N. MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 55 1 



normal condition of all animals in a state of perfect health, 

 and is wanting in those only that spend part of their lives in 

 a condition of suspended animation, and during that period, 

 as, for example, the hybernating animals. Indeed, the sugar 

 in the blood is in direct ratio to the phenomenon of nutrition, 

 and of development and organic renovation. It is consider- 

 able in the foetus ; it reappears as soon as the hybernating ani- 

 mals return to active life. Sugar appears in greatest quan- 

 tity after losses in the system, and in proportion to the de- 

 ficiency to be supplied. 



A normal condition of sugar in the blood corresponds to a 

 perfect equilibrium between the nutritive phenomena of as- 

 similation or of disassimilation. The moment this equilibri- 

 um is disturbed its restoration is aimed at, and the iiver acts 

 more decidedly and furnishes more sugar to the blood. This 

 condition in the system is a salutary tendency to repair the 

 injuries to nutrition, and it is exaggerated in proportion to 

 the perturbing action, and may vary considerably from time 

 to time. 



In diabetes the sugar in the blood (which involves sugar 

 in the urine) is not in reality the disease ; on the contrary, 

 it is only an effort of the system to repair damages, a physi- 

 ological phenomenon analogous to those of organic develop- 

 ment, whether vegetable or animal. The true etiological ele- 

 ment of diabetes, as a disease, is that condition, unexplained 

 at the moment, which brings about the primitive organic ex- 

 haustion ; and it is to this cause that attention should be di- 

 rected, rather than to the mere fact of the existence of sugar 

 in the blood or the urine. 1 B, /September 14, 1873, 463. 



RAPID CURE FOR CATARRH. 



According to Hamilton, the severest catarrhal cold can be 

 removed in about ten hours by a mixture of carbolic acid, 10 

 drops; tincture of iodine and chloroform, each 7.5 drops. A 

 few drops should be heated over a spirit-lamp, in a test-tube, 

 the mouth of which should be applied to the nostrils as soon 

 as volatilization is effected. The operation should be repeat- 

 ed in about two minutes, when, after sneezing a number of 

 times, the troublesome symptoms rapidly disappear. 18 C, 

 October 29, 1873,695. 



