Gorgas has devoted himself for some years past. This treatise will doubtless in future editions receive changes, improvements, and additions. One seeking points for criticism may in this, as well as in every new work, find points upon which to dwell. No work perhaps has ever been written that is altogether above criticism. There may be important things omitted from this, but it occupies as wide a range, and covers the ground as fully, all things considered, as could be expected in a new work. It will be of great value to every dental practitioner, and especially to the dental student. Its points of excellence can be best understood by a thorough perusal. The points open to criticism need not be mentioned here, as there seem to be no radical errors with reference to which caution should be excited. The omission to mention and fully discuss some remedies of recent introduction but not yet fully established in use is a matter for which the work should not be hastily condemned. The volume is one certainly worthy of the attention of every practitioner who would keep up with the literature of his profession.

We have in this report only noticed three or four works issued during the last year that seemed to call for some noto. There are a number of others equally worthy of notice, perhaps, to which reference may be made in future reports, but of which time now forbids mention.

DISCUSSION.

Prof. MAYR: During the last few years, I have been receiving dental journals from probably all countries where any such are published; and I think some of the gentlemen present would be glad to hear what they are like.

I receive two journals published in France, and you would be amazed at the small amount of original French intellectual food that is offered to the French dentists. Nine-tenths of all the matter in those journals consists of translations from American journals. I don't think I have found one single original article of any value in the last two numbers of the French journals.

The big empire of Austria, with its 39,000,000 of inhabitants, has not one single dental journal. I have not been able to get hold of an Italian journal. I received one journal from Valencia, Spain, published" with the approbation of the Bishop." The journal consisted of eight pages and contained a report, approved by the bishop, about a meeting that had been held, and a clinic of little value, and

something very rudimentary concerning dentistry. That was all it contained. There are some journals published in Cuba, and the other day I received one that was a real live journal. It was as good as many American journals, and contained very readable articles. Concerning the German journals, I said two years ago that they were not very progressive. I was badly pitched into in Germany for that, although I think I was correct then. Since that time, it seems to me that they have immensely improved. They have quarterlies containing reports of societies; and they also contain a large number of original articles. They are very voluminous, but the price is within the reach of almost anyone. There are two English journals which I receive here. One of them reports the dinners eaten by the dentists of England. The other is quite interesting, and contains scientific food. I have also received a specimen copy of a Russian journal. The specimen copy was promising. I made it out with much consultation of the dictionary and hard labor. I found it to contain nothing of special interest, mostly legal squabbles.

Dr. TAFT: There are three journals in England.

Dr. FRIEDRICHS: I think the speaker slandered the French journals when he said they contained no original articles.

Prof. MAYR: Scarcely any!

SECTION IV.

OPERATIVE DENTISTRY.

SECTI

REPORT BY EDWIN T. DARBY, CHAIRMAN.

|ECTION IV., in making its annual report, has no papers to present for the consideration of the Association. The year just passed has not been celebrated for the advent of new theories, nor have we been startled by new discoveries. It is true that the inventive minds in the profession have developed some new devices or modes of practice, which may or may not be valuable additions to those already in use.

There are one or two at least which it may not be unprofitable for this Association to consider. First, the new methods of packing or consolidating gold in the cavities of teeth as recommended by by Herbst, of Germany. Perhaps many of you are familiar with his method. He professes to introduce and consolidate gold by means of revolving smooth instruments with far greater rapidity than can be done by other methods, and with less pain and inconvenience to the patient.

The following letter has been forwarded to me to be read in this connection:

"MY DEAR DR. REHWINKEL:

"NEW YORK, May 7, 1884.

"With this mail you will receive some filled teeth sent to me from Bremen by Dr. Herbst, who requested me to send them to you. I have exhibited them to all societies in this vicinity, else I should have sent them to you before this. Please show them before the American Dental Association at Saratoga, where you may split the teeth filled with gold and examine the walls of the same; but I would like to have them sent back to me in the fall, as I would like to examine the walls with the microscope. The external appearance of the fillings is first-class, and I believe this method for certain cases has a great future.

"I remain, as ever, very truly yours,

"C. F. W. BÖDECKER."

The electric or incandescent lamp and its uses in dental practice is another subject which the Association may find profit in considering.

The combination of gold with other and baser metals is not new in theory or practice, yet an expression of opinion as to its advantages, if any, may not be a waste of time.

Another theory, which has received a good deal of attention in one of our State societies may not be unprofitably considered here: the danger of excessive dryness and consequent contraction of dentine and enamel, where rubber-dam and hot-air syringe are used. The theory is that as soon as the tooth becomes wet again there is an expansion of the tissues.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. ATKINSON: I have an excerpt here from a letter received from our esteemed brother, C. F. W. Bödecker, in which he says, "I have seen Herbst, and from him learned a great deal of his method, which is really the most valuable invention that has ever been made in Europe or America, but the profession in this country are ignorant of the fact.

"I shall, when I return, bring with me a collection of teeth, about one hundred, filled by Herbst, which demonstrate the applicability of his method. At the next clinic of our district society I shall demonstrate his method in and out of the mouth. The most difficult cavities in this way are the easiest, and can be made absolutely perfect in a quarter of the time required by any of the other methods. Please announce the fact to the profession, so that we will have a full attendance at the next clinic.

"I have been with Herbst all the week, working like a beaver, and know what I am talking about; for what I have stated is no exaggeration, and when I see you and show you the principle you will approve it and adopt it."

Dr. ABBOTT: I would state that I have seen the teeth referred to, and they certainly have the appearance of being very perfectly and very nicely filled. The process, as I understand it, is to use an instrument that has a little bulb upon the end, for the introduction of the gold, of a size in accordance with the size of the cavity to be filled. The gold is introduced, and this instrument, being run with the engine and whirling rapidly, is pressed against the gold. The explanation is that it condenses the gold sufficiently, and makes

the filling in the way described. I saw one tooth broken apart, showing the cavity on one side and the filling on the other. The filling fitted the cavity very perfectly. Whether they were finished in that way in the mouth is a question that naturally arises. I understand Dr. Bödecker's statement to be that they were filled in the mouth just in that way. As to the advisability of filling teeth by this method, I would hardly even offer a suggestion. I should rather doubt the probability of my being able to do it. Still, one never knows what he can do until he tries. The instruments are very highly polished. I have for a great many years used an instrument, a burnisher that was made in the shape of a tomato, for the purpose of condensing the last pieces of gold upon the surfaces of the fillings. I use that almost constantly in large cavities. It condenses the gold more thoroughly than it can be done by hand or with the ordinary plugger.

Dr. R. FINLEY HUNT: I would like to ask whether this method of filling is intended for cohesive or non-cohesive gold.

Dr. ABBOTT: My impression is that the gold used was cohesive. I would not state positively, but that is my impression. I don't know what thickness it was, or anything about it.

Dr. DABOLL: Dr. Miller, when in Buffalo, stated that at Dr. Herbst's request he filled several teeth himself, in Herbst's office. The gold used is soft. Dr. Miller also stated that in Germany they prepare a gold that is as soft as anything we have, if not more so. Dr. FRIEDRICHS: You mean cohesive gold?

Dr. DABOLL: Not cohesive gold at all; non-cohesive gold. The contour cavities are filled by the aid of a matrix that is made of a thin substance and held in position by the use of shellac. He introduces the gold in large masses, and does that uniformly, if the cavity is large. He proceeds without retaining-points, or anything of that kind, and works rapidly,-so rapidly that Dr. Miller said he filled a large cavity in ten minutes. He said that, as nearly as he could judge in the short time that he had, and with the tests that he could give, he thought the cavity was filled quite as well as by any other method, and was entirely moisture-proof. He also said that he tested it with aniline, and thought there was very little leakage, if any. He said he was unable to observe any in several specimens which the doctor had given him. While he was not prepared to indorse the system, he said that it was certainly ahead of anything he had ever seen for the rapidity with which teeth could be filled.