First, I extracted the right normal central. Immediately afterward I slowly turned the supernumerary central on its axis, as suggested by Tomes, bringing it to a "front face." Having prepared a plate, I attached floss-silk to the tooth, and drew it back in a day into line with the lateral, painting the gum with aconite and iodine, and instructing the patient to keep lips and gums cool with ice. In two days the tooth was firm, and I removed the ligature. The case then presented the appearance seen in Fig. 2.

Tomes (page 197) illustrates a case somewhat similar to that now presented in Fig. 2. In his case the canine occupied the place of the lateral incisor, and vice versa, and he says, "In a practical point of view no great interest is attached to this form of irregularity, as it does not admit of remedy." Garretson (page 480) also says, "Instances are met where certain teeth have completely changed position. A lateral incisor appears in the situation of a central, the central occupying the place of the lateral. Here there is no correction possible, except it be in the extraction of the teeth and their rearrangement upon a plate, or through the pivoting process." Salter (page 5), in writing of the transposition of teeth, supposes a case almost precisely like that shown in Fig. 2, and says, "It may separate the central from the lateral"; and concludes, "Still no treatment is available."

The way I now treated my case was very simple. I extracted

the supernumerary lateral on the left side of the median line, and also the left central, of which latter I excised the apex of its root, and pushed it up slowly into the socket of the lateral, fortunately securing the beautiful juxtaposition seen in Fig. 3.

The regulation of the cuspid yet remains. The torsion and transplantation were done over two years ago, in presence of my friend and confrere, Dr. Brewster. The patient has been frequently seen by each of us since then, and is using the teeth as well as ever before.

I ought to say, in conclusion, that there are constitutional conditions in which one should not venture upon the replantation of teeth with any hope of success.

CROTON-CHLORAL IN FACIAL NEURALGIA.-Dr. F. B. LEE reports the case of a lady, æt. 32, who had suffered for years from attacks of facial neuralgia, had had several teeth extracted, had been blistered behind the ears, and had tried numerous other means without avail. He prescribed croton-chloral in threegrain doses every four hours. After the third dose perfect ease was experienced, and, although three months had elapsed, there had been no return of the disease.-The British Med. Journal.

LETTERS TO A YOUNG DENTIST.

No. 7.

IS THE PROFESSION CROWDED?

My Young Friend-You ask me the above question and wish to know if I would advise you to take a student, or recommend any young man to commence the study of dentistry at the present time.

For many reasons I can say, most emphatically, No, I would not advise any young man to enter the dental profession now.

Since the advent of rubber plates, thousands have qualified themselves after a fashion-to work the material and become dentists, thus filling the ranks to overflowing. Immediately succeeding the introduction of rubber, dentists found themselves crowded with work for which they received a very fair remuneration. There were two causes for this. First-Before rubber came into use, plates were made of gold and silver or platinum; few people could afford the expense, consequently but few plates were made. Teeth decayed as badly as they do now, but as they were not replaced by artificial teeth, the proportion of people who did without teeth was very great, and the dawning of the rubber era found a vast field of toothless old jaws to work upon. And again, dentists had been in the habit of charging, and the people accustomed to paying, good large fees for plates, and consequently did not expect to get even a rubber plate for nothing. These causes operated to make the practice of dentistry-particularly mechanical dentistry-exceedingly profitable. Young men got the "dental fever," and the rush to our ranks was as great as the hegira to California in 1849.

Men saw a rich bonanza in every toothless old woman in the land, and after a few months---oftentimes only weeks-of pupilage they were turned loose by the thousands. For a time the harvest was rich; the civil war came on, prices advanced, and money was made easily and rapidly. But gradually the work. was being done up; there was less to do each year; the accumu

lated toothless mouths of generations were beginning to be filled up; the raw material was gradually being exhausted; there was less work to do, still the number of dentists was constantly increasing and has continued to increase until we have more than are needed.

Almost any old practitioner will tell you that there is less dentistry to do to-day in proportion to the population than there was ten years ago, yet there are fifty per cent. more dentists to do it. There is no doubt about it, our ranks are crowded: there are too many dentists both in city and country; the people and profession would be better off if not another dentist was made for ten years. Young men entering the profession now, with the expectation of making anything more than a moderate living will be terribly disappointed, and will continually regret the loss of time and money spent in acquiring a profession that will barely return them a comfortable living. Cheap dentists, men who are glad to work for mere mechanic's wages, are swarming in every city and town. They resort to all kinds of clap-trap in advertising, to gain the public eye and ear. TEETH FOR $6 and $7 A SET! TEEth Extracted for 25 cents, with GAS for 35 cents, are a sample of what can be seen in every street and upon every corner. Thousands of people who can afford to pay a fair fee for a dental operation will be enticed into these places, and poor but honorable men must remain idle.

The law of supply and demand will at last regulate this matter, I suppose, but at the present it does not seem to be in operation. Let me advise your friend, who thinks he would like to become a dentist, and who has been urged to take this step simply because he has given evidence of possessing some mechanical ability, to remain on the farm with the old folks, if he would enjoy peace of mind. Let him turn that mechanical ability to the invention of machinery which will subdue the vast uncultivated plains and prairies, making them smile with beautiful har vests, which are always in demand, and will add untold treasures to the pockets of the producers.

Truly yours,

GOLD FOIL.

This syringe, of metal, nickle-plated, is represented half-size. It is provided with a spring, a suggestion from Dr. A. H. Brockway, so that if after use it is placed in water its piston rises and it fills itself with water, and is so constantly ready for use. The points, straight and curved, are removable at will.

With one point, curved.....

PRICES:

With two points, one straight and one curved..

.$2 25

250

THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

The sixteenth annual session of the American Dental Association was opened yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in the chapel of the Arch street Methodist Episcopal Church, S. E. corner Broad and Arch streets, to continue until Friday. The following is the list of dentists present: Drs. F. Abbott, New York; John Allen, New York; W. H. Allen, New York; J. J. Anderson, Springfield, Ill.; W. H. Atkinson, New York; W. B. Acheson, Ohio; G. L. Buckingham, Philadelphia; Alonzo Boice, Philadelphia; C. M. Bailey, Minneapolis, Minn; E. A. Bogue, New York; G. T. Barker, Philadelphia; C. H.. Biddle, New York; A. H. Brockway, New York; George H. Cushing, Chicago; J. W. Clowes, New York; C. D. Cook, New York; J. N. Crouse, Chicago; M. S. Dean, Chicago; M. W. Foster, Baltimore; George L. Field, Detroit; J. Foster Flagg, Philadelphia ; F. J. S. Gorgas, Baltimore; E. S. Gaylord, New Haven, Conn.;