A week passed and the child was referred to a physician for x-ray examination, with the result that an open safety pin was found lodged in the pyloric region. A second roentgenogram, a week later, showed the pin located in the same position, associated with a distended stomach and the beginning of some gastric distress, for the patient was now continually sleeping on the abdomen. Operation was now decided on and the safety pin removed. The bar of the safety catch had passed the pylorus into the duodenum, while the sharp end of the pin was embedded in the gastric mucous membrane of the pyloric region, thereby assuming the anatomic angle between the pyrolus and the first portion of the duodenum. The child recovered without incident. THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMON SALT Dr. J. S. Sutcliff ("Jour. Kansas Med. Soc.") reminds us that sodium chloride is one of the most necessary mineral ingredients of the human body; it maintains the normal osmotic states, aids in removing toxic materials, and promotes the functions of the individual cells. As the human body eliminates about sixteen grams (half an ounce) of this salt every twenty-four hours, the diet must contain enough to replace this loss. If the supply of salt becomes insufficient, all the functions are disturbed. Salt, given in the form of capsules, induces thirst, increases peristalsis and diuresis, and thus supports elimination and aids the vital processes. It is used for subcutaneous or rectal injections in many infections, septic, and febrile conditions where it is of more value than any other form of medication. POZZI'S SYNDROME When a woman presents Pozzi's syndrome, i.e., leucorrhea and backache without any enlargement of the uterus, there is but one condition to think of: Endometritis. What an enormous number of women present these symptoms-it is simply appalling! INSOMNIA Of sleeping-draughts, probably one of the least harmful, where effectual, is the old fashioned "nightcap" in the form of hot grog. The hot liquid draws blood to the abdomen from the brain, and the effect of the alcohol is to dull sensation, to dilate the little blood-vessels of the skin, and to stupefy, to some extent, the higher nerve-centers. It makes mental concentration on any subject more difficult, and mental concentration on one topic is a common source of insomnia. Concentration on one topic seems in some way to favor flow of blood to the head; and tho it may be doubted whether willpower can ever actually abolish thought, it is certainly sometimes possible to make or let the thoughts wander, and alcohol facilitates this.-Ronald Campbell Macfie: "The Art of Keeping Well." MISCELLANY MEMENTO! On parent knees, a naked newborn child, Dear Doctor Robinson:-I read your book "Sex Knowledge for Men and Boys" and in my opinion it is one of the most excellent books on the subject, and I think it could be of service to physicians as well as laymen.-Ellis Campus, M. D., Plainfield, N. J. THE PHYSICIAN When you are ill the physician will be to you a father; when you have recovered from your illness you will find him a friend; and when your health is fully re-established he will act as your protector.-Indian Proverb. I am a subscriber to "The Critic and Guide" and have been so since the very first number appeared and I consider it the most valuable journal published in the English language. E. Garcia Lascot, M. D., Arroyo, Porto Rico. I do not know when my subscription expires but am sending for four years that you may feel how I appreciate your journal. I do not mean by this that I agree with all that you publish, but delight in the boldness with which you take a stand and the manner in which you defend it. I am surely not in accord with your last issue (April) but I cannot afford to miss its valuable teachings. Fraternally yours, H. W. Gass, M. D., Sunbury, Pa. On the occasion of a visit to Abdera, in the northern part of Thrace, Hippocrates was requested to examine into the mental condition of the philosopher Democritus, who was thought by his narrow-minded countrymen to be insane. Hippocrates found him deeply engrossed in the study of natural philosophy and asked him what he was doing. Democritus replied that he was investigating the foolishness of men. Whereupon Hippocrates reported that he considered Democritus the wisest of men.-Pagel, "Geschichte der Medizin." CIVILIZATION IS ESSENTIALLY A SLAVERY Civilization is, when analyzed, found to be a system of slavery. It has its beginnings in struggle and conquest, which fill a land with a population of conquerors and conqueredmasters and slaves. Very quickly the system has the population in its grip. . . . A Londoner of today is not the slave of an individual master who feeds him according to his caprice, makes him wear a livery, including a metal collar bearing his name and address, extorts work from him with the lash, and has a pecuniary interest in his well-being; but he is every bit as much a slaves to the civilization that has grown up in England. If he decides one day that civilization weighs hard on him and that he will rebel and revert to nature, he is soon made to realize his real position. He may not throw away his clothes and wander out into the country to sleep on the ground under the sky, feeding on roots, berries, and such birds and animals as he can catch. If he gives as his reason for wanting to do so that he has not the wherewithal to pay for clothing, food and lodging, he is told to work and obtain it. If he refuses to do this, civilization deals with him by means of prison or asylum: a masterless man cannot be tolerated by a system of slavery. . The need of money is civilization's whip.-H. G. F. Spurrell. WISDOM FROM SHOPENHAUER Modesty. The paltry character of most men compels the few who have any merit or genius to behave as tho they did not know their own value, and consequently did not know other people's want of value; for it is only this condition that the mob acquiesces in tolerating merit. A virtue has been made out of this necessity, and is called modesty. It is a piece of hypocrisy, to be excused only because other people are so paltry that they must be treated with indulgence. Napoleon. Napoleon was not really worse than many, not to say most, men. He was possessed of the very ordinary egoism that seeks its welfare at the expense of others. What distinguished him was merely the greater power he had of satisfying his will, and greater intelligence, reason and courage; added to which, chance gave him a favorable scope for his operations. By means of all this he did for his egoism what thousand other men would like to do for theirs, but cannot. Every feeble lad who by little acts of villaining gains a small advantage for himself by putting others to some disadvantage, altho it may be equally small, is just as bad as Napoleon. Life. Life is the proofsheet in which the composer's errors are brought to light. Innocence. Innocence is in its very nature stupid. A golden age of innocence, a fool's paradise is a notion that is stupid and unmeaning, and for that very reason in no way worthy of any respect. The first murderer and criminal Cain, and together. Character and Conduct. Character is innate, and conduct merely its manifestation; the occasion for great misdeeds comes seldom; strong countermotives keep us back; our disposition is revealed to ourselves by our desires, thoughts, emotions, while it remains unknown to others. Stupid People. Stupid people are generally malicious, for the very same reason that the ugly and deformed are. Of all the medical journals that I take yours is the one that my wife reads from cover to cover. Long life to you is my sincere prayer.-P. W. Pearsall, M. D., Cedar Springs, Mich. Enclosed find renewal to "The Critic and Guide," a paper that is indispensable to me on current medical events. Wishing you the best of success and more power to you in scoring the backsliders, I am, Yours very truly, G. E. Kimber, M. D., Amanda, Ohio. I agree with "The Critic and Guide" in everything published in regard to birth-control, and certainly cannot see how anyone informed on this subject could do otherwise.-J. A. Burnett, M. D., Crum Creek, Okla. "The Critic and Guide" is O. K., and one of its own class. Nothing like it.-F. C. Grover, M. D., Ramstead Bldg., West Duluth, Minn. You are doing great work in a noble cause. Wishing you success, I am, Yours truly, R. F. Reeds, D. V. S., Hazel Dell, Ill. Dear Dr. Robinson:-Keep up your excellent work. Don't mind the knocks, for every knock's a boost and they never knock a dead one. Fraternally yours, H. P. Prowitt, M. D., Washington, Penn. As an humble admirer of Dr. Robinson's I wish to add a word of congratulation to him for the extreme excellence of his work in his recent publications. Trusting that the good work will go on, Alexander Bennett, Panama, Ill. INCORPORATING The Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette, Physicians Drug News & Office Practitioner WILLIAM J. ROBINSON, PH. G., M. D., EDITOR 1 Year, $2.00 Single Copy, 25c. The Editor of this Journal writes his own editorials. He says what he wants to say in the way he wants to say it without reference as to what Mrs. Grundy will say or think. The Editor is responsible for his own opinions only. He always tells the Truth or what he considers to be the Truth, but as he lays no claims to infallibility, he will be grateful to his readers if they will take the trouble to point out his errors. It is better to make a mistake in trying to tell the truth Than never to tell the truth for fear of making a mistake. Volume 23 NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER, 1920 No. 9 EDITORIALS AND EDITORIALETTES A PHYSICIAN IN NEED IS NEEDED INDEED No, you don't believe in medicine. You are sceptical about physicians. You have always been in good health and have never been in need of the services of a medical man. You are therefore apt to look at the medical profession with somewhat of contempt. "A useless profession that lives off the ignorance and the mistakes of mankind." But you are travelling abroad, you, your wife and your little child, your only little boy, three years old. You stop at a little mountain inn, miles and miles away from any town. Suddenly, in the night, your darling baby gets desperately ill; at least it seems to you that he is desperately ill. He is burning up with fever; he does not recognize you or his mother; he groans and talks in his delirium. You are getting frantic. You do not know what to do. In the conceit of your good health, you never paid attention to the hygiene of childhood or to books treating with what to do in an emergency. Soon the child begins to have convulsions. You lose your head. You think you will go crazy. The wife is as helpless as you are, tho she tries to remain cool. You go and wake the landlord, risking his displeasure, and in your broken German you ask him if a physician can be got; tho you are not rich, you say you will spare no expense. The landlord is sympathetic, but he tells you that it is entirely out of the question. There is no train to the city, and no horses can be gotten until morning. You are in despair, the deepest despair you have ever been, or hope ever to be, in your life. With tears in your eyes and agony in your soul you drag yourself back to your room. A guest at the same inn, awakened by the conversation between you and the landlord, gets up, dresses, knocks at the |