afford great and often permanent relief. I mean sarsaparilla. This root, having no very marked or peculiar sensible properties, has long been recognised as a valuable remedy. It is usually taken combined with other ingredients, added rather to produce a pleasant flavour than for any medicinal properties, under the name of "compound decoction." There are people who hold that sarsaparilla has no value as a remedy. They must either have had no experience, or have been imposed upon. I have prescribed it for numberless patients, and have, in my own person, proved it to be worthy of its reputation. The following passage, abridged from "Household Medicine," indicates, not only the sources of fallacy in those who do not recognise its value, but also the scope and conditions of its influence. The authorities in its favour are too numerous to be named; but I may mention the late Sir B. Brodie as an author whose views exactly coincide with my own upon this point.

"One great advantage of sarsaparilla is that its use can be entrusted to the patient, needing no watching or superintendence. It holds, in fact, an

intermediate position between food and medicine. Whenever doubts have arisen respecting its value, they are attributable to one of three causes:— 1. Sarsaparilla has been improperly prescribed; or, 2. What is more usual, some worthless root or substance has been given as a substitute for it; or, 3. The sarsaparilla used was bad and inert. The English markets and shops abound in spurious and worthless sarsaparilla; and preparations are sold professing to be made with it which do not contain a grain of the true root. One reason of this is, the genuine and active root is expensive. Sarsaparilla is, to use the words of Sir W. Fordyce, the great restorer of appetite, flesh, colour, strength, and vigour, to constitutions enfeebled or emaciated by early excesses, by acute diseases, or by the use of mercury. Even in the failure of the powers, or premature ageing, arising from wear and tear or over bodily or mental exertion, its restorative power is very great. In many painful diseases, and what are termed bad habits of body, it generally affords complete relief. General as its use has become, it deserves to be far oftener employed, particularly at the age (uncertain as

to date) when youthful activity begins to flag, and the faculties of body or mind are enfeebled, even without the existence of any specific disease to call for it, but as an adjunct to the diet proper to that period of life. Persons who have resided in hot climates, whether they have had recourse to mercury or not, will find sarsaparilla the best means of relieving the lassitude and ennui from which they are apt to suffer.

"When taking a course of sarsaparilla, persons should wear flannel next the skin, and avoid exposure to change of temperature or damp. We recommend, whenever possible, sarsaparilla should be taken in the form of compound decoction, prepared at home. The best Jamaica sarsaparilla only should be purchased; and the smaller and more abounding in small fibres the better. The virtue resides in the bark of the root. When the fibres are removed, half the value of the root is gone. Still, it is necessary to be cautious in the purchase, as it is certain that the roots, after having the greater part of their extractive matter removed by soaking in water and boiling, are dried and sold to be retailed to the public. When

the decoction cannot be made at home, or when required in travelling, the compound decoction concentrated, and especially a hydro-alcoholic concentrated decoction, prepared by a conscientious chemist, may be substituted."

Besides sarsaparilla we have many substances called medicines, which should rather be deemed articles of, or adjuncts to, diet, with no mean powers as restoratives and tonics, and which are capable of materially retarding the changes incident to ageing. These must be selected, combined, and their use directed according to the condition of the individual for whom they are prescribed.

Iron, in some of its combinations, as we have said, enters into and performs very important functions in the natural processes and compounds forming the blood and tissues. Other substances alien to the system, that is not supplying any element in the natural composition of the body, undoubtedly exert a highly genial influence in the debility and disorders of age. An exposition of this subject, however, belongs to a work on the Science of Medicine.

GOUT.

The place for remarks on this disease is assuredly here, under the more general designation pain. A very painful disease it is in its overt state, and few persons suffering from it will fail to have recourse to the Physician. We happily possess medicines able to afford relief. Colchicum in one form or other is almost invariably employed, whether it be in a secret compound, as eau médicinal, eau de Husson, or in the orthodox prescription. Gout, as it exists in an open and acute attack, however, it is not my purpose to speak of beyond a single remark, namely, that as an adjunct to the specific drug, evacuating the bile ducts by a dose of podophyllin is a most beneficial measure.

The reports of the Registrar-General have reversed many a popular maxim, and destroyed illusions respecting diseases. In the last report issued for 1873, gout is found to destroy more lives directly than strong drinks,-the number of deaths from gout exceeding those from delirium tremens ; and, indirectly, as the Registrar observes, many deaths referred to other causes are doubtless due to gout.