SECTION III.

DENTAL LITERATURE AND NOMENCLATURE.

EVER

Report on Dental Literature.

BY J. TAFT, CHAIRMAN.

VERY material art and every important branch of human occupation has its literature; and in the stage to which the world has now arrived none who desire to keep pace with the progress of the age can afford to ignore it. Letters have come to be an important agency in the development and growth of the arts, sciences, and industries everywhere. They serve to convey thought from one person to another, from one place to another, from one time to another, from one generation to another, from one age to another. Even the more simple mechanical industries have each their separate literature; thus manifesting the power of letters and the importance and value of their right use. The question before us now is, to what purpose has the profession which we here represent to-day used this instrumentality, more particularly during the past two years. Almost every year during the last decade there has been somewhat of a report upon this subject. Section III. will, however, only endeavor now to glean from the growth of the last two years. In attempting a report of this kind, it is not possible to make one that will meet the approval of all. It is not possible to write a book, or issue a periodical, or even prepare a monograph that will not receive criticism and objections. This is to be expected when there is such diversity of apprehension and capacity in the readers of our books, journals, etc. For the last two years there is much ground for encouragement. Observation leads to the conclusion that much of solid scientific work has been done, and permanent record made of it. Perhaps in no similar period during the last fifty years has there been so much accomplished in this direction. The Section is fully of the opinion that

our literature.fails to receive much that ought to be recorded. It is probably within the knowledge of every member of this body that facts principles; theories, and incidents of much value never see the light through the medium of a written or printed page. There are various reasons for this. Some-yes, many-excuse themselves for supposed or real want of ability to write; a few attach very ⚫ little importance to their own productions; others fear to run the gauntlet of criticism that is sometimes used with undue freedom and too often with unreasonable severity. How often is the statement made that the larger part of our literature is trash, and not entitled to any special consideration. Indeed, it has been said, "far better that all the books we have were destroyed, and that we should begin anew." Such criticism certainly is not calculated to increase the number of those who would add to our literature.

In calling attention to the work that has been done on behalf of our profession for the past two years, the attempt will not be made to occupy all the ground, nor to include all that has been done. The province of such a report as it is practicable to make here is not to select that which the Section thinks most valuable, or of any importance, and present that and that only for attention and consideration, thereby intimating that that which is not in the report is worthless. No committee that could be selected would be competent for such a task as this.

In regard to our periodicals, they continue, with some modification and changes, in much the same channel as heretofore. The leading ones have exercised more care both as to matter and the manner of presenting it. A question in reference to our journals that is worthy of some consideration is that of specializing their work. Hitherto they have each attempted to cover all the fields of our science, art, and education, and whatever in any way relates to the profession. Once it was quite sufficient to embrace every branch or particular in one volume, as for instance, Fitch's "Dental Surgery," and the earlier editions of Harris's "Principles and Practice of Dental Surgery." Now, the expansion and more thorough cultivation of each particular division gives rise to the demand for a volume for each, and so we have Dental Anatomy, Dental Pathology, Dental Materia Medica, Therapeutics, Operative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, etc., etc. Every one recognizes this as the natural and necessary outcome of the progress that has been made as time passed on. It is true, perhaps, that our periodicals could not, for a time at least, be specialized as our book literature has been. Still it is practicable

to do something in this direction. In the medical profession the periodical literature has, during the last ten years been more and more specialized; for example, there are surgical, pathological, ophthalmological, obstetrical, and therapeutical journals, etc. Two years ago the American Medical Association established a journal that should be its exponent and medium of communication. The Journal of the British Dental Association is a periodical devoted in the main to the interests of the association whose name it bears.

These facts show the trend of the minds of some, at least, on this subject, and there are indications that still further division of the subjects in the way of journalism will be brought forth in the near future. A question which may be properly considered here is, to what extent and in what way is the specializing of our periodical literature practicable or desirable? It may not be easy to promptly and fully answer this question. It would seem practicable to have one or even two journals in this country devoted to the interests of association work-dental societies; one or more to the subject of professional education, including college work; one to oral surgery, operative dentistry, oral deformities; one to prosthetic dentistry, including metallurgy and chemistry; one to dental pathology and therapeutics. Thus far it would seem entirely practicable, and probably a further division would be found desirable in the future. Some benefits and advantages would certainly accrue from such a division of subjects by our journals. It would bring together in one place the matter pertaining to any given subject; it would necessarily render the consideration of each department more thorough and extended than it is now found to be; it would separate the subjects and make each one to stand out prominently and so receive more attention; it would give an individuality to each periodical that it does not now possess; it would make each one take up such particular work as would be more valuable to the profession; it would remove all occasion for objectionable competition: indeed, each one would become an aid or support to every other. The better and more progressive part of the profession would feel it necessary to have a journal for each special or particular branch.

The future of our journalism is one of the important subjects for consideration by the profession. It cannot remain upon a level; it must make progress or it will go backward. The labor of making such a specialization as is here indicated must necessarily in a large measure devolve upon those of our profession engaged in the work, but an expression from the profession at large or its representatives can

not be without much influence upon those conducting our journals. Though most of the journals have made progress in the last two years, it has not been so marked as to call for any special notice here. We may, however, refer to the fact that about a year ago the Missouri Dental Journal ceased, and following it arose the Archives of Dentistry. This journal has for its leading editor Dr. C. W. Spalding, of St. Louis, assisted by a corps of able co-editors. It is one of the independent journals, of which there are but three in the country, according to their own claim.

In our textual literature there have been quite a number of new editions issued during '82 and '83. Prominent among these we may mention "A System of Oral Surgery," by Prof. James E. Garretson. This treatise has, from the beginning, been regarded as one of the standard works of our profession upon the subjects which it em braces. Its title gives an indication of its character. It treats mainly of the diseases, surgery, and treatment of the mouth, jaws, face, teeth, and parts about them. This, the third edition, is enlarged, several new chapters having been added on subjects not before included; seventy-five illustrations have been added, and the matter has been in some respects re-arranged, much of it re-written, and some parts condensed and simplified. So much has been done, however, as to make the present volume much larger than the one preceding it. This is a very valuable work to the profession, as it treats fully, and up to the present time, of many subjects that are imperfectly dealt with elsewhere. Indeed, its presentation of the surgical subjects within its scope is more practical and more thorough than that of any work upon general surgery, and on this account it is sought by and is very valuable to the general surgeon. This treatise, perhaps more than any other, forms a connecting link between the dental and medical professions, and has done, and is still doing, more to bring them together than any other work. Dr. Garretson's views, as is well known, differ in some particulars from those of many others in the profession; but in a report of this kind it is not practicable nor desirable to enter into a controversy upon points about which there is such a diversity of opinion. We will only here venture the suggestion that perhaps the work is rather overloaded with a presentation of cases: three or four cases are sometimes given for the illustration of a point which would be established quite as well with We would further suggest that if another edition is to contain the present matter with additions, it would be better to make two volumes instead of one as heretofore.

one.

The second edition of "A Manual of Dental Anatomy, Human and Comparative," by Chas. S. Tomes, M.A., F.R.S., made its appearance in 1882. With the first edition of this work the profession is well acquainted; the second contains all the excellences of the first, with a very considerable addition. The matter has been revised and corrected so far as it required it, and some new matter added. The chapter on dental tissues has been for the most part rewritten, and many new illustrations have been inserted. This book does not cover the ground, nor take the scope of that of Owen, but for the student and for him whose studies must necessarily be limited, this is the best work extant upon the comparative anatomy of the teeth, and it should receive the careful attention of every practitioner.

Early in this year a new work appeared from the pen of Professor F. J. S. Gorgas, of the Dental Department of the University of Maryland, entitled "A Manual of Dental Materia Medica and Therapeutics for Practitioners and Students." This is the first work upon this subject, of any considerable pretensions, issued in this country. It is one that has been long needed by the dental profession, as has been evinced by frequent inquiries for such a treatise, and numerous requests that it be prepared. While works on general materia medica are valuable to dental practitioners, they are not of the same service as a special work which presents and describes the agents and materials used in dental practice. Professor Gorgas has enjoyed a training as a student and a teacher that has eminently fitted him for this work. "While he claims the credit of the compilation, he does not claim originality in the sources of derivation, medical properties, and action of the various articles of dental materia medica which are given in the work. His intention has been, not alone to present his own ideas as to the particular application of remedies, but those of well-known and acknowledged authorities. as well, and in such a manner as may be of service to the dental student in acquiring a knowledge of this important branch of the profession; hence, nothing has been presented in this work that in the author's opinion is not applicable to dental practice, or that will not be of benefit to the dental student."

A volume on this subject, prepared by Mr. James Stocken, L.D.S., of England, has been before the profession for several years. It has passed through three editions and has served a valuable purpose, but it has often been suggested, recently, at least, that a work of still wider range was demanded, and to this Professor