tection against incompetence and charlatanism, in fact it is the only protection the public have (aside from their own discrimination): for the statutes requiring the "registration" of physicians and surgeons do not exclude the most grossly ignorant individuals from practising. This is a well-known fact, confirmed by every-day experience.

But, why do the New School physicians oppose medical legislation of every kind? They do so on principle, and that principle is so well enunciated by the eminent English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, LL. D., that I cannot do better than quote his own words:

"If, by saying that it is the duty of the State to protect the health of its subjects,' it is meant [and it is so meant by the Old School] that the State should interpose between 'quacks' and those who patronize them, or between the druggist and the mechanic who wants a remedy for his cold-if it is meant that, to guard people against empirical treatment, the State should forbid all unlicensed persons from prescribing-then the reply is, that to do so is directly to violate the moral law. Men's rights are infringed by these as much as by other trade interferences. The invalid is at liberty to buy medicine and advice from whomsoever he pleases, the unlicensed practitioner is at liberty to sell to whoever will buy. On no pretext whatever can a barrier be set up between them without the law of equal freedom being broken and least of all may the government, whose office it is to uphold that law, become a transgressor of it.

“Furthermore, health depends on the fulfillment of numerous conditions, and can be 'protected' only by securing that fulfillment. If, then, it is the duty of the State to protect its subjects' health, it is its duty to see that all the conditions of health are fulfilled. To do this, the Legislature must enact a National Dietary ; prescribe so many meals a day for each individual; fix the quantity and quality of food and drinks to be taken; determine the hours of sleep and exercise, etc., etc.; and to enforce those regulations it must supply a sufficiency of duly qualified officials empowered to direct every one's domestic arrangements. But if this is not meant—if a universal supervision of private conduct is not meant, then there comes the question, where, between this, and no supervision at all, lies the boundary up to which supervision is a duty? To which question no answer can be given." (See Social Statistics," page 407.)

Spencer is absolutely opposed to legislative regulation of medical practice. Ergo, according to the writer in the Record, he cannot be an "intelligent person," or else he cannot have “studied the subject," for we are assured that "all intelligent persons" who have studied the subject approve of medical legislation. Spencer devotes 28 pages of the above work to this topic. It may not be inappropriate to add that he is a graduate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

I think I have said enough to show that the New School can never recede one step from its position, which is founded on common sense, reason, logic and equal rights.

316 East 70th Street, New York.

R. V. O'NEILL, M.D.

THE ELECTRO-CHEMICAL BATH.

THE Electro-Chemical bath, formerly known as Vergne's bath, is one of the most potent agencies for toning the depressed nervous system, eliminating all kinds of mineral poisons from the tissues, relieving vomiting of pregnancy, overcoming the tendency to miscarry, and giving strength and tone to all the female functions. It gives quick relief to those of a bilious habit, stimulates digestion, and the elimination of the accumulated débris from the organs of the entire body, enlivens all the functions and restores healthful vigor of the reproductive organs of both sexes.

In anæmia and chlorosis it is a valuable adjuvant and enables the physician to save many a patient otherwise past cure. In dropsy, the result of valvular disease of the heart, in heart failure and brain anæmia, in albuminuria and diabetes, electricity has proved one of the best therapeutic agents known. In rheumatic diathesis it also has proved successful when other means fail.

In view of the great variety of uses to which the wonderful restorative effects of electricity can be applied, it may not be out of place, or objectionable, for me to briefly describe a very beautiful apparatus, just completed and attached to the bath-room of Mr. A. S. Bryant, Springfield, Mass, under my directions.

This unique and beautiful apparatus was manufactured by Mr. S. H. Bartlet, 205 E. 22d Street, N. Y., and consists of a battery of eighty Leclanché cells, set upon two shelves in the attic, so con

nected and wired as to combine two quart cells in one, making forty half gallon eliminating cells. These are connected by an insulated cable of forty-one covered wires to a very neatly finished switch-board arranged for forty-one points, ranging from 0 to 40 on a (vulcanite) black polished backing with nickeled points and switches to form connection and change the polarity of the currents. It has also primary and secondary faradic coils attached, for use when this form of electricity is desirable. The whole is inclosed in a beautiful cabinet to match the finish of the bathroom, and placed upon the wall at the head of the bath, and con

nected by cable as before spoken of, to each two elements of the eighty-cell battery, making a strong chemical galvanic current.

The cathode is attached by thumb-screws to the bath-tub while the anode is attached to the holder, upon which the hands of the person rest while in the bath.

This makes a beautiful attachment to the bath-room, and is a luxury very few, even of the wealthy, have enjoyed. It is one of the most pleasant, effective and restorative devices ever to be had with the home.

The principle of the bath is that of electrolysis and of elimina

tion, as well as the introduction of certain kinds of medicine into the system, when the digestive organs are too sensitive to receive and assimilate them.

An electro positive bath is when the negative pole of the battery is attached to the bath-tub, and the positive pole to the holderon which the hands of the immersed person rest.

An electro negative bath is when the positive pole of the battery is attached to the bath-tub and the negative to the holder, on which the hands of the bather rest.

The water is rendered a conductor and the medicine must be an electro positive or negative, as the case may be, according to the direction of the current of electricity. The pole changer is used to change the direction of the current without changing the wires as with all other cabinet batteries.

The electro motor force of this effective battery is so nicely graded and so easily manipulated that it can be used for those of all ages and conditions, from the youngest to the oldest, the feeblest to the strongest, with the greatest facility, and when used under the direction of one who understands electro therapeutics as at present taught and practised by the best and most advanced practitioners of the Eclectic school becomes a most powerful aid in relieving and curing many obstinate and otherwise incurable cases.

For example, Mrs. age seventy, came to me about three years ago with valvular disease of the heart, general anasarca, excessive albuminuria (diagnosed by her former physician as Bright's disease in its last stage), heart and brain failure and threatened general collapse, which must soon have resulted in death had not relief been obtained. In this condition I was asked to try and do something to prolong life. The heart was acting very feebly, and disease of the mitral and semilunar valves was very marked. The heart labored with its characteristic thud and marked regurgitation. The whole body was enormously swollen, the abdomen tense and hard, the limbs and feet about three times their normal size. The liver and kidneys were inactive, the urine contained about 25 per cent. of albumen, the skin of the back and chest was ecchimosed, and the limbs were of a pallid, glassy whiteness.

Medication was commenced to fulfil the indications required and relieve the urgent symptoms. Electric baths, eliminating and tonic, were commenced and given twice a week at first, but soon increased to thrice each week as the strength returned. Before

the first ten were taken, she could ride and walk about with an attendant, before the second ten were finished she could do her own shopping, and soon returned home able to superintend her own house and walk wherever she desired to go. She continued to improve until the bloating was entirely gone, and the albumen eliminated; and she has been and is now in ordinary good health. So efficacious did she find the baths that she had them arranged in her own home, and continues to use them twice a week except when enjoying her summer outing.

Miss -, age sixteen, was chloro-anæmic, with skin bloodless, white and pallid; urine clear and white, alkaline in reaction with scanty saccharine deposits, and frequent and abundant flow. She also had chlorotic convulsions frequently, sometimes every day, sometimes two in a day, and requiring a constant attendant.

She commenced taking tonic and sedative electric baths, two or three each week as was considered desirable. She improved rapidly, and continued to gain in health and strength till completely well and hearty. No other medicine, save a saline cathartic was administered, and she supports herself by her daily toil.

Miss -, age twenty two, suffered with keratitis of both eyes, opacity so nearly covering the pupils as to require the patient to be led about by an attendant. The most celebrated oculists declared she would never regain sight, but would become totally blind. An eliminating tonic and electric eye baths were arranged, the membranes were gradually absorbed, and perfect sight restored, which remains in good condition to the present time, she being for the most part employed in sewing upon black fabrics.

These cases from very many others are briefly related as typical, showing the remarkable restorative and eliminative features of these baths, which for many years were kept secret by "Vergne," and afforded him a good living until both himself and assistants passed away. The secret now belongs to the profession and is worthy of consideration.

No greater restorative for the tired, exhausted and worn-out nerve and brain force has as yet been devised.

50 West 55th St., New York.

A. B. WHITNEY, M.D.

-LEAD has been easily detected by Pouchet in the saliva of persons suffering from lead-poisoning, but no trace was discovered of arsenic in the case of patients under arsenical treatment.