sleep, gave the nervous system time to regain its natural state, so as subsequently to give energy to the vessels of the inflamed part.

3d. Local affection (chronic hysteritis) having produced, not fever, but constitutional morbid sensibility-hysteria; debility arising from depletion and want of nourishment; narcotics could procure but temporary relief, as they afford no nourishment and sedatives aggravated the delirium of inanition. Stimulants and food, by giving strength acted as a tonic, and restored power to the nervous system, and consequently to other parts, &c. &c. (pp. 221-2).

"Morbid sensibility," it is remarked, "is an affection of nerve; but nerve, considered in relation to disease, is nothing without capillaries-capillaries nothing without nerve. The isolated consideration of either leads to error," &c. Some trite remar 79 made upon apoplexy and paralysis, and valuable suggestions presented up their treatment. In the course of the volume it is supposed to have been shown: 1st, "That the substances which are stimulant to the heart, relax the capillaries when locally applied to them, and consequently are not local stimulants; and vice versa, those which contract the capillaries diminish the action of the heart; 2d. That there is an analogy between muscular and electric, capillary and galvanic action. In electric and galvanic phenomena the agent is the same, yet how different both in the action and in the mode of production and distribution! the one being sudden, requiring a freedom from damp, the other needing moisture for its production; as the galvanoid action of the capillaries is increased by the agents which will stop and destroy the action of the heart and other muscles, and vice versa. Substances which produce the electroid action of muscles, and are hence named stimulants, weaken and even annihilate the galvanoid action of the capillaries."

Having discussed the nature of the two grand groups of diseases which constitute fevers and neuroses, and having shown that although they both are essentially affections of the nervous system, yet they are widely different from each other, the author adds: "all diseases commence as I have already said, by disturbance of the function of solid parts of the machine; and first of all, of the nervous system. This is solidism or neuro-pathology," (pp. 227-8).

The diseases subsequently discussed are ague, cholera and influenza; erysipelas and rheumatism; and the diseased states of the capillaries which produce catarrhs, dropsy, hemorrhages and chronic cutaneous eruptions.

Ague is represented as constituting the link between fevers and neuroses, and the relationship of many of the phenomena of ague to Asiatic cholera is shown with much clearness and satisfaction. Interesting facts in reference to the "constitution of epidemics" are stated and parallels between diseases run out, giving an extraordinary degree of interest to the subject. Whoever recollects the mournful history of the choleric epidemic in our own midst, and recalls the doubts and conflicting emotions of that period, cannot but be interested in the judicious observations of our author upon this matter. He justly counsels young practitioners not to have their ideas narrowed down by names and shows that nosologists have separated, what nature never designed should be "put asunder." We must hurry on.

A few directions for junior readers are given as to the treatment of rheumatism. 1st. Bleed in acute rheumatism (rheumatic fever) if with a plethoric appear

ance, you have external redness and tenderness, combined with oppression at the chest indicating tendency to pericarditis, or if there be symptoms of meningitis. 2d. Do not bleed, unless emetics and other treatment have failed, if there be only external pain and swelling and the patient not strong, lest you have a slow convalescence.

3d. But always have the fear of internal inflammation in your mind's eye, or you may have no convalescence at all, but death for want of bleeding. If the patient gets severe pericarditis, you will either have death soon with fever, in neglect of bleeding, or a lingering death from adhesions and enlargement of the heart with dropsy.

4th. Always examine the chest whether complaint is made or not, the external pain often causing the non-observance of the internal, (pp. 25?

ERYSIPELAS, the author says, is not produced by cold air, unless the part have been previously warm and damp. After descanting upon the subject of erysipelas for six pages, the author sums up "here in two words is the epitome of the treatment of erysipelas-emetics and tonics."

DROPSY is inflammation or congestion, the proximate cause of the acute or chronic being the same. It is denied that "it is necessary to refer, as many do, to a diminished action of the absorbents as a cause of dropsy. Dropsy is most frequently not a primary disease, but a symptom, &c. and our great object must be to cure the disease which produced dropsy.

Upon the subject of AMENNORRHEA and the MIMOSÆ, much useful advice is given and a very true portrait sketched. Here, it is remarked, are exactly the cases that have brought homœopathy into some credit; yet the author has seen some nearly destroyed by the homeopathic treatment. Don't be uneasy, reader, he does not mean by the medicine, for that he says can do neither harm nor good, but by injudiciously low diet inducing a debility by which disease has gained ground.

From 269 to 290 CATARRH and PHTHISIS are spoken of and an amount of profitable matter afforded to repay a diligent perusal. We can only refer to it thus: The author believes it perfectly useless, as far as treatment is concerned, to make any further division of chronic CUTANEOUS DISEASES, than into the papular, scaly, pustular and vesicular. The co-existence of disease in the external and internal rete mucosum, has been universally observed. The author says: "I defy any person to apply remedies for cutaneous diseases with any degree of precision by the directions of Willan or any of his successors." Directions are given how to use tonics as iron, mercury, arsenic, sarsaparilla, mezereon, dulcamara, antimony, &c. &c. Alkaline washes are useful to excite the relaxed vessels of the skin, but require great varieties of dilution, &c. A judicious, rational system of treatment is given, based upon physiological and pathological principles, which if understood and acted out, will give more satisfaction, than the ordinary off-hand, specific plan.

The book is concluded thus: "and I have only to add that, in applying remedies, though not a moment should ever be lost, we must have patience in allowing them to act; and that, though inert practice is mischievous, the safety of the patient depends upon nequid nimis." In this volume of two hundred and ninetysix pages is compressed a vast fund of useful knowledge, expressed in a simple,

unostentatious manner, and however much we may be disposed to differ from the author upon more than one subject, we venture to say that every one, after having perused the volume dispassionately and without mental bias, will be repaid fully for his time and trouble.

K.

[We recommend our readers to avail themselves of the opportunity of obtaining this excellent work. It may be had in this city of Cushing & Brother, Market st. opposite Hanover street.-EDITORS.]

On the Structure, Economy and Pathology of the Teeth, with careful instructions for their Preservation and Culture; and concise descriptions of the best modes of Surgical Treatment, &c. &c. BY WILLIAM LINTOT, Surgeon, Surgical and Mechanical Dentist, with upwards of forty illustrations, 12mo. pp. 114. London, 1841. THIS is a very well written and handsomely gotten up little volume. It is divided into eight chapters. The first treats on "the anatomy and structure of the teeth," "structure of the ivory," "enamel,” “cementum,” "chemical composition of the teeth," "anatomy of the pulp," "arteries, veins," and "nerves," the "articulation of the teeth," the "alveolar processes, anatomy of the gums, tartar glands, mucous," and "salivary" glands. The second chapter treats on the "development and growth of the teeth," "number of the teeth," "temporary teeth," "formation of the teeth," "growth of the teeth," "membranes of the teeth," "number of the permanent teeth," and the "position, form and use of the teeth." The third, is devoted to the "ordinary diseases of the teeth and gums," which are treated on under the following heads: "tooth-ache and its causes," "decay-its origin," "its exciting" and "constitutional" causes; "the effects of mercury," "mechanical injuries," "lateral pressure" and "erosion." In the fourth, are pointed out the "remedies, against decay, mode of treatment conducive to" the "preservation" of the teeth, followed by some remarks about "dentists, and their charges," "empiricism," "rules for the care of the teeth," "operation of stopping or filling the cavity," "materials" proper to be employed for that purpose, "preparation of the cavity," "introduction of the stopping," "division by filing," and "cements and the cases wherein they may be useful." The fifth chapter is devoted to the consideration of the "diseases of the gums and alveolar processes," which are treated on under the heads of "scurvy," "tartar and its effects," "mercury," "abscess," "tumors," "indigestion" and its "effects." The sixth, treats on "irregularity of the teeth," "shape and growth of the maxillary bones," "absorption of the fangs of the temporary teeth," "removal, period for," "mal-formations," "mode of treating irregularity, by extraction," "capping, by bar, ligatures, and screws," and the "period for treatment." The subjects embraced in the seventh chapter are, "extraction," "sufficient cause for," "effects of," "instruments," "key," "forceps and elevators," "exostosed and anchylosed teeth," and "lancing of the gums." The eight and last chapter, treats on the "restoration of the teeth," the circumstances under which "artificial teeth become necessary," "modes of restoring lost teeth," "a single tooth in front," "mastications," "hippopotamus ivory," "capil

lary attraction and atmospheric pressure;” "gold plates,” “ligatures,” “removal of stumps," "causes of failure in the attempts to restore the power of mastication," "selection of mode and material," "cheap teeth," "natural teeth" and "mineral teeth."

In treating upon so many subjects in so small a volume, the author's remarks upon each are necessarily restricted to very narrow limits; that his reading has extended beyond the works devoted exclusively to the science of dental pathology, is very evident, and from the views advanced by him in the work before us, we should judge that he is better versed in the theory of general medicine, than in the practice of the branch which he has undertaken to teach. While many of his opinions differ from those entertained by scientific dental surgeons of the present day, we were unable to discover, from the hasty perusal which we gave his work, any that were entirely new.

His opinion concerning the pathology of dental caries, presupposes the structure of dental bone to be tubular and non-vascular. His theory is ingenious, but after all not very different from that advanced by several of the older writers, among whom, are Fauchard and Auzebi. He says: "my own opinion with regard to the formation and decay is founded upon the endosmotic phenomena which I suppose to be taking place in the structure of the tooth. Thus, as no bloodvessels are traceable into the texture of the ivory, I conceive that the animal part of this structure derives its nutrition from the colorless liquor sanguinis imbibed by the tubuli from the vessels of the pulp. This mode of nutrition is seen in various tissues of the body, as for instance in cartilage, in the cornea, &c. That the tissue of the body is imbued with fluid, is evident from its solidity and color; and also from its difference of weight in the fresh and dried state. This fact may be easily illustrated by immersing a dried tooth in water, when it is observed to absorb a considerable proportion of the water, and become materially changed in its density.

"Now I think that I am warranted in inferring, that the nature of the fluid permeating the tooth from the vessels of the pulp is, in the normal state of the system, always similar.

"On the other hand, the crown of the tooth may be regarded as being immersed in the salivary fluid by which it is constantly surrounded, and, as we know, this fluid undergoes a change from alkaline to acid by simple exposure to the influence of atmospheric air within the mouth. Again, from containing a large proportion of nitrogen, the saliva is constantly subject to a change in character from decomposition; and, lastly, the fluids of the mouth are obviously very much affected by the state of the stomach, and disease of various kinds."

Now in the above statement we have the precise conditions which are best calculated to induce an active endosmosis; an alkaline fluid contained within the tubular texture of the teeth, and acid fluid externally, the two being separated by an animal tissue. To question the existence of endosmosis under such circumstances would be to dispute the first principles of physiological science. But what, asks my reader, are the results which I deduce from my positions? They are important, and the following: In the first place, it is by this process that the color of the teeth is altered in disease; that they become yellow and discolored during illness, by the transudation or endosmosis of discolored and morbid fluids.

And by the same process they are capable of regaining perfectly their original and wonted whiteness.

"Secondly, I regard this endosmosis as the means by which the calcareous matters are first dissolved, and secondly removed in a state of solution from the tubuli, leaving behind only the animal texture of the ivory, and thus establishing decay. I may be asked why, admitting my proposition, the decay should be localised to a single spot? Why should not all the tubes be affected similarly and simultaneously? My reply is, that the part most likely to be attacked, and that which, under the above circumstances I believe to be affected, is one which is already placed in a morbid condition, either by imperfection of development, or by injury to the tubular structure from pressure, &c.

"The first indications of the existence of decay of the ivory of the teeth, is a slight discoloration, which is perceptible through semi-transparent enamel.

"Decay progresses much more rapidly in some individuals than in others. The bone becomes softened by the removal of the earthy or calcareous part, leaving the organic of animal part behind, and is destroyed in a direct line from the surface towards the centre of the tooth, in the course of the tubuli. The base on which the enamel rested is thus removed, some accidental pressure in masticating bears upon the spot, the enamel breaks down, and a cavity is suddenly found to exist in what had probably, hitherto, been deemed by the unsuspecting owners, to be a sound tooth."

That Mr. Lintot is mistaken in regard to the nonvascularity, (of the teeth) the microscopic view of the tooth contained in the last number of our Journal, proves beyond the possibility of doubt, and in regard to the decay of the teeth being the result of an endosmosis, we think it can be much more easily accounted for by his own showing. The readiness of the fluids of the mouth to unite with the oxygen of the atmospheric air and become acidulated, satisfactorily accounts for the decomposition of their calcarious ingredients, or in other words, their decay. That it is in this way that the decay of the teeth is produced, is conclusively shown by the fact that dead teeth are as liable to decay as living ones. That teeth, after having become discolored throughout their substance, ever recover their original whiteness, as is asserted by our author, we are assured that they never do. As it regards any influence that can be exerted upon the bone of the tooth by the pressure upon the enamel, it is unreasonable to suppose, from the unyielding nature of this substance, that any could in that way be produced.

The material which he recommends in most cases for filling teeth, is gold. He should have recommended it in all, for if a tooth is worth being filled at all, it is worth being filled with the best article, and in the best manner, and we were sorry to find that in some cases he advises the employment of a cement consisting of an amalgum of mercury and silver. We believe this article to be not only valueless as a preservative to the teeth, but absolutely hurtful. We have heard of many instances where teeth have been greatly injured by its use, and in some where they have been destroyed. Almost every dentist, we believe, who uses it, disguises it by a name to suit his own peculiar fancy. It is designated by the various appellations of "mineral cement," "metallic paste," "lithodeon," "succedaneum,” “marmoratum," &c. &c. but these, we are informed, are all essentially one and the same, and we would have no confidence whatever in the skill of any