constitutional peculiarities and tendencies descend the strongest and most predominating from the paternal line, while, per contra, when the beard is seen lighter than the hair the maternal stock prevails. These differential measures and colors are again corroborated by the general form of features and bodily make up. With a nose comparatively large, and with wide spreading alæ ; with well shaped ears having firm elastic rims and long lower lobes; with broad square shaped lower face, long upper lip and broad chin, with the masseter muscles well developed, and with broad horizontal shoulders, there can be no mistaking the fact, in connection with the head measure, the hazel eyes, and darker color of beard before mentioned, of the strong predominating paternal ancestral influences governing and controling the constitutional tendencies of the individual.

On the other hand, we recognize the predominating maternal constitution in almost the opposite characteristics, viz., head narrow between the temporal fossæ, with longer measure comparatively from the naso-frontal suture to the external auditory canal, having thin tapering lower jaws, contracted nose, medium-sized ears, and with beard lighter than hair, in connection with narrow-sloping shoulders, broad hips, knock-kneed' legs, and genererally loosely-jointed, and with the muscular development usually not so strong or decided, as in those whose life characteristics have been derived from the paternal stock.

What is called "Powell's life line," is a measure taken by passing a string around the head, touching the outer upper orbital arch over the eye-brows and the occipital protuberance. From this somewhat oblique line is drawn a, perpendicular line to the external auditory canal; the short or long measure of this line adds strong corroborative evidence to the other measures already enumerated. Anything under one inch indicates short life, and over one inch a proportionately longer one.

COLOR.-Good health is generally accompanied by the roseate tint peculiar to a well-nourished body. Any departure from what may be termed the normal physiological color of the skin, indicates either some derangement of the internal organs, or some external injury; some pathological condition. For instance, the peculiar yellow of jaundice indicates some hepatic difficulty; the

pale anæmic aspect, chlorosis; the brownish yellow, bruised or externally injured parts. So also in the different temperaments we have the brownish tawny skin of the bilious, the fair light complexion of the sanguine, and the paler shade in the nervous. when either of these predominate. General debility is usually accompanied by a pale waxy tint, while inflammatory or conges tive conditions give us increased redness, even to lividity.

With some exceptions we find the rule to be, that sound, vig. orous health is indicated by a roseate tinted skin, showing the circulation of blood possessing normal constituents in due proportions, such as only a good physiological organism can furnish.

Ill health, systemic obstructions, congested capillaries or biliary derangements produce general discoloration, and may be looked upon as indications of grave import, while local changes may only indicate transient ailment or injury of the special part. A pale, waxy, cuticle, if accompanied with oedema, and congested capillary vessels about the nasal alæ, usually indicates renal dis turbance, which may often thus be diagnosed even before the presence of albumen is detected in the urine.

The colors of the iris, as before remarked, are, strictly speaking, either blue or brown, presenting every variety of shade. whose perfect admixture produces the true hazel. The color the iris never changes in the individual except as to shades, ar presents one of the strongest indications of the original fundamental constitution. Thus the two temperaments, bilious an sanguine, are well represented; the first by the brown, the sec ond by the blue. The former venous, sluggish; the latter, are rial, quick. In the pure hazel we find these two grand temper. ments well blended, nearly always associated with vigorous. healthy long life.

Either of these colors may be found in aged persons, howeve as may be observed in some of the different races; for instanc the black hair, dark brown eyes, dark bilious complexion, an dark beard of the Jewish race, or the light blue eyes, Saxon hal: and fair complexion of the German and Scotch races. As a rule when the iris looks watery, weak, color thin or transparent either brown or blue, there may be a suspicion of defective com stitution; a pure, deep bright color is a strong indication c

vigorous life. Very dark hair and beard, with light eyes and pale skin, show scrofulous and consumptive tendencies.

The colors of the hair, beard, eyes and skin compared, will then present good indications of health and disease, as well as of personal and ancestral longevity. Dark red hair and beard indicate nearly the same bilious temperament as dark brown or black hair with brown eyes, and with the same tendencies to diseases of the liver and digestory organs, and their usually attendant consequences, piles, rheumatic and systemic affections. When the eyes are of a reddish brown tint, easily lighted up under excitement, caused by a more rapid circulation, we have the most decided indication to apoplexy, liability to sunstroke or sudden cerebral congestion, and, as in these temperaments there is usually less muscular tenacity of blood vessels, it is with such that the smaller blood vessels give way under pressure from undue excitement or continuous mental activity. It has also been remarked that comparatively few persons with pure brown eyes can be found living above 70 years of age. Usually they do not live beyond 60 to 65. On the other hand, it is rare to find persons over the age of 70, who have not pure hazel eyes.

We have now given, somewhat in detail, the three grand divisions of the indications which can be applied, biometrically, to the study of the probabilities of life. In addition to these personal indications and measures, a record or inquiry in respect to the class of ancestral diseases, with the natural tendencies thereto, will afford such knowledge as heredity exhibits.

For the practitioner, the study of these biometrical indications in connection with an inquiry into the family history, their diseases and the causes of death, will be found of very great value. The tendencies to some special disease may be guarded against since the prognosis may be prevised and the diagnosis determined with much accuracy, and the treatment thereby intelligently directed.

For the practice of medicine and surgery, we then have certain indications and measures that can afford data by which a probable prognosis may be reached in cases of much gravity. With a history showing long-lived healthy ancestors, with form, color, and measures corresponding, by which we are enabled to judge

of the kind and quality of the constitutional inheritance, a proper estimate of the amount of endurance is possible, and one can, with very great confidence, assure the desponding, cheer the faint-hearted, and carry along the debilitated and almost exhausted patient to a successful recovery.

[From the American Dental Review, February, 1859.]

The Society having Resolved to take up Cavities 1 and 2, the following papers were read:

CONDITIONS OF THESE CAVITIES.

No. 1, Is superficial.

No. 2, Is a compound cavity, involving the grinding and anterior proximate surfaces-pulp not exposed, mouth large, patient

declines extraction, is willing to pay for the operation and desires to have the tooth preserved if possible.

What means would you employ to effect the object?

DR. C. MERRY.-Were the case presented to me as represented in the accompanying cut-I should certainly advise the removal of the tooth containing cavities Nos. 1 and 2; but as the patient will not consent, I must proceed to fill and save if it is possible.

I shall not take the cavities in the order in which they are numbered, as I always prefer to treat the most difficult one in a tooth first, especially if deep-seated; for, as with the gold digger, his claim is not thoroughly prospected until the bed rock is seen and cleaned up, and on that result he shapes his future operations; so in this case, I must see the bottom of the deepest caries before my treatment is fully determined upon.

If I find, as in the case here, that the nerve is not exposed, I then proceed to form the cavity; first with chisels and files,would remove so much of the inner proximate wall as would give me free access to that margin of the cavity which would be about one sixth of the width of the tooth on the top or grinding surface, and beveled to lower margin of cavity. I would also cut back the outer wall until I had a firm, smooth edge, endeavoring to keep the same angle of the inner; then with burs and excavators, follow around the entire border, removing all partially decomposed bone and the rough edges, cutting back those points projecting inwards, as much as I conveniently can; not only that the filling may be the more easily introduced and condensed, but also to lessen the extent of marginal exposure. Having gone around with the edge, which is the important part, I then go over the remaining surface of cavity, removing all softened dentine, frequently rinsing out with cold water, if not too sensitive, if so, use warm, or wipe out with cotton, if it is not painfully sensitive to the cold water, or under the pressure of the instrument when applied over the nerve cavity, it is ready to receive the filling.

I now prepare my non-adhesive gold, No. 4, would cut a leaf in two parts, fold and roll very loosely, would also prepare some of adhesive foil in pellets or blocks, I now protect the tooth from the flow of saliva by the introduction of napkins and