battle of
life. Syphilis has come to be recognized as one of the most powerful
factors in the depopulation and degeneration of the race.

=INVOLUNTARY PASSAGE OF URINE--BED-WETTING IN
CHILDREN.=--(_Incontinence of Urine_).--This refers to an escape of
urine from the bladder uncontrolled by the will. It naturally occurs
in infants under thirty months, or thereabouts, and in the very old,
and in connection with various diseases. It may be due to disease of
the brain, as in idiocy or insanity, apoplexy, or unconscious states.
Injuries or disorders of the spinal cord, which controls the action of
the bladder (subject to the brain), also cause incontinence. Local
disorders of the urinary organs are more frequent causes of the
trouble, as inflammation of any part of the urinary tract, diabetes,
nephritis, stone in the bladder, tumors, and malformations. The
involuntary passage of urine may arise from irritability of
bladder--the most frequent cause--or from weakness of the muscles
which restrain the escape of urine, or from obstruction to flow of
urine from the bladder, with overflow when it becomes distended.

It is a very common disorder of children and young persons, and in
some cases no cause can be found; but in many instances it is due to
masturbation (p. 193), to a narrow foreskin and small aperture at the
exit of the urinary passage, to worms in the bowels or disease of the
lower end of the bowels, such as fissure or eczema, to digestive
disorders, to retaining the urine overlong, to fright, to dream
impressions (dreaming of the act of urination), and to great weakness
brought on by fevers or other diseases. In old men it is often due to
an enlargement of a gland at the neck of the bladder which prevents
the bladder from closing properly. A concentrated and irritating
urine, from excessive acidity or alkalinity, may induce incontinence.

Children may recover from it as they approach adult life, but they
should not be punished, as it is a disease and not a fault. Exception
should be made in case children wet their clothing during play,
through failure to take the time and trouble to pass water naturally.
It is more common among children at night, leading to wetting of the
bed, but may occur in the day, and often improves in the spring and
summer, only to return with the cold weather. Children who sleep very
soundly are more apt to be subject to this disorder.

=Treatment.=--In the case of a disorder depending up