quently unhappy man. If we will but cultivate reason and " weed out" impulse, we will become better, healthier and happier individuals; we will soon come to learn the all-pervading application and beneficence of hygiene, and we will be cheerfully ready to admit and enthusiastically to proclaim that the only really, practically valuable knowledge in this world is a knowledge of hygiene.

Pure Air was Needed.

It not infrequently happens that physicians base their advice to patients, at least in part, upon the latter's financial condition. A case in point: A friend tells me that his daughter consulted a physician, and the latter, having satisfied himself as to the trouble, suggested a trip to the Yosemite. But my father cannot afford that," said the young lady. "In that case," the doctor replied, "ask him to buy you a pony and a village cart, and take a long drive every day." "I am afraid," said his patient, "that papa could not afford that, either." The doctor was equal to the occasion. "Then take a good, long ride in an open horse-car every day," he said; "it will do you just as much good." My friend's daughter is now engaged in exploring the suburbs by open street cars, and is improving rapidly under this "treatment," which costs just ten cents daily.

The United States and its Doctors.

There is certainly no more curious social phenomenon than that of the extraordinary popularity of the medical calling in this country as a means of securing a livelihood.

The subject is one that is often dwelt upon, but we doubt if many even yet realize the grotesque misproportion which medicine in the United States holds to other bread-winning occupations. Here are some of the naked facts in the matter:

France has 38,000,000 of population, 11,995 doctors, while it graduates 624 medical students in one year.

Germany has 45,000,000 of population, about 30,000 doctors, and graduates 935 students in one year.

The United States has about 60,000,000 of population, nearly 100,000 doctors, 13,091 medical students, and graduates 3,740 students in one year.

Germany, which has relatively less than half as many doctors as America, is already groaning over its surplus. When one compares France with this country, the excess of medical men here seems most astonishing. A comparison of the United States with European countries, in whatever way it is made, leads one to think that there is something almost morbid in our medical fecundity.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Removal of Freckles.

Freckles are said to be easily removed by a lotion of equal parts of lactic acid and glycerine.

A Curious Delusion.

A Birmingham man, while under the influence of drink, knocked off his great toe with a hammer, imagining that he was cutting his throat with a carving-knife.

The Hygiene of Infancy.

The Paris Academy of Medicine has voted to offer a prize of 1000 francs for the best essay on the hygiene of infancy. It is open to all comers, and will be awarded in March, 1891.

Don't Kiss the Baby.

It would not be amiss if every mother would attach to her baby a placard with the above words in bold relief. The skin and mucous membranes of infants are exceedingly delicate and susceptible to poisons and diseases which make little or no impression upon adults.

For Chapped Hands.

The following preparation is said to be excellent for chapped hands, lips, Dissolve one part of boric acid in twenty-four parts of glycerin; add to this solution five parts of lanolin, free from water, and seventy parts of vaseline. The preparation may be colored and perfumed.

Earache.

Take five parts of camphorated chloral, thirty parts of glycerine and ten of sweet almonds. A piece of cotton is saturated and introduced well into the ear, and it is also rubbed behind the ear. The pain is relieved as if by magic, and if there is inflammation, it often subsides quickly.

Baldness and Dandruff.

A solution of chloral hydrate, five grains to the ounce of water, will clear the hair of dandruff and prevent its falling out from that cause. In many instances where the patient is nearly bald, the application of the above-mentioned solution will restore the hair.

Arnica oil is also an admirable remedy to promote the growth of hair. A small quantity well rubbed into the scalp three or four times a week can be tried with expectations of benefit.

An Unprofitable Field for the Patent Medicine Manufacturer, There is a law in Bulgaria to the effect that if a patent medicine, which is advertised to cure a certain malady, fails to do so, the vendor of the remedy is liable for damages, and may also be sent to prison for a limited period of time. as a punishment for publishing an untruth to the injury of the public.

Cooking Eggs.

How many women know how to prepare a perfectly fresh egg so that an afflicted stomach can eat it? Pour boiling water over the egg (in its shell), let it stand on the tank in the water for five minutes. The egg will be nearly as smooth as custard, and is almost as easily digested as a raw one, while its flavor is something delicious.

The Wisdom of Nature.

It may be received as a rule, that the habits and customs of a country are those which are best suited to it. Dr. Seymour has concluded that the houses of the Japanese, built of wood, are better suited to their country than the brick and stone structures erected there by Europeans. The wooden houses dry quickly. Infant mortality is very small among the Japanese.

She Took no Stock in it.

Omaha Pater-familias-" It is remarkable what a large number of doctors claim that diseases are transferred by kissing, and

Miss Ethel "What kind of doctors, pa?"

O. P.-" Why, the allopathic doctors."

M. E.—“ But, pa, you know we're homoeopaths."-Omaha World.

Street Conveniences.

The French show their good sense in providing ample conveniences for individuals in their cities. The Department of Public Comfort is equipped in a way that might be well imitated here. The establishment of urinals along our streets would not only conduce to the sanitary improvement of the city, but would be as potent a temperance promoter as the high license law.

Religious Dogs.

The famous St. Bernard dogs are very carefully trained. A traveler, who visited some of the monasteries of the monks of St. Bernard a few years ago, found the monks teaching their dogs from the earliest stages of puppyhood. Not only is physical and mental training included in the teaching, but spiritual culture is by no means neglected. At meal-time the dogs sit in a row, each with a tin dish before him containing his repast. Grace is said by one of the monks; the dogs sit motionless with bowed head. Not one stirs until the "Amen" is spoken. If a frisky puppy partakes of his meal before grace is over, an older dog growls and tugs his ear.

To Get Rid of Flies.

People in the country who are annoyed by flies should remember that clusters of the fragrant clover which grows abundantly by nearly every roadside, if hung in the room and left to dry and shed its faint fragrant perfume through the air, will drive away more flies than sticky saucers of molasses and other fly traps and fly-papers can ever collect.-New York Tribune.

Hygiene in Germany.

During the past few years the subject of hygiene has received marked attention from the German government. In nearly all the leading universities there are now hygienic institutes, thoroughly equipped in every way. Recently the new Hygienic Institute in the University of Halle was opened. The institute has a lecture-room and also special chemical, physical and bacteriological laboratories.

Practical Teaching of Hygiene.

Hygiene is taught in Paris by Professor Proust, and the manner in which he conducts his courses is certainly commendable. Besides his didactic teachings and practical demonstrations, he invites the students to Saturday afternoon excursions to visit some caserne, factory or similar establishment, and there commends the good points or calls attention to the defects of the building and its hygienic management.

The Plumber and His Patrons.

It is all well enough to talk of educating the plumber, but an equally important matter is the educating of the public up to a proper understanding and appreciation of good plumbing. The great majority of our plumbers-all real, genuine plumbers are educated, but the ignorant public keep on employing men who know nothing about plumbing to save a few dollars at the expense of health.-Sanitary News.

A Peculiarity of the Figure 9.

Did you ever notice the peculiarity of the figure 9? When an error has arisen from any transposition of figures the difference between such transposed numbers is universally a multiple of the numeral 9. For an instance: Suppose an error occurs in bringing out a trial balance or cash settlement, or that the sum short can be divided by 9 without any remainder. If it has occurred in this way there is a strong probability that the mistake has been made by transposing figures; at any rate, if such mistake takes place by reason of transposition, the sum in question will always divide by 9 without remainder. To illustrate this: If 97 has been put down as 79 the error will be 18, or twice 9, exactly. If 322 be set down as 223 the error will be 99, or 11 multiplied by 9, and so on between any transposed numbers. Try it and prove it. -St. Louis Republic.

Scented Cake Suspicious.

A practical baker says: If a cake is scented with something pleasing to the smell, you can make up your mind that the cake was thus scented to kill the odor of bad materials. I have seen as many as six bad eggs put into a large cake: The scent used killed the smell. Tainted meat is also used by some conscienceless bakers in mince pies, where the high spicing and liquoring disguises the putridity.

Lung Expansion.

We have seen men and women increase their lung power by five minutes' exercise morning and night. Stand up straight on the balls of the feet, head thrown back, and inhale deeply, first inflating the lower part of the lungs, and then the upper. Then expire slowly, letting the chest sink first and then the lungs. Do this fifteen times, morning and evening, and our word for it, you'll spend less money on colds and catarrh.

Chicken Lunch.

Dark meat of cold roast chicken is the coolest lunch on a hot day, says a New York epicure, and gravely adds a word of commendation for the drum-sticks, in order to quote the comment of an irate restaurant cook who had just received an order for three chicken legs: "I can't help that," snapped the cook, "I can't cut more than two legs off one chicken. Ask them do they want the earth? Do they think fowls are centipedes?"

Look to Details.

Health, like success in life, is to be gained by paying attention to details. It is better to try to keep from catching cold than to be always trying to avoid infection. More can be done to check cholera by keeping houses clean than by using tons of disinfectants. Nature gives health. It is a man's perversity in departing from nature's teaching that leads to disease. Nature intended all to have fresh air, sufficient plain food, uncontaminated water and exercise. us accept nature's bequest, if we prefer health to disease.

Perspiring Feet.

Let

A "Surgeon" who had used alum, belladonna, bismuth and boracic acid for the above, with little good result, wrote to the British Medical Journal, and received the following replies: 1. Wear low shoes, wool socks, and dust the feet over twice a day with iodol; they will soon be as hard, sweet and comfortable as one could wish. 2. Wash the feet at night with very hot water, put on white cotton socks, and immerse the feet, thus covered, in methylated spirit poured into a basin. Wear the socks all night; they will soon dry in bed. During the evening wear cotton socks and common felt slippers, and keep the socks constantly saturated with spirit. In a week the cure will be complete.