These differences are empha to it makes the task a laborious one. sized by the fact that of eminent scientists twenty-seven believe in the contagiousness of the disease, eight believe that it is not contagious, sixteen believe that bodies found in cancer are degenerate epithelial cells, while eleven believe that these bodies are parasites. So we must wait a little while for a solution of the question. Dr. Miller discusses the presence of bacterial plaques on the surface of the teeth. He denies that a film on the surface of a carious surface can be taken as evidence that the film gives rise to the caries. Three jaws which he examined did not show a trace of tooth caries, yet all revealed a normal extension of the film when stained with eosin, and the teeth of his colleague, who is immune to caries, presented as fine a growth of film as one could desire, only the cusps of the teeth being free. Other writers have conceived that caries was bound to follow the presence of a film, under which the bacteria were sure to be present and carry on their destructive process. Dr. Miller thinks that in some cases the film serves as a protection to the tooth instead of a menace. (Cosmos, May, 1902.) W. Arbuthnot Lane offers some new ideas on the form of the alveolar arch. He maintains that besides the presence of the teeth there is an additional factor controlling the development of the upper jaw that does not influence the lower jaw to anything like the same extent when movement of these bones upon one another does not exist. Second, that in a normal skeleton the lower jaw is dependent for its perfect development upon that of the upper jaw. He thinks that respiration has also great influence upon the development of the jaws, and substantiates his position by photographs of children bred under conditions unfavorable to full respiration. (Clinical Journal, Vol. XVII.) Phagedenic pericementitis comes in as usual for discussion during the past year. Dr. Wright has contributed an excellent article which throws considerable light on this much-discussed subject. (Cosmos, February, 1902.) W. Booth Pearsall, F. R. C. S., in the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, has proposed a new method of comparing the anatomical formation of the teeth by the use of diagrammatic outlines instead of drawings. He thinks his method produces more accurate results, and his arguments make the scheme more desirable. A new method of administering electricity for local anesthesia has been suggested. M. Regnier, head of the laboratory of electrotherapy of the Charity Hospital, and M. Dydsbury of Paris describe it in La Nature. The operation is the placing of a simple conductor (using an arrangement of M. Gaiffe) in connection with an electrode to be applied to the region to be anesthetized. Thus far the experiments have mainly been tried in the operations of dentistry. An account submitted to the French Academy of Sciences says that in fourteen cases of extraction of monoradicular teeth thirteen cases of complete insensibility and one of relative insensibility were produced, the current in the one instance having been applied only thirty seconds. But although the method is so new, there are already indications that it will soon be applicable in the most severe operations of surgery. M. Billenkin, a surgeon at Epernay, reports that he has been able to use electricity in cases that up to this time have required the employment of chloroform. He mentions an operation which was performed without any pain to the patient, involving the removal of a large hemorrhoidal mass. Dr. Joseph Head has contributed an article on a method of bleaching the enamel of teeth with living pulps. He isolates the tooth with rubber dam, applies pyrozone, and while the tooth is still wet applies an instrument as hot as the patient can readily bear. This, he contends, drives in the steam from the hot instrument and also liberates the nascent oxygen that is in the enamel. The true value of this can be determined only by repeated experiments. (Items of Interest.) An interesting and perhaps the most important contribution of the past year is furnished by E. C. Kirk, on the Chemical and Clinical Study of Erosion. He states that he believes dental erosion is a constitutional disorder with a local manifestation, and that it presents two types. He also states that he has demonstrated the cause of one type of erosion to be lactic acid, and of the other type to be exudation of acid sodium phosphate. The first type is due to fermentative processes in the mouth, and the second to a disordered condition of certain buccal mucous glands. The article is worthy of not only a reading but of careful study. (Items of Interest.) On motion, the report was accepted. Dr. D. R. Stubblefield of Nashville read his paper, entitled "A Bird's-Eye View of Pathology." The paper was discussed by Drs. W. C. Barrett and James Truman. On motion, the subject was passed, the essayist closing the discussion. Dr. C. N. Peirce of Philadelphia read his paper, entitled, "Third Molars." Dr. H. J. Burkhart presented a further report of the Council. Dr. J. D. Patterson made an announcement regarding the Executive Committee, and the Secretary announced time and place of meeting of the Sections, when the meeting was adjourned until 7:30 p. m. FIRST DAY--EVENING SESSION. The evening session was called to order at 8 o'clock by the President. The minutes of the morning meeting were read and approved. Dr. H. J. Burkhart presented the report of the Executive Council on program, which was adopted. The paper on "Third Molars," by Dr. C. N. Peirce, read at the morning meeting, was then discussed by Drs. J. Y. Crawford, A. H. Thompson, J. Taft, J. D. Patterson and James Truman. On motion, the subject was passed, the essayist closing the discussion. Dr. A. H. Thompson of Topeka, Kan., read his paper, entitled "Ethnographic Odontology; the Inca Peruvians," illustrated by lantern slides. On motion, the discussion of the paper was postponed until the morning meeting, and Dr. Truman W. Brophy of Chicago gave a "Stereopticon Lecture on Surgery of the Palate," the discussion of which was also postponed until the morning meeting. An announcement was made by Dr. J. D. Patterson with reference to the arrangements made with the railroads for transportation, and he requested that all certificates be handed to the Secretary. The President announced the time for holding the morning meeting, and also the names of the three Commissioners, in accordance with resolution No. 2, relating to the proposed International Dental Congress. The Commissioners appointed were Drs. Eugene H. Smith, Truman W. Brophy and William C. Barrett. The President also made an announcement regarding the Executive Committee and Executive Council, when the meeting was adjourned to 10 o'clock Tuesday morning. SECOND DAY-MORNING SESSION. The morning session was called to order at 10 o'clock by the President. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Dr. H. J. Burkhart read the report of the Council, announcing that credentials would be given to those in good standing in the National Dental Association wishing to attend the Stockholm meeting. The Council also recommended that in the discussions each speaker be limited to five minutes, and should he speak twice, not more than ten minutes in all. The program was announced, and, on motion, the report was adopted. The paper of Dr. A. H. Thompson, read at the preceding meeting, was then discussed by Drs. C. N. Peirce, Cox and Brigham, the essayist closing the discussion.. The time and place of meeting of Section III was announced by the Secretary. The stereopticon lecture of Dr. T. W. Brophy, given at the preceding meeting, was then discussed by Drs. W. J. Roe, B. G. Maercklein, Thomas Fillebrown and R. Ottolengui, the essayist closing the discussion. Dr. W. J. Roe of Philadelphia read a paper entitled "Bilateral Bony Ankylosis of the Temporo-Maxillary Articulation of Traumatic Origin, and Its Surgical Treatment, with Report and Presentation of Two Cases Recently Treated by Operation." The paper was discussed by Drs. M. H. Cryer, G. V. I. Brown, J. D. Patterson, Truman W. Brophy, M. L. Rhein, M. I. Schamberg. J. Y. Crawford, J. Taft and S. W. Foster. The subject was passed, the essayist closing the discussion. A paper was read by Dr. J. D. Patterson of Kansas City on "Surgical Procedures in Diseases of the Maxillary Sinus," which was discussed by Drs. M. L. Rhein, W. H. G. Logan, R. H. Hofheinz, T. L. Gilmer, T. W. Brophy, J. Y. Crawford, G. V. I. Brown, B. G. Maercklein and C. P. Pruyn, the essayist closing the discussion. On motion, a vote of thanks was extended to Dr. Roe for his valuable paper, to which the Doctor responded briefly. The President announced that the Council would meet at 3 o'clock. Dr. J. D. Patterson made an announcement with reference to the Executive Committee, when the meeting was adjourned to 8 p. m. SECOND DAY-EVENING SESSION. The evening session was called to order at 8 o'clock by the President. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Secretary read the following communication from The Carborundum Company, extending an invitation to the Association to visit their works: Dr. J. A. Libbey, Niagara Falls, N. Y., July 29, 1902. President, National Dental Association, In Session, Niagara Falls, N. Y. DEAR SIR-Will you kindly extend to the members of the National Dental Association the freedom of our works for the purpose of inspecting the manufacture of carborundum and its different products? That the members may be shown every attention possible, we have supplied Lee S. Smith and Son with passes. Any member applying at the exhibit of Lee S. Smith and Son, Room No. 1, International Hotel, may secure a pass. Our works are located one-quarter mile east of the Niagara Falls Power Co. Power House. Electric cars for Buffalo; also local cars marked "Power House" pass our works. We trust every member of the Association will find it convenient to call upon us. Yours very truly, THE CARBORUNDUM COMPANY, Dr. H. J. Burkhart announced that The Power Company had invited the members of the Association to visit the Power House Wednesday afternoon. Cn motion, a vote of thanks was extended to both corporations. A letter was read by the Secretary from Dr. Dwight M. Clapp, with reference to the appearance of his name on the program for a clinic, which he was not present to give: President, National Dental Association, Boston, July 22, 1902. DEAR SIR:-On the program for the meeting of the National Dental Asso |