4. Chlorides.-Chloride of sodium in the urine.—The quantity of common salt eliminated with the urine varies in different persons, and at different times of the day. Nigra made observations on eight individuals, and obtained the following results:-The quantity of chlorine eliminated in twenty-four hours, amounts, on an average, to 10 grammes 46, which corresponds to 17 grammes 5 of chloride of sodium. It

is in the afternoon that the elimination of chlorine is the highest, but it diminishes considerably at night, and increases again in the morning. Active exercise increases it; a slight disturbance of the health diminishes it. The proportion of chlorine augments when large quantities of water are drank, but diminishes very rapidly. In several diseases, the quantity of chloride of sodium contained in the urine is considerably diminished, especially in those abundant exudations made at the expense of the blood. In pneumonia, it descends to the minimum. When the urine is deprived of chloride of sodium, it ferments, and parasitic growths are formed in it.

From the above, it may be understood how very necessary common salt (chloride of sodium) is to the economy, not only for progressive, but especially for retrogressive nutrition, since it protects the body against fermentations.

NOTE.--In ancient times, the priests, in order to observe continency, took every evening a certain dose of hemlock, because that plant diminishes excitation of the spinal cord, and of the sexual organs. In our day, the Agnus castus has been extolled. I cannot affirm how far this plant is efficacious in promoting the above object.

NOTE.-Common salt, or chloride of sodium, has been considered at all times as proliferous. The Symposiac of Plutarch, in which this question is debated, can be read on the subject:-"Why, it was forbidden the Egyptian priests to take salt with their food." In the works of Bernard de Palissy, an analogous dissertation is found:-"How it is that female mice, in ships loaded with salt, become pregnant without the intervention of the males." Common salt has the effect of promoting the elaboration of the albuminous matters, and consequently of the sperm.* Woman, equally, is only apt to conceive in as far as her secretions present a certain degree of saltness. It is this which made Montaigne say: "La beauté de la femme ne doit être ni fade, ni morne, mais assaisonnée de grâce décevante."

*The fecundating fluid of the male.-H.A.A.

NOTE. It is known that quinine has a very marked excito motive action on the capillaries, and arrests transudation of blood. But it acts principally as a febrifuge, or lessens congestion. Non-traumatic hæmorrhages are, generally, periodic, like the menses. It is because the blood is invited in larger quantity to a point that it is arrested there, and transudes through the walls of the vessels, without ulceration or rent being necessary for that purpose. When hæmorrhage is suppletory, it only requires to be moderated if it is too excessive. Aconitine is especially useful in such cases. Blood-letting would be indicated if the pulse continued hard, and if the oppression increased.

NOTE.-The efficacy of veratrine in acute articular affections has been extolled, and not without reason; aconitine being conjoined with it, the nervous erethism and vascular orgasm are both calmed at the same time. Rarely is it necessary to push the dose beyond ten to twelve granules in the twelve hours. The sternal articular pains induced the oppression, because of the proximity of the heart and lungs; it was, therefore, necessary to add to the veratrine and aconitine, both digitaline and arseniate of strychnine.

Acute articular rheumatism, as Hufeland says, is an antagonist irrita tion, provoked by the suppression of the cutaneous perspiration; so that it has two characters: the one dynamic (irritation, destruction of the equilibrium of the forces); and the other material (principles of the perspiration retained). (Vide Gouty and Rheumatic Diatheses.)

Hydroferrocyanate of quinine is always necessary in these cases to prevent accessions.

NOTE.-Arseniate of quinine is a sedative of the great sympathetic. It is well known that irritations of the urinary passages determine a parox. ysmal fever, often mortal; in these cases, the ganglia of the nervous plexuses are found to be hyperæmic and softened. It is, therefore, important to prevent these paroxysms. In traumatic affections of the urinary passages, the administration of quinine (sulphate, hydroferrocyanate or arseniate) can never be dispensed with.

NOTE.-Puerperal peritonitis being an exhaustive or siderative affection, it is necessary at the commencement to administer hydroferrocyanate of quinine; then, when the reaction is conquered by the defervescent alkaloids (aconitine, veratrine and digitaline), the quinine must be again resorted to. The cleansing of the intestinal tube is necessary because of the greenish matters, which would soon begin to ferment.

NOTE.-Elongation of the limb in coxalgia is not always a sign of arthrocace, but rather of paralysis. Strychnine must, therefore, be administered, for the twitching of the muscles and nerves would increase the fever.

The application of Vienna caustic has the effect of preventing spontaneous luxation.

NOTE.-In pleurisy, the treatment cannot be sufficiently active, because of the rapid progress of the disease. Excessive blood-lettings and counterstimulants often only increase the general debility and cause effusion, on account of chloro-anæmia.