top, equal to threeeighths of an inch diameter. This will prevent the head from becoming bald, and will cause the hat to be worn with comfort. I should fancy that nine-tenths of the baldness existing, has been caused by wearing waterproof hats without ventilation. Waterproof clothing and indiarubber boots, or goloshes, though very useful occasionally, should not be constantly worn, as they check the safetyvalves of life.

Pure Air-Baths-Sulphur, etc.

As has been before observed, the pores of the skin breathe. Have you never, my friend, felt the oxygen of

the atmosphere coursing through your skin when you have been walking in the country, or over a mountaintop during the balmy morning of an early spring day? and have you not felt the invigorating power stirring through your system, and giving you new life and happiness? Has not your very soul seemed to breathe within you, and seemed to drink in the joyous surroundings? This shows how essential pure air is for life.

Persons troubled with asthma and short breathing, as a rule, are generally found not to perspire as they ought, and if the skin was got into proper action, the breathing of the patient would be greatly relieved. There are many persons often met with, who are complaining of some ailment, and who will tell you that they never perspire; this probably being the real cause of their illness, and their illness being the effect of the safetyvalves not being in proper condition. One of the causes of nearly all our complaints—if not the one great cause—is the skin's inactivity—the fixing of the safetyvalves. This cannot be too strongly impressed on the mind of every one.

The best method of getting the skin to act, is by taking a Turkish or vapour bath, and as an internal remedy, belladonna and aconite, as has been previously shown in case of fevers, etc. There is also a well-known excretive which acts well, as it penetrates through the whole system, and cleanses the pores of the skin wonderfully. It is the Flour of Sulphur, and should be taken in small quantities, and which any medical man would prescribe. This very old-fashioned medicine, which used to be given to children at spring and fall, half a century ago, and no doubt would also benefit children of a larger growth,

Consumption Found to be Curable!

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is what was known to every one, with the treacle added, as brimstone and treacle. The following fact will show the beneficial results flowing from such a medicine.

Dr. Koch's Wonderful Discovery.

A wonderful discovery has lately been made by a German physician with the aid of the microscope, extraordinary research, and untiring patience, which will establish his well-merited fame for centuries to come. The most fatal disease to which many thousands become victims, in this and all variable climates, removing the fairest and the best from our home circles, is known as "Phthisis," or consumption. It has been discovered by this great and good man, Dr. E. Koch, the medical officer of public health at Berlin, that this disease is caused by a living organism, known as "Baccilla," that feeds upon, and consumes the lungs of the poor patient! This celebrated doctor has given his opinion that sulphur, taken as a medicine, is a specific to remove and cure this formidable disease, by destroying the living organism. Here is the right principle exemplified, destroy the cause and the effect ceases. What a blessing is the scientific research of this great man to the suffering brotherhood of mankind-and to tens of thousands yet unborn, who no doubt will now be saved from what has been a great scourge to our race! All must honour him for the good he has done; and what feelings of satisfaction must he enjoy, in knowing that he has been so successful in his researches, and has given such a boon to his fellow-men, while at the same time elevating the profession to which he is such a distinguished ornament. What does the world owe to such