were it not for the fact that there is a constant interchange of material between the tissues of the teeth and the source of their nutritive supply.

If the teeth may be improved in quality by the observance of the laws governing nutrition throughout the entire body, it follows as a logical sequence that they may undergo morbid changes, rendering them less able to resist disease by non-observance of the laws of nutrition. We have observed degeneration of the dental tissues as the result of long-continued, intense mental activity. We may suggest, although probably not without risk of exposing ourselves to the charge, by the author of this work, of being pseudoscientific, that such degeneration is just what we might expect as the result of a largely increased consumption of the phosphates in the brain. It is also a well established fact that the teeth of women are much more liable to decay, and decay more rapidly, during pregnancy than when the system is not laboring to supply this increased demand.* But the author of this work exhibits such a serene disregard of all the important facts concerning the nutrition of the teeth, that it would hardly be advisable to devote so much space to a review of his work were it not for the fact that it will probably fall into the hands of many students, upon whom its influence will be most pernicious. No dental practitioner can be in the highest degree successful who does not recognize that the teeth are an integral part of the organism, and as such they are subject, within certain limits, to the general laws of nutrition.

It is to be understood that our criticism is specially directed against the author's teaching regarding dentine, although what is true of the vital reaction of dentine is undoubtedly true in a much more limited degree of enamel. We must, however, regard the author's strictures on certain writers, who claim that enamel, in the process of retrograde metamorphosis, breaks down into embryonal or medullary elements, as well founded. From what is now quite clearly established concerning the manner in which enamel is formed, it may be seen that such changes are impossible.

The appearances which have led to these conclusions must have arisen from accidental conditions, or the peculiar chemical treatment to which the specimens were subjected. It is to be regretted, for the honor of the profession in America, that such teaching should have received the recognition which has been accorded it.

The assumption of the author reaches its culmination in his criticism of Dr. Miller, a gentleman who has done more practical

* The author's statement, that the rapid decay of the teeth during pregnancy is to be attributed entirely to a vitiated condition of the secretions of the mouth,. is a purely gratuitous assumption.

scientific work in the investigation of the causes of dental caries than all -the authorities for whom he professes such a profound respect. The author believes a fine literary style of writing to be the best evidence of high scientific attainment. His own effort furnishes the best possible evidence of the weakness of his position. The second part of this work, which is a paper on "The Prevention of Caries," read before the British Dental Association at Bdinburg last August, contains, beyond a repetition of the objectionable statements already considered, some valuable hints, although these are not specially new nor original. But in recommending the alum and lead mouth-wash, on page 63, the author displays an ignorance of chemistry that would be ludicrous were it not such a severe sarcasm upon the literary-scientific standard which he so strenuously upholds as the measure of the value of a writer's production. He says: "Where powerful astringent effects are desired, no gargle with which I am acquainted is more effectual than the following: Dissolve an ounce of alum and an ounce of acetate of lead in seven ounces of water; filter and add four ounces of orange flower water. A teaspoonful to be added to four ounces of water for use." From a chemical stand-point, alum and acetate of lead are absolute incompatibles, the 4 S04 of the alum going to the Pb4 to form sulphate of lead, which falls in the form of a white precipitate, and which is entirely insoluble in the fluids of the mouth, and is consequently quite inert. In addition to the sulphate of lead, acetate of aluminum and acetate of potassium are formed in the reaction, but to neither can astringent properties be assigned. The entire reaction is shown by the following equation, for which Prof. Henry Leffmann, of the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, is authority:

Al2 (S04)g + H2S04 + 4Pb (02H3O2)2 =

Alum. Acetate of lead.

Al2 (0,H,01)._+ 2K (C2H302) + 4Pb S04

Aluminum acetate. Potassium acetate. Sulphate of lead.

The emphatic statements of the author, that little or nothing is to be hoped for in the direction of efforts to improve the quality of the teeth after eruption, cannot be too strongly condemned. Neither can we agree with the author in the statement that hereditary syphilis is to be considered one of the main causes of the increasingly imperfect development of the dental tissues.

On the whole, we cannot regard Mr. Sewill's book as a very valuable addition to the literature of the profession.

J. L. W.

Aide-memoire Du Chirurgien Dentiste. Publie sous le patronage de l'Ecole Dentaire Libre de Paris. Par MM. Paul Dubois, D.E.D.P., Chef de Clinique a l'Ecole Dentaire de Paris; Drs. A. Aubeau et L. Thomas, Professeurs a l'Ecole Dentaire de Paris. Annuaire pour 1885. Paris: Delahaye et Leeroisnier, 1885.

This little volume comes to us from France, and is, as its name indicates, intended as a manual of reference for the practicing dentist and student. It is published under the patronage of the Dental School of Paris, and has been written and compiled by Drs. Dubois, Aubeau, and Thomas, of that institution. It is issued as an annual^ with'the promise that if it meets with favor it will be enlarged and republished from year to year. It is designed to cover, in a most concise manner, the whole range of dental office practice, and is divided into two parts,—the first relating to the pathology of the oral cavity in all its bearings, proximate and remote; and the second to therapeutics, hygiene, and operative dentistry. The arrangement of the subjects in each part is novel, but has no doubt been adopted for the sake of easy reference.

The subjects are not treated of in their natural or related order, but are arranged alphabetically. We see, for instance, "Dental Caries" quite fully discussed on page 36 et seq., while the subject of "Filling" is not reached until we come to page 285. So, also, "Accidents Attending Extraction" are dwelt upon on page 24, while the subject of "Extraction" proper is treated of on page 260. The subject of "Anesthesia," both local and general, is fully considered, while that part relating to the use and administration of nitrous oxide gas is especially worthy of mention. The chapter on "Pulpcapping" is very conservative in tone and thoroughly orthodox, according to prevailing American ideas. The subjects of "Filling" and "Pivoting" are both considered at fair length, while that of "Irregularities" is given but little over a page.

All in all, however, the book is worthy of great praise, combining, as it does, in small compass much practical knowledge, all or nearly all of it in harmony with the accepted teachings of to-day. An additional feature of the work, which will make it all the more acceptable to the French reader and less so to the foreigner, is the large amount of space devoted to the origin, description, and appointments of the French College; a list of its subscribers; a complete directory of the dentists practicing in Paris and certain other French cities; a list of French and foreign dental journals and reviews, besides other statistical matter. The volume closes with a complete index.

S. H. G.

Intestinal Obstruction: Its Yarieties, with their Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. (The Jaeksonian Prize Essay of the Koyal College of Surgeons of England, 1883.) By Frederick Treves, F.B.C.S. With 60 illustrations. 12mo, pp. 515. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea's Son & Co., 1884. Price, cloth, $2.00. Mr. Treves here republishes with corrections and additions the essay which last year took the Jaeksonian prize of the Eoyai College of Surgeons of England. The importance of his subject may be estimated by the circumstance that over two thousand individuals die every year in Great Britain alone from various forms of obstruction of the bowels, exclusive of hernia. We are convinced that a similar, or even larger, proportion would be found to prevail here if accurate statistics were obtainable.

Mr. Treves has very ably and systematically discussed the causes, symptons, diagnosis, and treatment of the different forms of intestinal obstruction, from moderate constipation to intussusception or complete strangulation/

His conclusion as to operative interference in cases w^here life is threatened is one of interest to every practitioner of surgery or medicine, and, having been founded on a study of a large number of cases, is worthy of respectful consideration. He is strongly in favor of the early performance of laparotomy by opening the abdomen in the median line, and searching for the seat of strangulation, and believes that in the future, with care, judgment, and through the influence of the antiseptic system, the mortality of the operation should be but little higher than that for the relief of strangulated hernia. The book is not only instructive, but is interesting, and is well worthy careful perusal.

Elements Of Surgical Diagnosis. By A. Pearce Gould, M.S., MB. Lond., F.B.C.S. Eng. 12mo, pp. 584. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea's Son & Co., 1884. Price, cloth, $2.00. Mr. Gould's very modest preface scarcely does justice to the excellent little work which he has written for the use of medical students, and which will doubtless prove acceptable to many practitioners of surgery. In clearness and accuracy of statement he has left very little to be desired, and any unfavorable criticism should be directed chiefly to the faults of omission, which are, we think, most noticeable in relation to the mouth and teeth. Only two pages are devoted to the diseases of the mouth, which are consequently not even enumerated at length. We observe the careless statement that "a narrow, highly-arched palate is one of the effects of inherited «yphilis," which is certainly attributing an unwarranted diagnostic importance to a very common peculiarity; or the same remark may be made of the direction to "examine the patient for other signs of secondary syphilis, if the soft palate be of a bright red color and the patient experience little or no pain in it." Possibly the most notable omission in this direction is the entire absence of mention of the socalled "Hutchinson teeth," pathological phenomena having a diagnostic value which, in many surgical affections, especially obscure bone lesions and doubtful tumors, is simply inestimable. The book as a whole is, however, one of the best of the useful and practical series to which it belongs, and has evidently been written with care and discrimination.

A Handbook Op Ophthalmic Science And Practice. By Henry E. Juler, F.E.C.S., Junior Ophthalmic Surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, etc. With 125 woodcuts and 27 colored plates. Octavo, pp. 467. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea's Son & Co., 1884. Price, cloth, $4.50; sheep, $5.50.

This is an American edition of a book which has been for some little time well and favorably known abroad. It has already received the approval of the profession, and in its present shape will doubtless be within reach of many who have been unable to obtain it. Valuable additions have been made by Dr. Charles A. Oliver, of this city,—among them the description of a new astigmatic disk, with an explanation of its use, and important material in the shape of results from his experiments as to the effectiveness of the different mydriatics. The illustrations are among the very best we have ever seen in a work of this character, and add greatly to its value.

Pamphlets Keceived. Syllabus of Lectures and Questions on Odontology, Human and Comparative, for the Use of Students in the Dental College of the University of Michigan. By Corydon L. Ford, M.D., D.D.S., professor of anatomy and physiology in the university. Ann Arbor: Register Printing House, 1884.

The Dry Treatment of Chronic Suppurative Inflammation of the Middle Ear. By Charles J. Lundy, A.M., M.D., professor of diseases of the eye, ear, and throat in the Michigan College of Medicine, Detroit. Reprinted from the Transactions of the Michigan State Medical Society; read at its annual meeting, held in Grand Rapids, June 11 and 12, 1884.

Muriate of Cocaine in Ophthalmic Surgery. By C. J. Lundy, A.M., M.D., professor of diseases of the eye, ear, and throat in Michigan College of Medicine. Reprinted from the November (1884) number of the "Physician and Surgeon," Ann Arbor, Mich.