struments outside, and with little finger inserted between incisors contouring it concavely inside, giving greatest amount of space for tongue. By application of cold water or cloths the material is chilled and becomes hard, firm and inelastic, making an excellent interdental splint which will absolutely hold the parts to their adjustment. This splint is now carefully removed (assistant holding jaw from behind), trimmed up, presenting smooth, round, thick edges, to avoid crumbling, and reinserted, the teeth fitting into their original positions. The wood is used for two reasons: First, to act as a "stop," preventing complete closure of teeth through plastic compound, which would interfere with the feeding of patient and hygienic cleanliness; and, second, to act as a fulcrum over which leverage is constantly exerted by contraction of the anterior fibers of the masseter muscle, assisted by the counter external pressure of bandage, which overcomes the possible contractive drag of the digastric muscle, and force of gravitation, and supports the long, heavy, drooping anterior fragment, keeping it tightly sprung up into position, while at the same time the posterior fragment, which invariably tends to draw up and out of alignment, on account of contraction of the temporal, masseter and internal pterygoid muscles, is firmly held down and prevented from shifting its position by coming in contact with this resistance. I regard this second reason as a most important factor in using plastic interdental splints, for by its use in the proper position (always on the posterior fragment) we are enabled to feel an assurance that this fragment will remain in the corrected position. By this method we can successfully treat fractures by an interdental splint, with all the advantages of absolute fixation, opportunities of feeding, possibilities of hygienic cleanliness, and tolerable comfort to patient, without the worry, care, labor and consumption of time necessary to take impressions, construct models, wax up, flask, vulcanize and fit a permanent splint, not to mention the pain and discomfort of patient in so doing. The jaws are held in position by application of an occipito-mental bandage, preferably of plaster paris, either of Barton or figure 8 variety, using a five-inch square of rubber dam or oiled silk in position as a protection or bib, covering that portion of bandage lying below the lower lip. This is placed in position by laying it flat over the face before the bandaging is commenced, the lower border even with the chin, allowing the various layers of the bandage to cover it. Afterwards it is turned down over that portion of the bandage below the lower lip and protects it from becoming foul by absorbing saliva, medicine or food, and is easily kept clean and sweet by frequent sponging with an antiseptic solution. MINUTES OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL DENTAL ASSOCIATION, HELD AT Niagara Falls, N. Y., Fuly 28-31, 1902. THE FIRST DAY-MORNING SESSION. HE morning session was called to order at II o'clock by the Prayer was offered by Dr. J. Taft. Dr. L. G. Noel, Vice-President for the South, was called to the Chair, when Dr. Libbey read his annual address. On motion, the address was referred to a committee of three, to report to the Executive Council on the recommendations therein contained. The Chair appointed Drs. G. V. I. Brown, Wilbur F. Litch and C. N. Johnson as members of that committee. Dr. J. N. Crouse asked the privilege of the floor for Dr. E. T. Darby, who, on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Dental Society, presented a gold-mounted ivory gavel to the President. Dr. Libbey responded, thanking Dr. Darby and the Society for the gift. Dr. H. J. Burkhart, Chairman of the Executive Council, then presented the report of the Council on program. On motion, the report was adopted. Dr. Burkhart then read the following resolutions, which were submitted to the Executive Council, relative to the holding of the Fourth International Dental Congress in St. Louis, in August, 1904: No. I.—WHEREAS, In 1904 there will be held an International Exposition in St. Louis, Mo., U. S. A., to be known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in connection with which provision has been made for the holding of a series of International Congresses, some of which are already organized; and, WHEREAS, The dental profession in America have been requested to or ganize in connection therewith a congress which shall adequately represent the interests and attainments of dentistry; therefore, be it Resolved, That the National Dental Association of the United States of America hereby invites the Committee of the Federation Dentaire International, having in charge the promotion of the Fourth International Congress, to designate St. Louis, Mo., U. S. A., as the place, and the month of August, 1904, as the time, for holding said International Congress. No. 2.-WHEREAS, The National Dental Association has adopted a resolution inviting the Committee of the Federation Dentaire International, having in charge the promotion of the Fourth International Dental Congress, to designate St. Louis as the place, and August, 1904, as the time, for holding said Congress; Resolved, That three Commissioners be appointed by the President of this Association to convey to the Committee of the Federation Dentaire International, having in charge the promotion of the Fourth International Dental Congress, the cordial invitation of the dental profession of America, through its National Association, to unite in the holding of a Congress, to be called the Fourth International Dental Congress, at the time and place stated. On motion, the resolutions were adopted. Dr. Thomas Fillebrown, Chairman of Section V, then presented his report. Report of Chairman of Section V. The discoveries during the past year in the branches of Anatomy, Pathology and Surgery do not bring marked addition to our knowledge, but the discussions upon these subjects show a decided advance toward a better understanding of many problems, and give promise of determining satisfactorily in the not distant future many of the points that have long baffled explanation. It will be impossible in the space and time which I can be permitted to occupy to give anything but the merest outline of only a part of the work upon these subjects. The only definitely new discovery is of an additional bone in the foot, by Professor Thomas Dwight, which he has found in a sufficient number of cases to entitle it, he thinks, to a permanent place in the list of normal bones of the foot. Dr. David Riesman and Dr. A. O. J. Kelley have contributed a valuable article on the relation of bacteriology and pathology. One of their interesting statements is that aseptic wounds are rarely sterile of forty-three cases examined but eleven were found so. Staphylococcus pyogenes albus was commonly the infecting agent. The greatest number were found on the second day of healing. They believe that "aseptic fever" is due to the absorption of organic materials and the products of bacterial metabolism from the wound. They seem to credit the statement that carcinoma is increasing, and quote from the report of the Committee of the British Medical Association that the physical conditions where carcinoma prevails are contamination of the soil with sewage, and general lack of drainage. Evidence is adduced that there is a special tendency to the occurrence of malignant disease in certain houses and groups of houses, and on the whole carcinoma is reported to be more prevalent in old houses and districts than in new ones. (Year Book of Medicine and Surgery.) Dr. James Ewing has made some valuable contributions to the pathological anatomy of malarial fever, showing the effect of the disease on the various organs of the body. No member escapes its baneful influence. His account of its destructive effect upon the marrow is interesting from, a dental view. Cellular hyperplasia is pronounced, the nucleated red cells are abundant and lymphocytes are overabundant, while fat cells are atrophic. The blood shows anemia of the chlorotic type, with a marked tendency to develop the signs of pernicious anemia. The condition has, of course, a depressing effect upon the osseous support of the teeth and must be recognized as one efficient cause of the atrophy of the alveolar walls. (Journal of Experimental Medicine.) Dr. A. Michel finds that the saliva has a great influence on caries of the teeth, and that the quality of the drinking water influences the composition of the saliva. He finds that the water of Wurzburg has fifty times as much calcium oxid as that of Lohr, and the calcium oxid of saliva taken from the inhabitants of Lohr is only one-sixth that found in the saliva of the inhabitants of Wurzburg. Dr. Michel came to the conclusion that where a lessening of caries is found there is an increase in the amount of sulphocyanic acid and an increase in the alkalinity of the saliva. The second annual report of the Cancer Committee of the surgical department of the Harvard Medical School was presented in February, 1902. The Committee is making systematic efforts to fix definitely the cause of cancer. The great diversity of opinion in regard |