DENTIFRICES-GOOD AND BAD. 355 



sin are eflFeetual. Give a half drachm of saccharated pepsin in a wineglass of 

 sherry wine, t. i. d., and let it be taken during meals. 



Cerebral congestion as a cause of headache may be divided into two 

 varieties, active and passive. These claim almost directly opposite plans of 

 treatment. In the active variety the patient should be kept in a darkened 

 room, perfectly quiet, cold and evaporating lotions applied to the head. A 

 saline cathartic may be given, and the following prescription : 



Sodiibromidi 5 iiss. 



Fid. ext. ergot ,5 iiss. 



Syr. zinzib , 5 ss. 



Aq. aurant. flor. q. s. ad. 5 iv. M, 



Sig. 5 ss. q. 2 h. 

 If the skin be hot and dry, and the pulse full and rapid, give Fleming's 

 tinct. aconit. rad. gtt. ii. q. 2 h, until the heart's action is sensibly dimin- 

 ished. Sometimes a hot mustard foot-bath will give relief. 



The passive congestive variety demands a different mode of treatment. 

 In many cases this variety is found associated with cardiac disease, and most 

 frequently where there is predominant dilation. Hypertrophy gives rise to 

 the active variety. Improve the condition of the blood by the use of iron 

 quinine, bitter tonics, alcoholic stimulants, good food, and stimulate the 

 heart's action by the use of the following : 



Tinct. digitalis - iij. 



Spts. amm. aromat ^ vj.. 



Spts. lavand. co ^ ijj. 



Syr. simp. q. s. ad = iij. m. 



Sig. 3 i. q. 4 h. 



DENTIFRICES— GOOD AND BAD. 

 BY A. HOMER TREGO, D. D. S. 



Dentifriee is derived from two words, dens, a tooth, and fricane to rub 

 Why rub ? Did nature intend teeth to be rubbed for some special purpose ? 

 No, It is because @f the disobedience of nature's laws in diet etc. that 

 people are compelled to adopt artificial means for keeping their teeth clean 

 Keep clean ? 'Ah ! there's the rub ! " 



Among the vast number of professional men of the past and present 

 there are but few who have arrived at a safe conclusion as regards tlie proper 

 ingredients for dentifrices, or appreciate the danger of the general use of 

 improper materials. The best authorities have found it highly important 

 to denounce nearly all of the ingredients that have been and are now so 

 universally prescribed and used. 



Nearly all physicians and many dentists recommend castile soap or 

 charcoal. All druggists use orris root, gum myrrh, orange peel, sugar, pre- 

 pared chalkj soap, etc., etc, as the body of dentifrices. If they will inves- 



