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2. With restoration of contour so complete as to keep the margins of enamel free from contact with the tooth adjoining, extention of decay is prevented.

3. "Failure in operations is mainly due to the gold not being packed closely against the dentine and enamel at every part, allowing fluids to enter at such parts and further decay to take place. The failure of a filling, therefore, is mainly due to the incompatibility of the operator with his work.

4. "A cavity that can be satisfactorily filled with anything is worth filling with gold. The contour of any tooth can be restored with gold if the operator has the ability to properly apply the rubber-dam and perform the operation.

5. "Skillful operators first see that the parts are in healthy condition, and then so perform operations with gold as to prevent further decay, or they fill with oxychloride of zinc to avoid shock from changes of temperature and cover with gold.

6. "A filling-material may be the best that is known for the tooth and yet leak badly, because of defective manipulation; but to save the tooth that best material, gold, must be so inserted as to prevent leakage.

7. "Gutta-percha, properly used, is a good filling-material, but it serves a temporary purpose only, except where there is no friction from mastication, from the free use of brush and powder, or from floss-silk, when it may prevent decay for several years.

8. "A good gutta-percha filling, in its proper place is better than a poor gold one, and better than any other material inserted in a careless and imperfect manner.

9. "The excellence of amalgam, per se, consists only in enabling an operator to fill a cavity with it where he might other

wise resort to extraction. [Amalgam shrinks and fluids penetrate between it and the enamel, which becomes fractured little by little, oxidation takes place, and while slightly retarding decay, the oxide discolors tissue, especially the dentine in the teeth of young persons, and the filling presents an unsightly appearance.]

10. "The use of plastic filling-material does not tend to the exercise of that care and development of that skill which are necessary for the successful practice of that dentistry which has for its standard of excellence ability to make good gold fillings; an operator with such ability can not only perform operations with gold so as to save teeth, but he can insert any other material better than one who has not the ability to make gold fillings."

As examples of statements to which exceptions may be taken, we quote from the chapter on " Deciduous Teeth-Prevention of Irregularity and Decay:" "In most cases, however, they should be extracted when devitalization occurs, and particularly when abscess has appeared, for the reason that solution and absorption of the tissues of the roots of these teeth (as the permanent advance and press upon them) does not normally take place after the death of the death of the pulp, and absorption is necssary that mal-position of the permanent teeth may be prevented." Again, on page 60 in reference to the application of the rubber dam: "The rubber dam ought to be applied in every case, and it can be used in all cases so as to exclude moisture, provided the operator has the ability to apply it successfully." We will not deny that it can be done "provided" etc., but we think most practitioners are frequently meeting with cases where to apply it would be at the expense of so much inconvenience and suffering on the part of the patient, to say nothing of the fearful strain upon the "ability" of the "operator," that its use is, to say the lerst, unwarranted.

In the chapter on "Preparation of Filling Materials" we read: "The abuse not the use of cohesive gold has led to its condemnation, and they alone condemn it who have not prepared and manipulated it properly and successfully. Foil should always be prepared in the manner stated, and used in the form illnstrated, and all gold onght to be cohesive, particularly when a mallet is used, so that the particles or pieces may surely and permanently remain together."

Soft or non-cohesive foil, with which so much beautiful and satisfactory work is being done, has no standing in the volume under consideration. But, while many assertions and descriptions of methods are arbitrary, the reader shoeld not forget the words of the prefece that " they must necessarily be the methods practiced by the author.'

One chapter is devoted to a history, description, and directions for working the Electro Magnetic mallet, and when we remember the authors love for this particular instrument, we are not surprised to find it very full and complete.

A chapter each, is devoted to "Placing Crowns on Roots of Teeth," and Attaching Crowns to Teeth Where Roots are Missing in which accounts are given of some of the authors elaborate operations in that direction.

While the book contains little but what has already been published through the pages of the Dental Cosmos, yet as a whole, in book form, it is well worthy a place in the library of every dentist.

The neat and attractive appearance of the work reflects much credit upon the enterprising firm of Patterson & White, from whose press it comes.

MR. F. STOLBA proposes to substitute graphite for sand in the ordinary laboratory bath. Graphite does not scratch glass vessels and is much more easily heated.

IN THE June No. of Items of Interest, an individual who signs himself “Kansan" takes exceptions to an article by Dr. Faught, entitled "The Business Qualifications of Professional Men," (and which appeared in the March No. of The DenTAL PRACTITIONER,) in language so unbecoming a gentleman that we are surprised the editor should give it room anywhere except in his waste basket.

We do not hold ourself responsible for the opinions entertained by any contributor to THE DENTAL PRACTITIONER, conceding to all alike the privilege of expressing their opinions when clothed in language fit for publication. But we will not be guilty of soiling its pages with anything so devoid of decency as this man from Kansas writes, and, at present, we know of no journal except the Items of Interest that would.

BE TOLERANT.

In perusing dental literature as we find it in the journals of the period, one is astonished at the lack of respect often shown to one who expresses an honest opinion on any subject connected with dental practice. Instead of carefully weighing statements upon disputed points, and giving them careful consideration, they are, without argument and investigation, pronounced incorrect, according as the critics' former opinionor oftener, prejudice-leads. Especially if opinions are published that are at variance with long accustomed practice, do we find this intolerance manifested.

No sooner does an investigator publish the result of long and close study, than he is met with somebody's saying "It is not so ;" and his objector will not even take the trouble to state his reasons, satisfied to denominate all his of opponent's logic as "meaningless rhapsodies' "senseless declarations," and then pro

or

ceed to state his own side of the case, to be met with his own weapons when the first speaker gains the ear of the public.

Antagonism in science will often be the surest means of reaching the truth, but it must be an antagonism dignified with argument, that gives reasons for its statements, and allows due weight to the opposition, not an ignorant intolerance that decries everything and everybody if they oppose preconceived notions. The dental writer or critic should bear in mind that an intolerant person is generally either ignorant or ill-bred, and always give deference to statements that are the result of thought, labor, and experience. In each case where there is a difference of opinion in dental practice, it is very possible that seemingly incontrovertible reasons have lead the disputants to their different opinions, and so we are led to see that many circumstances in one case may give color to a statement, that are wanting when an attempt to prove that statement is made in other hands.

It is impossible, while every man's ability and cultivation is different from that of his neighbor-none identical-that opposite statements will not be made upon an infinite variety of subjects; and so we plead for tolerance, and believe that as a rule, the man whose ability and education ranks high, is the man who gives civil answer to those differing in opinion with him.—Editorial in Missouri Dental Journal.

TO REFINE SWEEPINGS OR DIRT CONTAINING GOLD AND SILVER.-Take 8 ounces of the dirt, which has been washed and burnt, add salt, 4 ounces; pearlash, 4 ounces; red tartar, 1 ounce ; saltpetre, 1⁄2 ounce. Mix thoroughly in a morter, melt in a crucible, and dissolve out the precious metals from the bottom.(Calvert).

TREATMENT OF FRACTURED JAW.

BY D. GENESE, D. D. S.

I

Having been greatly troubled in properly articulating a compound fracture of the inferior maxilla, I devised the following plan, which resulted in a success. therefore send you my modus operandi, hoping it may be of benefit to the members of the profession who meet with the same difficulty.

The most important consideration is a perfect model of the fracture; this is obtained by the following process:

Place the parts together and secure the joints of the fracture by ligatures if possible, then firmly close the jaws and secure in place by a broad bandage, covering the mental process to the angle of the jaw, fastening it firmly to the top of the head, make a bag of coarse linen three inches wide, soap the wrong side and fasten one end, fill two-thirds with plaster and take the impression of the entire lower maxilla; when this is dry and hard the bandage may be removed, the plaster impression held under the jaw firmly,and a perfect impression of the lower teeth and alveolar border taken at once, and in its natural position. I then dry my model, and take a die and counter in metal, making a tin cup the desired thickness and strength, forming a half round cushion or edge of wax on the tin plate that will be occupied on the finished plate by a rim of soft rubber, preventing abrasion of the tissues. This splint has the advantage of holding the parts firmly and accurately in their natural position, retaining the articulation. Also giving the patient a moderately free use of his upper teeth, the external plaster splint keeping the fractured parts firmly fixed in position with the internal one so that no motion can occur, even if the bandages are removed. To secure them the usual

skull cap with four buckles and straps is used. In forming the rubber splint any space necessary may be left for the escape of the discharge by building the model up with plaster. The whole should be vulcanized at a low temperature for three or four hours to insure perfect vulcanization; and avoiding absorption of the secretions while the soft rim must be formed in one piece to prevent its being pressed into the hard rubber part and weakening the plates.

By this means very little disfigurement takes place around the fracture, as the contour is firmly maintained until complete union takes place. The patient after a while is able to adjust it without danger of a displacement, and less time is occupied in effecting a cure.—American Journal of Dental Science.

HYGIENIC MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMPTION. In the report of the proceedings of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania we find the following:

Dr. J. M. Anders, of Philadelphia, spoke very highly of the usefulness of house-plants and flowers in the sick-room, and as having positive therapeutic value in consumption. His researches had established the following facts:

1. That plants exhale aqueous vapor with great rapidity, at a rate of one and a quarter ounce by weight per square foot of leaf surface for twelve diurnal hours. 2. Through this process of transpiration they have the power to increase the humidity of the atmosphere of an apartment to any degree desired, by simply regulating the amount of leaf surface.

3. That the vapor emitted by plants is charged with some organic matter in passing through the plant, which may have peculiar sanitary value.

4. Recent experiments by the writer render it highly probable that flowering plants have the power of generating and emitting ozone.

A number of cases tending to show the value of plants as preventive and remedial agents in phthisis, are referred to, and other suggestive facts were communicated which render it strongly probable that the atmosphere of a room may be decidedly changed for the better for consumptives by the cultivation of house plants with extensive leaf surface.

HE HAD THE GOUT.

Incidents of a highly ludicrous nature frequently occur in the examination of patients both by doctors and by students. A professor on one occasion was lecturing to his class on the means of diagnosing disease by the external appearance, face, and other details of the patient. Expressing his belief that a patient before the class afforded an example of the practice in question, the Professor said to the individual:

"Ah! you are troubled with gout ?" "No, sir," said the man ; "I've never had any such complaint."