many characteristics of both scholar and gentleman, he was so unfortunate as to be too fond of the brewings of the jolly god Bacchus; was often absent, and frequently, when present, was not in condition to instruct a class of students. I think I can truthfully say, I did not hear a lecture on materia medica during my dental course, or at least not from that chair, and what I learned of this branch of study was mainly from individual labor. My professor of anatomy was also my professor of physiology, and while he labored faithfully and earnestly to do his duty, a most unprejudiced observer will see that the field is far too vast for one man to accomplish a satisfactory result in either branch. Look with me at these branches as taught in our University. Each one is in the hands of a competent professor, a man standing deservedly high in his special chair and each dental student has the same opportunities as the students in general medicine, and not only has he the same opportunities, but he is obliged at the end of his course of study to be as proficient. I speak of these things to show you what a grand advance has been made and to ask you if such a change has taken place in seven years, what may be, nay what are, not only the possibilities, but the probabilities, for the succeeding fifty years? I have shown that the fundamental branches of medicine are taught to medical and dental students alike, and I contend that the day will come when the theory of the principles and practice of dental surgery will be added to the curriculum of the medical student, just as soon as the other branches of general medicine are added to that of the student of dental surgery. I shall be very glad if Dr. Kingsley or any other gentleman will simply answer the question as contained in the title of this paper. To me it appears unanswerable and I cannot understand how the proposition, as expressed, can fail to be subscribed to by all reasonable and sensible men. His paper reads to me like the production of an individual who had been, for some reason or other, snubbed and trodden upon by some weak, bigoted, narrow minded man or men,

owning the title of M. D., and I am sorry to say there are many such, and instead of laughing to scorn such silly and puerile attempts at the assumption of greatness, he allows the attack to sink deep into his heart, and as a supposed revenge, vents his spleen upon the whole profession, by seeking to belittle it in the exaltation of his pet," the dental profession" using shall I call them arguments, to prove that the study and practice of a grand department of the great healing art is a separate and distinct profession; merely by reason of certain fortuitous circumstances, in a more bigoted and less enlightened age, those who had the power and privilege of admitting us to their councils, declined so to do, and forced us to establish schools of our own. I also am proud of my chosen department of practice, proud in the thought of its present exalted position, proud of the good I have accomplished in a modest and quiet way, in the treatment of my fellow beings in distress, and most happy when I look forward and think of the possibility of my accomplishing greater things in the time to come, but I say frankly I was not satisfied with having acquired simply a degree in dental surgery, highly honored as it is, although I labored faithfully and conscientiously during my college course so that in the end I might feel as though I had earned it, and I am sure I derived all the benefit it is possible for a student to derive from such a course of study. I say I was not satisfied, so I immediately began to think of obtaining my degree in medicine, which in due course of time I did obtain from our old and honored University; and in so doing realized all my past ideas of what a true dental specialist should be. There is naturally a division at this time, upon the subject under consideration, and all those interested may be placed in one or the other of the following classes; first, those firmly believing dentistry to be a true department of medicine, viz: graduated doctors in medicine, with perhaps here and there an exception; and second, those equally firmly holding opposite tenets, viz.: non-graduates of medicine; and yet, there are many men who occupy positions in the latter

category, from force of circumstances, or other reason, who do feel that they practice a branch of medicine, for the reason that they fully agree with my proposition, viz. the title of this paper. In the pursuance of this subject, whatever side we take in the controversy, I beg that, whatever may be said will be devoid of slur and sarcasm, and had Dr. Kingsley omitted much of his article written in this vein, he would doubtless have been read with greater attention and interest. In conclusion, and I fear I have occupied your attention beyond the limit of patient listening, and yet have not said all I desire. I will call your attention to an advertisement upon the last page of the Maryland Medical Journal, headed, University of Maryland, School of Medicine. Then follows the word Faculty. Among the list of names, to be found in that faculty, are those of the professors who are specially engaged in teaching those branches pertaining to the study of dental surgery. Why are those names there?

Is it a straw which shows the direction of the whirlwind, the first gentle breezes of which are only now felt, but which in time will come in all its grandeur and might to sweep away all dissension and difference of opinion, driving from the minds of those who are unable now to comprehend or grasp the situation, the mist of uncertainty, which hangs before them like a fog before the eyes, leaving the horizon clear and bright, when will be seen our grand and noble department, not standing alone, but after many years of toil, ever upwards, placed once for all in its unity within the fold, and as a true and worthy child of its rightful parent medicine?-Maryland Medical Journal.

ARTICLE III.

MIRROR TOPPED SYPHON TONGUE HOLDER.

INVENTED BY DR. D. GENESE, BALTIMORE, MD.

In preparing cavities in the lower jaw where a copious flow of viscid saliva is present, much time is lost and great inconvenience is felt by patient and operator. Absorbents

fill the mouth and soon get useless and a pipe syphon irritates the tongue and keeps it continually rolling into the cavity one wants to prepare, while just as the patient is in a good position, the necessity occurs to empty the mouth and the operator looses precious time.

The rubber dam in such cases consumes much time, is often defective and moisture accumulates so fast under it that the patient gets distressed and often the clothes spoilt by the escape of saliva under the dam.

It is also a recognized fact that a plentiful supply of warm water to syringe cavities, getting rid of debris from the undercuts is the dentist's greatest safe-guard from troublesome marginal defects found so soon after completing fillings in mouths filled with viscid saliva, which almost glues the debris to the dentine. The posterior operations require good reflected light which cannot be obtained when the mouth is filled with cloths or rubber.

This instrument enables such operations to be performed rapidly and with less fatigue to patient and operator. It keeps the tongue out of the way; shows a fine light upon the teeth and carries all fluid away as soon as formed on the floor of the mouth.

Under anæsthesia it will relieve the patient from the distress of swallowing the blood, the same in operations on

cleft palate, or in spraying the fauces where the desire to swallow occurs almost as soon as the operation commences. It enables the dentist to have the cavity ready for plastic fillings before mixing the material and not to hurry the manipulation, thereby destroying its working properly by too much haste while the material is being introduced, and it leaves both hands at liberty without the fear of the tongue getting in the way.

It is made of german silver, nickle plated and highly finished, with three sizes of depressors, which will be found all that is required. It is easily kept clean and is rapidly handled. It can also be worked with a ball syringe, but a flow of water is preferred. It will syphon a pint per minute if desired, and by the arrangement of the inlets no undue pressure is felt on the soft tissues or the tongue during the operation. Its capacity has been tested in many cases, in one of which the patient retained it in the mouth from commencement to finish of three large crown fillings, taking two hours, during which time the head was not removed from the rest of the chair. For operations in children's mouths nothing can equal its usefulness in certain cases, and used in connection with the speculum shown at the State Dental Society of Maryland and also in New York, it will enable dentists to facilitate hitherto difficult operations, making them easily and quickly accomplished with better results than with the old method of operating in small mouths with excessive flow of saliva.

ARTICLE IV.

DENTAL JURISPRUDENCE.

BY RICHARD GRADY, D. D. S.,

Since the publication of my article on "Dental Jurisprudence, January, 1884, the following additional cases have come into my possession, which I now print as a sup