ditions; and yet, day after day, even year after year, it is not upset by their presence, until all of a sudden the power to resist is lost and disease sets in just because there has been some modification of our Heaven-given tendency to get well and stay so. In the twinkling of an eye the kiss of a zephyr has lowered the resistance of our system, and the tell-tale sneeze announces the first, inconsequential step in a series that may end in death. The little "taking cold" is nothing, but if it is assisted by a still greater disturbance of the system's equipoise, coincidental merely, with its more pronounced lowering of vitality or lessening of the resistance to morbific influences, it may bring the organism within the baleful reach of the tubercle bacillus, which has up to then been vainly seeking food for his development.

In just such a vague and unexpected manner do we find inflammation of a most serious nature breaking the bonds that have been holding it in abeyance. It must be so, since no epidemic was ever universal, some individuals managing always to keep the immunity of molecular resistance to possible causes of disease present in their bodies. Inflammation in the early stage is nature's great rally to expel an intruder. No man knows of how many victorius repulses, or how many hairbreadth escapes possibly, he has been the ignorant and unappreciative recipient. Nature's sentinels have been on guard and her hosts have slept on their arms ever since we came squalling onto the battle-ground of life, and until life's fitful fever is over we may confidently rely upon that great recuperative power implanted within us and within all living organisms, whether vegetable or animal. If inflammation in the early stage is the rally of nature, the symptoms which always attend it are the signs of the losing fight which she is waging, that may be in part a defeat yet on the whole a victory, and we may always tell the stage of the series by reading the signs of symptoms.

The blood is the great first relief to the wounded upon which nature relies. Too much blood is an embarrassment of riches, and congestions become extensions of the trouble which they were created to relieve. Should nature be able to stem the tide of affairs, to remove the cause and hurry on the current of blood that has already begun to show a tendency to lag, and pass it on through the proper channels and into the far reaches of the capillary ramifica

tions, then we have resolution, a resumption of function, and a reestablishment of Physiology. If, on the other hand, nature finds herself unable to cope with the persistent results of irritation, and the accumulation of well-meant blood, she gets to work to limit and circumscribe the effects. A wall is built up around the area and the fight to keep destruction inside the smallest possible space is begun. This is nature's plan, and all efforts to cooperate should be exhibited with a clear comprehension of the end aimed at and the reparative efforts put forth. The terminations of inflammation are only the best compromises she can make under the circumstances. We may intelligently assist or we may blindly antagonize should our interferences be made without judgment. But why make the story. longer? The mind can readily grasp the scheme entire and see the steps to be taken for cooperation, see the possible antagonisms which might arise to thwart, and see the ends aimed at from a judicious interpretation of all the signs and signals. The wonderful diversity of nature in form and feature gives us the unquestioned probability of myriad modifications. Therefore, the question of treatment must forever remain the burden of the hour, for a host of possibilities spring up at the very mention of pathological derangement. No man can ever hope to lift this burden from the shoulders of the man, and if any man can bear into the quiet chamber of his own soul the consciousness of having done his best at all times he should deem himself the most fortunate of mankind.

Discussion. Dr. W. C. Barrett, Buffalo: I can remember the time in the history of this Association when the presentation of a paper on pure pathology would have found but few to debate it, and when the treatment of a subject from a pathological standpoint would have emptied the house in a few moments. Nowadays, however, pathology receives more attention from this body than any other one subject, which is a marked advance.

This paper considers the change from the physiological-the normal, to the pathological-the abnormal, and as the essayist has stated, there are three methods by which this may be brought about: First, by unsanitary surroundings; second, by perverted or malnutrition, and third, by external influences. I am glad that he has given us such a broad basis upon which the subject can be considered, be

cause all side issues are eliminated, and the thought is concentrated upon three distinct points. This is an excellent classification.

Dr. James Truman, Philadelphia: This paper is one of the ablest definitions of pathological conditions that I have heard for a long time. Thirty years ago I remember remarking to a distinguished medical colleague that the time would come when bacteria. would be regarded as the source of all pathological conditions. He almost laughed in my face as he said: "They will probably be confined to three or four pathological conditions." Every one of us is well aware that to-day the majority of diseases are attributed to these minute vegetable products, and it is to them that we as dentists and pathologists must devote special attention. I am gratified that bacteriology has become an important study in all our dental colleges, and that the students of to-day are prepared to treat cases and to give an intelligent answer when asked concerning the cause of certain pathological conditions. It is the mission of dentistry to cultivate the minds, not only of this profession and of the medical profession, but of the great laity, so as to enable them to understand that it is unsanitary conditions of life which produce these pathological organisms. I would emphasize the necessity of prophylactic treatment, as I am thoroughly convinced that the bacilli of tuberculosis, being ever present in the oral cavity, are a constant source of disease and destruction to the human family. It is the duty of the profession to instruct the world concerning prophylaxis of the oral cavity, so that all forms of contamination therein may be removed and not be left to breed disease throughout the system.

Dr. Fillebrown remarked in his report that Miller did not find the gelatinous plaques of Williams a cause of decay. They are certainly not a cause of decay, although Williams has made that positive assertion. Nevertheless, there are certain accretions in the mouth of every individual that cannot be cleaned off, and given the opportunity, tuberculosis will certainly find a place therein for development. Can we not teach in our public schools and go forth as missionaries in regard to this matter, to make the world at large understand that dentistry is something more than the mere filling and extraction of teeth? We should be the leaders in all attempts to improve the condition of humanity.

SECTION V. Continued.

Third Molars.

PAPER BY C. N. PEIRCE, OF THE SECTION.

It is well known that in all animal life there are differences, that characters themselves are inconstant, that they may or may not appear in individuals of a species, and that under such circumstances these differences are not evidences of a break in the line of descent. In one genus we may have two tubercular molars in the inferior series, while in an allied genus three such teeth may exist, or in another but one. These conditions, when recognized, excite interest and comment, but the cause is not always apparent.

The normal dentition of man is, on each side: incisors, 2; cuspid, I; bicuspids, 2; molars, 3; yet it is not uncommon to find in the higher races individuals who have only two molars, in one or both jaws, or if three are present, the third or posterior one is evidently a degenerate in every particular. From the frequency of this occurrence the usual estimate of the third molar is that it is variable in size, structure, durability, position and time of eruption. It is the purpose of this short paper to throw some light if possible upon the variability of this tooth, and to see if any cause can be assigned for this difference in size, structure, position, etc. While the lower third molar is the most typical in its character, yet the similarity with regard to their erratic condition is such that both the upper and lower should be classed together.

In the examination of the crania of the animals supposed to be next lower than Man, such as the Gorilla, Orang and Chimpanzee, of which many papers have been written, the third molar is with. slight exception as large as the first and second, and in some cases a trifle larger, having abundance of room posterior to it, or between its distal surface and the ramus, in the lower jaw, to give free and unlimited use in the function of mastication. In addition to this, the

number and size of cusps, and the number, position and size of roots or fangs, correspond in every way with the teeth just anterior to them, the cusps especially being arranged according to the typical pattern.

In the lowest races of mankind the third molar is usually of large size, well formed, of dense structure, and seldom misplaced. In the examination of crania belonging to the native-born African we are certainly in touch with the least developed of the human family, and where it is fair to assume the food is coarse and uncooked, requiring powerful muscles and dense teeth for its mastication. Of these people we had one hundred and fifty crania under examination, and in these there were four hundred third molars in position. Three hundred and seventy-five of these were as large and well shaped as the molars anterior to them, twenty-four were smaller, and one was a small peg-shaped tooth.

On the examination of fifty crania of the Eskimos we were in contact with a people of whom the name would imply lived largely on raw flesh, it being their custom to consume fish and game in this manner. Their home has been Greenland, the Aleutian islands and Alaska. In these fifty crania were found one hundred and fifty third molars in place, one hundred and thirty of full size and like the first and second, save four had wrinkled masticating surfaces, such as are found in the Orang, twenty were smaller in size, with the cusps well defined.

The Chippeway Indians were in close contact, in location to the Eskimos, occupying the Southern part of Labrador, shores of Hudson Bay, and the lakes of Michigan and Superior. From their close contact with the Eskimos they partook much of their habits of life, and especially so in their food. It is not therefore surprising that we should find in them a close resemblance to their neighbors in tooth development. On the examination of twenty crania, sixty third molars were in place, fifty-two of these were large and well formed, not inferior to the anterior molars, while eight were smaller in size, some of them being much wrinkled on the masticating surface.

The Sandwich Islanders, or natives of the Hawaiian Islands, have lived upon pork and fish, both dried and fresh, also consuming a variety of fruit growing upon the Island in great profusion. On examining sixty-five of the crania of these natives, two hundred and thirty third molars were found in place, two hundred and ten