Iron In The Blood

Probably no fivct in medical or chemical scicnoe íb moro widtely onderstood than that there ia " iron ia the blood." As a fnot it is no more remarkable than that this fluid holds potassium or sodium, or that tho brain is perineated with phosphoroas. The popular curiosity and interest regarding iron as it exists in the circulation huve been exoited by tho vonders of quack remedies alleged to contuin ome combination of the element. While l there is much that is very absurd in the statements popularlypresonted, it is inipossible to ovorlook the impurtance to the ■well-being of tho individual of the few grains of iron found in the blood. If the quantity is rtiminished from any cause, thewholeecnoniy sufforsseriousderangoment. We have reason to believe that ■when tho normal quantity (about 100 grains) is reduced ten per cent., the system is sensibly affected, and the health suffers. How sensitivo to all tho chemical reaotions going on within and around us is this complex machine we cali tho body ' But iron, among the mineral constituents of the body, doos not stand alone ia its important relationship. The metáis ezist combined with other bodies, or they are locked up in the form of salts, which ore vital to the eoonomy. There are five pounds of phosphato of lime, ono of carbonato of lime, three ounces of fluorido of calcium, thrce and a half ounces of eommon salt, all of which havo important offices to till. Xot ono of thoui must be allowed to fall in quantity below tho normal standard. If tho lime fails, tho bones give wy ; if salt is withheld, tho blood suffers, and digestión ia impaired ; if phosphoroua is sparinply furnished, the rnind is weakened, and the tendoncy is