an engine stone, and the gum flaps pressed back with the finger and thumb. These are cut off with gum scissors until they fail to meet by about one-sixteenth of an inch. Healing is allowed to take place, and in about four weeks an impression can be taken for any plate.

This operation usually reduces the height of the ridge, and the buccal and labial attachments will be decidedly movable and connected close to the crest of the ridge. This indicates that the case will fall under class II or III, depending on the condition of the tissues overlying the vault, but in any event much care and attention must be given to muscle trimming in taking the impression.

In some cases of the class IV type where plates have been worn by patients masticating on the front teeth only, excessive resorption takes place in that region; and the process in the bicuspid and molar regions indicates an enlargement or failure to resorb.

It would be impossible to put in a full denture and allow the cutting surfaces

of the artificial teeth to follow the line of the occlusal plane. In order to establish a normal occlusal plane it would be necessary first to remove the hypertrophied gum and process in the molar region to a line where it would be possible to follow out the proper plane.

Then again, many times in the lower jaw the protrusion of the lower teeth is so great that it pushes out the process, making a protrusion of the lip and giv ing the appearance of a protruded lower jaw. Where an upper plate is required for such a mouth, it would be impossible to bring the teeth of an upper denture outside of the lowers, and the only way that an upper denture could be worn would be by allowing the upper teeth to strike inside the lower, thereby increasing the abnormal protrusion.

Cases of this kind must be treated surgically, and the mouth restored to normal, so that we can establish a correct occlusal plane, which, in addition to the proper impression technique, is necessary to the construction of the most efficient denture.

Inasmuch as this paper is intended to

bear especially on the classification of tissue conditions as related to efficient dentures, the impression material must be considered only in a relative manner.

IMPRESSION MATERIALS.

It must be recognized that plaster can be used successfully in classes I and II. The technique being somewhat simple, plaster is popular with the denundesirability from the patient's standtist for general use, regardless of the point, with the result that its failures are legion when used for making dentures for patients with tissue conditions as indicated in classes III and IV.

It has been the experience of the speaker that the great majority of the and IV, as will be shown later; and if the dentist will spend the time necessary to become so familiar with the manipulation of compound that he can solve the difficult ones, he will find that he can take short cuts in the compound technique that will save time, be pleasanter to the patient, and insure a greater degree of success than by any one of the modern plaster techniques.

troublesome cases fall under classes III

inclination to study compound may find it well to familiarize themselves with this classification, and use the simpler plaster or compound techniques for making dentures for classes I and II, and to refer their patients having class III or IV tissue conditions to those who specialize

Those who have not the time or the

in prosthodontia.

With these thoughts in mind, let the illustrations be studied, as they show the benefit of this classification in mak

ing plate work more artistic and more profitable from the standpoint of the dentist, and more efficient from the standpoint of the patient.

CONCLUSION.

The very best results from plaster impressions are limited by the existing tissue conditions, while the value of compound is limited only by the ability of the operator in applying the proper technique to the class of case in hand. 1 UNION SQ.

MR. PRESIDENT, and GentleMEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI DENTAL ASSOCIATION:

I

HAVE been requested by your Executive Committee to speak of the influence of the war on dentistry and dental colleges. We all appreciate the fact that the great war in the throes of which we now are, and into whose vortex the great nations of the earth have been drawn, through the lustful ambition of an unscrupulous, selfish, and designing German monarchy for world dominion, has been the most brutal, mutilating, and destructive that the world has ever seen. Particularly is this true as it applies to the mutilation of the human face, that portion of the body with which the dental profession must deal.

It has been the means of putting the dental profession through a crucial test to which it has not previously been subjected. Dentistry has been given an opportunity to demonstrate its usefulness to humanity, and take its merited position among the learned and scientific professions, as never before during its history. The question naturally presents itself, Is the profession "making good"?

Realizing that there was a humanitarian call to duty early in the conflict, when the noble, courageous, though virtually helpless country of Belgium had been crushed, when every resemblance of honor and chastity had been ruthlessly cast aside, and the iron hand of German brutality was attempting to throttle all nations, and womanhood on every side was being outraged, noble men of our

profession answered "Ready!" And the work they have accomplished and are still carrying forward will not only, I predict, go down in history as among the greatest in the relief of suffering and restoring the human form, but as generations pass down the endless cycle of time their names will be written in the firmament in letters of gold, and stand out with the brightest luminaries, pointing those who may follow to still higher attainments.

When the war burst upon Europe in 1914, the position of the dental surgeon in our army was that of contract dentist. Today Congress has honored him. with rank and emoluments equal to those of the medical profession. recognition, which the dental profession has sought for in vain in the years past, has been given by reason of the splendid work done toward the relief of the injured.

This

The law provides for one dentist to every 1000 enlisted men, but the services of the profession as viewed from the standpoint of the army are of such importance that it has been recommended that the quota be increased to one to every 500 men. Nor has the Administration stopped there; they have recently organized a school for dentists in Oral Plastic Surgery, located at Camp Greenleaf, Chickamauga Park, Ga., this being the first school of the kind ever so organized. Having awakened to the importance of dental service from the standpoints of infection and prophylaxis, surgery, and prosthesis, our Government is

using every effort to increase the efficiency of those they depend on for such service. I am informed that it is the purpose of the Government to specially train at least 1000 dental surgeons in this school during the next twelve months.

What of the dental colleges? As a matter of fact, the dental colleges of the United States are virtually under the control of the army and the Government. The Medical Corps secured the passage of a bill, last October, permitting dental students who were drafted into military service to return to college and complete their dental courses before continuing active service. This was a special privilege granted because of the importance of the service for which they are qualifying. These men are enlisted in the Medical Reserve corps in inactive service. The freshmen just entering college are also permitted to enjoy the same privilege. The Government demands of the colleges special reports as to the standing and progress of such students. The War department requires an inventory of college equipment and general teaching faculties, and insists on a higher standard of qualification than has previously existed as a whole. They also reserve the right to deny recognition to a college and to transfer students from one school to another when in their judgment it would be to the advantage of the students.

Colleges which are progressive are today teaching oral surgery,, treatment of infectious wounds, splints, wiring, bacteriology, sterilization, pathology, and physical diagnosis, to say nothing of anatomy, physiology, and chemistry, in a more general and comprehensive manner than in years past.

The college course has been increased to four years. The effect of this lengthening of the course has been to reduce the attendance in our colleges, but we feel sure that the higher quality will more than compensate for the lack of attendance.

Now, gentlemen, we can readily see from the foregoing that from this the most terrible of all wars has resulted the greatest recognition of dentistry, and

let us not forget that with this recognition come greater responsibilities.

We have been put on an equal status with the medical profession. This being true, we are expected to come up to the standard set by those with whom we are given equal rank. And, gentlemen, from the reports I have from Washington, it becomes necessary for the dentists of this country to take stock and strive to improve and merit this high standing, or we as a profession may fall more or less into disrepute. The bringing together of the dental and medical professions is going to prove one of the greatest benefits of the war, as well as increasing for us the respect of all.

Probably nothing has been of such benefit to both the medical and dental surgeons as the observations made in the prevention and treatment of traumatic infectious wounds. It has been learned that the interval of time elapsing between the injury and the operation, and the thoroughness of the removal of foreign bodies and dead tissue, are vital factors in the problem of infections of military wounds. We now know as we did not before that virulence of infection in traumatic wounds increases with the delay of surgical treatment. Traumatic infection of tissue is first confined to the exposed surface of the wound; and if a patient can be promptly treated, say within three to four hours after injury, it is possible to remove mechanically all sources of infection from the surface of the wound.

Our surgeons, both oral and general, have demonstrated as important factors in prevention of infection-1st, prompt surgical treatment; 2d, removal of foreign bodies; 3d, complete removal of devitalized tissue; 4th, the application of a germicide that will not delay the closure of the wound, and 5th, immediate closure of the wound when infection has been avoided.

However, it is not always possible to prevent infection. Splendid progress has been made with germicides. It is the consensus of opinion that the chlorin preparations have proved the most ef

fective germicides. However, the standard preparations, such as Labarraque's and similar solutions, are found to be irritating to the skin. To overcome this condition, one of the most satisfactory preparations brought out was a dilute. modification of Labarraque's solution known as the Dakin-Carrel solution, but it is so unstable that it is necessary to keep it almost constantly applied. The active chlorin is liberated very rapidly when applied to wounds.

Recently there has been produced a synthetic preparation by Dakin which he calls "Dichloramin-T" (toluene parasulfon-dichloramin). This preparation. is in the form of a powder, and an oil is used as the menstruum for dissolving

it. Eucalyptus was first recommended, but now chlorcosane (liquid paraffin chlorinated) is principally used. This will hold 10 per cent. of dichloramin-T in solution, but the usual strength recommended is that of from 2 to 5 per cent.; it must be kept in green bottles and in a cool place. It can be procured through Parke, Davis & Co. I mention this simply as an example of the progress which is being made in aseptic surgery.

As a result of the war, dentistry has been invited to occupy a position now in advance of what it could hardly have attained in twenty-five years. And, gentlemen, it is up to the dental profession to make good. Will we do it? 100 N. BUTLER ST.

A

FTER reviewing the opinions and findings of others, I have come to the conclusion that the diagnosis of focal infection is often not a simple or easy matter, but in all systemic infections of obscure origin the nose, mouth, and throat should be carefully examined. The aid of the dentist and rhinologist will often have to be sought, and a skiagram of the face and head may be required to locate the origin of the evil.

The treatment that offers the greatest measure of relief from nasal and oral sepsis is necessarily prophylactic. The physician must ever look on a "blind" oral abscess as he would on an appendix that is infected, a mastoid that is full

of pus, or a tonsil that is septic, and its removal should be effected, whatever may be the dental cost.

The problem with the dentist is not only to decide when he can save his patient from losing a tooth, but he must grasp the larger and more important consideration that losing a tooth may save his patient from a serious or possibly fatal infection.

A grasp of oral pathology and health conservation will be a greater asset to the dentist of the future than the mechanical skill that will produce a faultless inlay or preserve a devitalized tooth.

Billings declared that carious teeth are an inexcusable evidence of faulty