The following table gives the percentage of alcohol contained in a few patent medicines, previous to the popular exposé of the subject. (I do not vouch for the accuracy of this table at the present time, as the manufacturers under the pressure of public opinion may have changed their formulas): Peruna 28% Hostetter's Bitters 44% Lydia Pinkham's Compound 20% Hood's Sarsaparilla 18% Ayer's Sarsaparilla 26% Paine's Celery Compound 21% Within the past few years these facts have been made public, resulting in a heavy decline in the sale of these concoctions. The number of good temperance people who have been innocently under the influence of alcohol for a goodly portion of their days can only be vaguely estimated. CHLOROFORM, ETHER, AND CHLORAL [Sidenote: Uses of chloroform, ether and chloral] These drugs are chemically related to alcohol, and are typical anesthetics, which mean that they produce temporary relief from pain when the vapors are inhaled. They are chiefly used in surgical operations, which is justified providing the operation is justified. One death in three thousand occurs from the administration of chloroform, and one in thirteen thousand from the administration of ether. These products have been used to some extent in patent medicines, particularly in consumptive cures, where they have been given with the idea of relieving the cough. POISONOUS MINERAL SALTS AND ACIDS The mineral acids and salts of certain metals, especially of mercury, lead, and copper, are powerful poisons. Patent medicines are frequently labeled "Pure vegetable compounds." This statement may be true, but it is deceptive because they are equally as poisonous as the coal-tar products which have become so popular. They are life-destroying in their final effects upon the human body. MERCURY [Sidenote: Uses of mercury and mercurial salts] The metal mercury or quicksilver is used very extensively as a medicine, chiefly in compounds of mercurial salts. All salts of mercury are extremely poisonous. Calomel (mercuric chlorid) is a standard allopathic medicine. Mercuric bichlorid or corrosive sublimate is more destructive to protoplasm, and is used as a germicide or disinfectant. The poisonous action of mercurial salts is probably due to the combination of mercury with the protoplasm of the body-cells. When mercurial compounds are taken in poisonous doses, the antidote is the white of egg with which the mercury combines in the stomach, thus sparing the human protoplasm. The mercurial salts, when given in small doses, produce very remarkable physiological disturbances, sometimes even loosening of teeth. Because of their violent physiological action, these drugs are generally to be condemned. POTASSIUM IODID