equally ignorant, with considerable show of superiority, a section of tooth, a fragment of pulp, or some other tissue, injected and double stained. Oh ! the wretchedness of such exhibitions, made and viewed in ignorance. Poor illumination, a wrongly chosen power, and specimens bought from the dealers, who make them by the hundreds to sell, with no attention whatever to preservation of structural detail-masses of indigo and carmine. Yet they are admired, and nature put to open shame on the floor of our societies, and not unfrequently in our lecture rooms.

How much further our own, and the knowledge of those around us, would be advanced if proper instruction had taught us that the American instruments, particularly those of Zentmayer, are superior to all others, and how to properly manipulate one; to make and prepare our own sections of tissue, that they may not be ruined in the mounting; and, finally, to be able to recognize a good specimen, showing tissue, from those which are but worthless mummies.

Many in the full tide of successful practice, and most of the recent graduates, often in thought feel the need of instruction in methods of meeting what may be termed dental emergencies.

Unless these omitted chapters are soon supplied by our colleges, increasing numbers may cause an exposure of not a few who have felt the want in fact and reality. Instructors press home upon the mind the necessity of using a small quantity of arsenious acid for pulp devitalization, and of so securing such applications that they may not escape and cause local or systemic trouble.

We believe that if a quantity of this drug were given to graduates or even practitioners, with the request to separate a portion which should prove the largest safe dose for internal administration, the result would make but sad work if relied

upon; and that not many would be prepared to meet promptly and treat every untoward indication which is possible to arise from misuse.

That which is referred to here is also true in large measure of many other drugs, which the dentist is empowered to use by his diploma, but left without a thorough grounding in the management of apparently fatal results.

The province of our paper, however, is to incicate generally, rather than to definitely name. But thoughtful reflec

tion on the part of those intrusted with college management will soon show them that it would be well if the course of instruction included some branches hithertofore omitted, and if many now taught were carried into more thorough detail.

Perhaps it is not out of place to suggest in this connection that the best interests of the profession in this direction and in many others, would be far more surely secured if members of the profession, especially alumni of an institution, were largely components of its Board of Trustees. For, not being interested personally in the financial success of the college, it is evident that they would be apt to so supervise the Faculty management that a higher standard in the examination of candidates for graduation would be soon established and maintained, and the course of instruction if necessary filled out and lengthened in point of time. Far more than this, the evils of a college dispensary as at present maintained would soon be abridged, and even though the profits of the professors lost the addition of the revenue from this source, the services of the institution would be confined strictly to those not able to pay the fee of a regular practitioner.

INDIANITE CEMENT.-Finely chopped India-rubber, 100 parts; resin, 15 parts; Dissolve the whole in shellac, 10 parts.

bisulphide of carbon to the consistency of a cement. Useful in joining wood, metals and glass.-Druggists' Circular.

THE DENTAL PRACTITIONER FOR MAY.

BY W. E. DRISCOLL.

"The College Experience of Silas Dean illustrates the important fact that we do not so much need a transcendental curriculum for the colleges as a thorough drilling in what the least pretentious of them claims to teach. Let the gentlemen who waste so much energy in an endeavor to increase the list of studies in the colleges, devote some of this wasted force in teaching what the colleges already claim to teach, and we will not have so many "graduates" who not only lack a medical education which they do not intend to practice, but are also lacking in a great measure an education in dentistry which they will practice.

“Dental Caries," by A. R. Gage, D. D. S., would probably have been modified somewhat had he read and appreciated the article of Prof. Geo. Watt in the Jan. 1883 No. of the Ohio State Journal of Dental Science, on the action of the acids in the buccul cavity in their nascent state. To ignore Dr. Watts' researches on this subject cannot be called a satisfactory discussion of the subject of dental caries. "Celluloid," by W. R. Hall, I am glad to see puts this article down where it belongs on the list of materials for bases for artificial teeth. It is surprising how long the dental profession has consented to be a party to such a delusion and sham as this whole celluloid business has been from first to last.

The other articles in the Practitioner for May, though interesting, call for no special comment, except the one on "Amalgam Fillings." As the use of amalgam can not be talked or written down, there can be no doubt that one can do more good in his day and generation in pointing out any improvement in its use which he may discover, than to add

anything for or against its use at present. Too much mercury is used in these fillings. This is due partly, no doubt, to a dread of crumbling should the smallest possible amount be used. The fact is that some of them do not crumble so much in packing with the least possible amount of mercury as they do with any more than such a small amouut. Hence some dentists condemn a good article of amalgam because they have never learned to work any with a small proportion of mercury. To such I will say, varnish the cavity with copal-aether, incline the patient so gravitation will assist in placing the material in the cavity in very small pieces at a time. Place a napkin or finger close to the cavity so as to catch falling pieces. After a little experience in these pieces. After a little experience in these directions I do not apprehend that many will return to the slovenly way of using amalgam soft, or even moderately so.

Where one desires to line the cervical

portion of the cavity with a thin layer of gutta-percha, to secure the valuable effect of this material in the place where it will do the most good, yet, to protect it from attrition by a harder material, then the use of amalgam packed solid upon it with the least practicable amount of mercury gives a better result than if used soft、 The retention of this combination filling while the amalgam is setting, can be aided in many of the above mentioned cavities. by packing cotton charged with copalaether varnish between the filling and an approximating tooth, whereas if the amalgam was soft such pressure would destroy its contour. In cases where the patient may not return for polishing the filling after it has fully hardened, any other way than using the amalgam as hard as it can be handled is hardly worth the time it takes to make such a filling. The result is too doubtful. An amalgam filling. packed while as hard as may be, will set with much less danger of leaking before. that process is accomplish t

"MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS." BY E. L. DESNEY, PEABODY, KANS.

While reading late reports of the proceedings of various "Dental Associations," I was struck with the conflicting statements, theories and methods as presented by the different members.

"

From their discussions one would be led to think that some of them could make an absolutely new tooth, enamel and all, out of an old one. They have only to speak the word," as it were, and it would stand fast." By some device unknown to others, at their behest, a living, sensitive nerve would quiet down, shrink away, and forever remain restful, painless and peaceful.

It would seem from their positive and rather haughty sayings that they never knew failure. They never made a misfit, never had to cut out a filling or refill a tooth, never broke a tooth, or left in a root when extracting teeth. What a blessed state ! What a bright elysium! Would that we could all attain to it.

Peruse those reports a little farther. A gentleman says, with great hauteur, that he devitalizes the pulp, takes out every vestige of the nerve, drills out the canal, treats with carbolic acid, eucalyptus oil and idioform, or something else, then fills the canal with a stick, common pink tryal-plate gutta percha, or any thing, but is careful to seal it up airtight, because it is the oxygen that irri

tates.

Another doctor takes the floor to say, in a more humble way, that in many cases you cannot, or do not, entirely extirpate the nerve. You" humbug" yourself when you think so. It is impossible and unnecessary. He then proceeds to descrbe his method, which is so entirely different from the preceding that the unexperienced, especially, are caused to to query which is right.

Again, onnaD. D. S. affirms that it

is very bad practice in filling approximal cavities, or cavities in the articulating surfaces of opposing teeth, to put amalgam in one and gold in the other, serious results supervene; a galvanic action takes place, causing discomfort and pain to the patient, and, finally, destruction of one or both teeth.

Now another arises to say that he has never had such experience in his practice, and, in fact, puts amalgam and gold together in the same tooth wherever he can.

Such instances of conflicting methods of practice might be numerously multiplied, but the above will suffice the purpose for which this article is written. What more do they prove than that "great men will differ?" If the mighty solons of our profession do not agree, what about the "lesser lights? How are novitiates to know what to do. Are they not driven to the alternative of experiment? I would think so, and that, too, at the risk of making for themselves good enviable reputations.

Experimenting is uncertain and often. | dangerous business, although experience is said to be the best of teachers; but what else can we do? Et experientia

docet stultos.

Having recently read a great deal on the different methods of mounting artificial crowns, I feel an inclination to report a case in my own practise. There was nothing new in my method, but the success attained is, I think, worthy of mention. The case is that of mounting a right superior lateral incisor in the "old way," with hickory pin, which for fifteen years did service and gave good satisfaction. I am led by it and by success in other operations, to the conclusion that in order to achieve success you must have first, a good basis on which to work; second, good materials; third, be careful and painstaking in all your manipulations; fourth, one method is as good as another if as successful.

ANOTHER OPINION ON CELLULOID.

BY DR. T. C. HOWE, NEBRASKA.

In

My experience in the use of celluloid does not exactly correspond with the statement of W. R. Hall in the May number of your journal, which is just received. I will admit that it requires far more mechanical skill to manipulate than rubber, but the beauty of the work, when artistically finished, more than compensates for the extra amount of care and labor required. As to durability I think it equals, if it does not excel, that of rubber. I have now used it for about 31⁄2 years. The first 2 years I experimented in various ways to obtain best results. my method of using now, good plaster casts are not forced out of place, only in exceptional cases of carelessness; nor do I meet with the trouble in repairing old plates that is such a terror to so many practitioners. I cannot induce any of my patients to accept of rubber work, even at reduced prices, after seeing my celluloid samples. I will give my method of working celluloid, in the hope that it may be of use to some that wish to use it, but are inclined to abandon it, discouraged by frequent failures. I use plain teeth universally; do not think gum teeth are adapted to celluloid work. After my cast is properly dressed up, I sift a little French chalk over it and rub it in thoroughly, blowing off that remaining loose. This prevents particles of base-plate adhering, also leaves the finished plate with smooth, clean surface. I wax up the teeth a little heavier than I require the plate, to be able to dress off all inequalities, thereby guaranteeing a finely polished surface that can readily be cleaned by the wearer. In investing my model in the lower half of flask, I fill up with plaster just flush with the lower edge of base-plate at labial portions, making good condyles; filling remainder of flask in the

usual manner. After separating flask and cleaning teeth of wax see that the teeth are firm in the plaster, as plain teeth are much more liable to drop out than gum teeth. If by inverting upper half of flask and shaking any of the teeth drop out, place a drop or two of sandarach in the depression and firmly press tooth to place, allowing varnish to set and all will be well. Before I took this precaution,. when I removed the plate from the flask I have sometimes found a single tooth imbedded in palatal portion of plate. When using metal air chamber, after filling, I rub French chalk over the surface to be exposed and fasten in place. Frequently I cut out a chamber in the impression and have one ready formed on the cast. If the base-plate is extra thick in any part of alveolar portions, I select celluloid blanks that fit the cast and of half sizes, as 32, 41⁄2, etc. If the palatine arch be high, have blank enough broader than cast to allow palatal part to be brought down to the model before actual pressure begins. I use dry heat, in the Ransom & Randolph old style Vulcanizer, which has a screw in the cover of the boiler for closing the flask. Into this cover I had a strong styrrup placed (made of Swedes. iron) which holds my flask suspended in the boiler and not coming in contact with any part of it, insuring me a perfectly even heat. I commence to slowly close my flask at 280°, but allow it to reach 340° before perfectly closing. By means of the styrrup in the cover it can be taken off and examined to see if the flask is perfectly closed; if not, it can be returned and closing perfected.

I never use water to cool Vulcanizer in celluloid work, giving it at least 12 hours to cool.

In repairing, prepare same as for rubber; fit a piece of celluloid as nearly as possible to dove-tailed part, being sure to have quite a little surplus. After flasking, cleaning thoroughly, etc., thoroughly wet

the part exposed with strong spirits of camphor, allowing a little time for it to be absorbed; now place your new material in position, saturate well with camphor again, and proceed as above.

In working by above method the dull brown that W. R. H. says obtains in plates in a year or two has not taken place as far as my observation has extended.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS.

BY QUERULOUS.

Young man, you are about to venture into an untried field. You feel that you are fairly qualified for the duties of your profession, and are ready to take a place at the head of the procession,—we mean profession. Be admonished, then, first of all, that your calling is one which requires of you a spirit of self-denial, severe application, patience and thoroughness. It should not be entered upon with sordid anticipations of piling up wealth and attaining in a few years, to a condition of folding one's hands and resting in luxurious ease. Possibly the Dean of your College suggested some such ideas as the above, on the day of your graduation. You may depend upon it that your worthy Dean knew what he was talking about when he gave you this advice. The graduates of law and medical schools are always dismissed with similar virtuous admonitions, which no doubt exert a powerful influence over them throughout life, in the way of restraining them from exacting exorbitant fees.

We will suppose that you have selected your field of practice in village, town, or city, as the case may be. If you hold an estimate of the dignity and importance of your calling that leads you to suppose that every individual in the community has long anxiously awaited your coming, thinking absorbingly about your mission and his own teeth, so much the better.

We picture you as a rather genteel young man, well dressed, affable, and perhaps -modest. The girls will like you, that we confidently predict,-and you will greatly enjoy driving, rowing and pic-nicing with them. You should not, however, despond if, during the first year or two, they seem to be coy about enjoying you professionally. They must be allowed time to find out how vastly superior you are to old Dr. Plasticus, who divides his time between dentistry and a poultry farm. By the way: you can better employ your tongue than by ridiculing old. Dr. P. Some of these old behind-thetimes are pretty shrewd, after all. May be that while you are secretly pitying Dr. P. and magnanimously wishing that an opportunity would offer you to communicate to him some of your invaluable knowledge about the latest improved methods, he is secretly wishing that he could summon moral courage to tell you that he long ago tried, and has almost forgotten several of the ideas which you introduce as the newest of the new. Possibly he has learned one lesson that you will be slow to learn: that the dentist is made for the people and not the people for the dentist. Possibly you may dis

cover that he catches more fish with his pin-kook than you can catch with your latest improved snap-hook. We knew a young graduate who located in a town, and set up in the business of ridiculing a rival, an old Dr. Hillstopping. After the lapse of several months, our young graduate announced through the columns of the county paper that he would be absent a week in attendance upon the meeting of the State Dental Association. To his great surprise he found that Dr. H. had preceeded him there, and his amazement was complete when Dr. H. arose in the convention and read a paper which seemed to greatly interest that body. He fnrther learned that Dr. H. had long been a member of the association; that he