ison,
both acute and chronic. Taken in the form of a beverage it tends
to the formation of a drug habit, quite as characteristic,
though not so effective, as ordinary narcotics. Permanent
disorders of the cardiac function, and of the cerebral
circulation, result from its continued use."

The _Druggists Circular_, for May, 1908, contained a query from
a druggist as to a good formula for a kola nut soda syrup. The
answer was in part as follows: "There are two kinds of
druggists. One kind puts any and every kind of stuff into stock,
and passes it out to his customers, young and old, ignorant or
learned, foolish or wise, his only desire being to get a profit.
The other kind of druggist refuses to stock some things at all.
Kola drinks owe their vogue to the caffeine which they contain.
Caffeine is a poison which is cumulative in its effects, and an
excess of which has not infrequently caused death. We believe
you would better be on record as discouraging rather than
encouraging the growth of the caffeine habit, especially among
young people, who constitute a large part of the soda-water
trade."

The _London Lancet_ of January 25, 1908, reports the results of
experiments made in Paris with kola given to horses to determine
its action in relieving fatigue. It apparently diminished
fatigue, but the horses receiving it lost more weight than those
to whom it was not given. The experimenter said this showed
that kola (caffeine) like alcohol, can give the tissues a lash
with a whip, but that such energy, artificially produced, is at
the expense of the organism. So, when people see the alluring
advertisements of caffeine drinks which "relieve fatigue," let
them beware of the relief which carries with it injury to the
body.

Of the most widely advertised of these caffeine drinks the
government report says: "The prevalence of the 'Coca Cola fiend'
is becoming a matter of great importance and concern." (See
volume on Social Betterment of Senate Document 644, page 268.)
M. M. A.

SPECIAL MEDICAL DIRECTIONS FOR WOMEN.

"In the treatment of diseases of women, alcohol has been
considered a very important remedy. Because it affords relief
from pain, many resort to its use during painful menstruation.
Each month either whisky, or some medicine containing a liberal
supply of