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earthly possession swept away. Homeless, dependent families of dentists whose male heads have been mobilized or killed, dentists in civil life dispossessed of means of livelihood and now in dire need, are among those for whom the appeal for help is made by l'Aide Confraternelle, which is undertaking the investigation of all appeals of a dental professional origin and is wisely and economically distributing the collected funds in relation thereto. Nor is its larger objective concerned wholly with the alleviation of suffering among dentists and their families during the active war period. By its charter from the French government the organization is to be continued for a period of five years after the conclusion of peace, in order_

(1) To facilitate the return to normal life of all colleagues severely injured
by the war, by giving to them or advancing as an honorable debt
the necessary means to re-establish themselves; and

(2) In the invaded districts to help in the reconstruction of destroyed
homes and in newly equipping dental offices devastated by the enemy,
so as to enable dentists to resume their practice.

The officers and management of the organization are representative of the leading dentists of France, with a committee of patrons comprising the most distinguished leaders of the dental profession in that country, who together are chartered as an or ganization in conformity with the French law. The personnel of l'Aide Confraternelle in itself is ample guarantee of the strength of that body, and of the wisdom, philanthropic spirit, and economy with which its benefactions will be dispensed. Founded in March 1915, the association has collected up to the present time Fr.64,968.05, i.e. slightly more than $12,500, contributed almost wholly by French dentists; or, measured by the length of time during which the association has been in active operation, there has been collected less than $5000 per year, which, considered in relation to the magnitude and importance of the objective, for which funds are desperately needed, is meager and wholly inadequate.

The dental profession of America is asked to contribute to a fund to aid destitute and distressed colleagues and their families in the war zone of our allies. Two aspects of this matter present themselves for consideration. The first consideration is a personal and intimate one, obviously because the cry for help comes from our brothers in distress. In every local case when the ap

peal has been made to the dental profession of America the response has been liberal and prompt; that is to say, when we have understood and realized that the need was one within the limits

of our own professional household. But we submit that the present one is precisely such a case. The war is now our war; we share its consequences in common with our allies; our professional household has thus been enlarged by the condition of war

to embrace every colleague of the Entente nations in the membership of our immediate professional family. We repeat that "These colleagues who have lost all are dependent for relief upon the only enduring and saving human sentiment which stands out as a worthy human characteristic in this maelstrom of world-madness— the spirit of brotherly love." We believe that spirit to be keenly alive among all who struggle for the common blessings of equal freedom and justice to all-blessings which none may rightly enjoy without paying for them in terms of whatever available possession he may have, in service or in substance. We appreciate the fact that appeals for aid necessitated by war conditions are multitudinous, and that each is a pressing one; nevertheless, the meeting of these demands is a condition that war imposes, and none may escape the responsibility of doing his share even though that share shall be the final sacrifice to help attain the goal. In the present case, in which the appeal is not for a general but for a particular need, a request for aid from dentists to their brother dentists, the opportunity thus afforded becomes a duty as well as a privilege. Prompt action, a little self-denial, and a moment's consideration of the immeasurable good that will result from a whole-hearted response by the dental profession of America to this appeal on behalf of our suffering French and Belgian colleagues and those dear to them, should put the required funds at the disposal of l'Aide Confraternelle without delay.

We ask each reader of this appeal to regard it as personally addressed to him. We ask the editors of all dental periodicals to re-voice this appeal in their several publications and to act as receiving stations for contributions, which may be sent direct to the Treasurer of l'Aide Confraternelle, M. FONTANEL, 1 Rue Vercingétorix, Paris, France. The DENTAL COSMOS will acknowledge and will so forward any contributions to the fund sent to its publication office addressed to the Editor.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

THE PRACTITIONER'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY. Containing All the Words and Phrases generally used in Medicine and the Allied Sciences, with Their proper Pronunciation, Derivation, and Definition. By GEORGE M. GOULD, A.M., M.D., Author of "An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology, and Allied Sciences," "The Student's Medical Dictionary," "Pocket Medical Dictionary," etc. Third Edition, revised and enlarged. By R. J. E. SCOTT, M.A., B.C.L., M.C., Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, Editor of Hughes' "Practice of Medicine," Gould and Pyle's "Cyclopedia of Medicine and Surgery," etc. Based on recent medical literature. With many Tables. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co. Cloth, $2.75.

While this book is not intended primarily for dentists, it contains much valuable information in a terse and comprehensible form that every dentist should have readily accessible. The definitions of some of the strictly dental terms are not all that could be desired, but are, we believe, on a par with the average medical lexicographer's conception of dental terms.

The eponymic terms have been placed in their proper alphabetical order rather than under the test, process, or disease with which the name is associated, and the compiler has inserted therewith the nationality and the dates of birth and death of those referred to, incidentally

affording the reader a very interesting and valuable historical record.

It is noticeable that the author has not entirely accepted the generally adopted method of dropping the final "e" in spelling certain medical and chemical terms, such as cocain, morphin, oxid, chlorid, and the like.

We recommend this book as a ready reference work for the dentist where he only desires briefly stated general information with regard to various diseases, medicines, terms, etc., with which he may be more or less unfamiliar. ORAL ROENTGENOLOGY. A Roentgen Study of the Anatomy and Pathology of the Oral Cavity. By KURT H. THOMA, D.M.D., Lecturer on Oral Histology and Pathology and Member of Research Department, Harvard University Dental School; Instructor in Dental Anatomy, Harvard University Medical School; Captain Massachusetts State Guard Hospital Unit; Oral Surgeon Robert Bent Brigham Hospital; Visiting Oral Surgeon, Long Island Hospital; Member of National, State, and Local Dental Societies, and Interstate Association of Anesthetists; Fellow in the American Academy of Dental Science; Associate Fellow of the American Medical Association. With 311 illustrations. Boston, Mass.: Ritter & Co., 1917.

This book, as the title indicates, deals specifically with the use of the Roentgen ray as applied to dental practice, and

while the author is, as might be supposed, enthusiastic in his advocacy of roentgenology as an invaluable diagnostic means in dental practice, he does not overlook the fact that its greatest benefit is as an aid in confirming diagnoses of dental conditions made in other ways.

The author has wisely, we believe, accepted the nomenclature adopted by the American Roentgen Ray Society, along with the terms radiolucent, radioparent, radiopaque, and radiopacity suggested by Dr. R. Ottolengui, which latter we also believe to be etymologically sound and clearly explicit in their meanings.

There are, however, other terms usel by the author, such as "temporary teeth," "wisdom teeth," and "supernumerous teeth," which we believe should be and have largely been eliminated from dental nomenclature.

The author particularly emphasizes the importance to the dental roentgenol ogist of an intimate knowledge of the internal anatomy of the bony structures of the head and face in order to be able intelligently to interpret roentgenograms, and has incorporated in his book quite a little of the anatomy of the structures under consideration. In this connection he has given a very clear description, supplemented by diagrammatic charts, of the relations of the developing teeth to the other structures during the transitional period from the deciduous to the permanent denture.

The book abounds in well-printed illustrations which aid materially in elucidating the text. The illustrations are reproductions of roentgenographic negatives which show the conditions as the roentgenologist is accustomed to view them in the X-ray film. Illustrations made from positive photographic prints, as is usually the case in illustrating

roentgenographic pictures, are frequently misleading unless the observer is trained in their interpretation.

We feel that every dentist who is equipped for roentgenographic work will derive much benefit from the perusal of the pages of this book, and particularly from a close study of the numerous illustrations contained therein.

A MANUAL OF DENTAL PROSTHETICS. By GEORGE HENRY WILSON, D.D.S., Professor of Prosthesis and Metallurgy in the Dental Department of Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Special Professor of Prosthesis in the Dental Department of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal. Third Edition, revised. Illustrated with 439 engravings. Price, $4.50. Philadelphia and New York: Lea & Febiger, 1917.

The third edition of this deservedly popular book on Prosthesis has been fully revised, and will undoubtedly be welcomed by all dentists who practice this branch of dentistry. Dr. Wilson's well-earned position as an authority on matters pertaining to prosthetic dentistry assures an attentive audience to whatever he writes in his special field.

The author has included in the third edition further investigations of the physical properties of plaster of Paris and vulcanite, and it is interesting to note in this connection that he is still firm in his conviction that plaster of Paris is the best material for taking impressions of the mouth for prosthetic work, notwithstanding the increasing number of adherents to the use of modeling compound for this purpose. In summing up his conclusions with regard to impression materials he states very positively his preference for plaster when he

says, "The more difficult the case the more essential is the plaster-of-Paris impression."

The author pays tribute to the work of Greene and Supplee in awakening the profession to the possibilities of impression-taking and stimulating renewed interest in prosthesis.

Description of the Hall method of antagonization, along with a description of the Hall Antagonizor, is given in a clear and concise manner, the author summing

up his opinion of this method and instrument by saying, "They are remarkably simple, positive, and efficient," and unhesitatingly indorses the method as one which he believes "destined to revolutionize the mounting of artificial dentures."

Dr. Wilson's book has been brought up to date as a whole, and no student or practitioner who is interested in prosthetic dentistry can afford to be without this latest addition to the literature of the subject.

REVIEW OF

CURRENT DENTAL LITERATURE

[Lyon Médical, August 1917.]

Mercurial Stomatitis: Its Pathogenesis, Prophylaxis, and Treatment. BY M. FAVRE.

Favre is convinced that the stomatitis which develops under mercurial treatment is identical in every respect with Vincent's ulcero-membranous stomatitis. The mercury merely induces local congestion and irritates the vessels, thereby encouraging the extensive multiplication of Vincent's spirochates. Any drugs which kill these organisms cure the mercurial stomatitis even when mercury is continued. Arsenic and silver nitrate are the most effectual. The arsenic can be given internally or intravenously or by local application. This method of giving neosalvarsan with the mercury allows the full therapeutic effect of the mercury, while warding off trouble in the mouth. For local treatment silver nitrate is more effectual than arsenic.

The treatment which Favre has found promptly successful in hundreds of cases begins with the mechanical cleansing of the mucosa of the patches and membranes. This is done with cotton-wound toothpicks dipped in 1 per cent. silver nitrate. The ulcerating mucosa is rubbed vigorously and cleansed of

all purulent masses and pseudomembranes, working between the teeth, and thus transforming the inflamed mucosa into a red, freely bleeding surface. The mucosa thus prepared is swabbed with a 1:15 or 1: 20 solution of silver nitrate, working it into all crevices, and the procedure concludes with the copious application of 1 per cent. methylene blue. The first treatment is always the longest and the hardest to bear. On the following day the appearance of the lesions is much modified, and the functional symptoms have improved. The swabbing is continued once a day, and later at longer intervals. It is soon possible to have the tartar removed from the teeth, and to put the mouth in a good condition. With hygiene of the mouth, gargling with hydrogen dioxid, and brushing the teeth, there is no return of the buccal infection, even though the mercurial treatment is continued unmodified.

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