When food is filtered into the body after having become liquified and made alkaline, or, at least neutral, by saliva, the appetite is given a chance to measure the needs of the body and to discriminate against excess. As soon as the point of complete saturation of any one deficiency is reached, the appetite is cut off, as short as possible to imagine, with no indication of stomach fullness. It will welcome a little of proteid in beans, cheese, eggs, or in some other of its richer forms, and then turn to sugar or fat in some of their numerous forms. Thirst for water will assert itself for a moment, sometimes asking but for a drop and again for a full glass, and afterwards, when near the point of complete saturation, appetite will hesitate for a moment, as if searching around for some rare substance, and may find its final satisfaction in a single spoonful of a sweet or a sip of something in sight. The appetite satisfied by the infiltering process is a sweetly appeased appetite, calm, rested, contented, normal. There is no danger from the flooding of intemperance, for there is not even toleration of excess either of more food or of more drink, and this contented appetite will remain in the condition of contentment until another need has really been earned by evaporation or destructive katabolism. In the teaching of this physiology and psychology of alimentation to the children of England, lies the only true solution of the drink question, which is now the curse of the nation. Dr. Campbell has made such a splendid case for the mechanical side of mouth work, that it is the hope of the writer that he will give equally careful consideration to the chemical and psychological sides, and in a completeness of observation render inestimable service to his country, to science, and humanity. A decade of trial on the inmates of an infant orphan asylum will show the possibilities for the nation in a single generation, if broadly applied. It might lead to an effective intemperance, inhibition, or quarantine, and that is all any nation needs of advantage to make it independent of the world and truly great.—HORACE FLETCHER.] OBSERVATIONS ON MASTICATION BY HARRY CAMPBELL, M.D., F.R.C.P. (Lond.) _Physician to the Northwest London Hospital_ [London _Lancet_, July 11, 18, 25, and August 8, 1903] SECTION I. From _London Lancet_, July 11, 1903 THE EFFECTS OF MASTICATION