Review of Dental Literature and Art. [Volume: 2, Issue: 4, November, 1860, pp. 228-234]

S2

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

feeling assured there was some specific taint connected with the disease in
the tooth, I, after consulting Dr. W. A. Cornelius, assumed the responsibility of treating it accordingly, and prescribed a mercurial course, at the
same time directing leeches to be applied to the gums and mustard plaster externally. The patient returned next day complaining still more,
the inflammation now extending to adjoining teeth. After consulting
with Dr. Cornelius again, I yielded to the urgent request of the patient
and removed the tooth that had first given trouble, thinking it would
probably relieve the intense suffering, and tend to prevent the further extension of the inflammation. The tooth was removed, but without much
alleviation of pain, as the inflammation in the adjoining teeth was now
giving considerable trouble. I must here state that after another close
interrogation on the delicate subject, enough was elicited to confirm the
diagnosis of venereal taint which had acted the part of a predisposing
cause, and was readily brought into action by the operation of filling the
tooth, which undoubtedly was the exciting cause. The mercury was
continued in combination with the iodide potassium, but without any
decided improvement for the first day or two; but as soon as the system
began to show the effects of the mercury, the inflammation was gradually
dispersed.
"Everything connected with this case indicated it to be one of wellmarked syphilitic character, and I again say might have resulted more
seriously had not an anti-syphilitic course of treatment been given."
DENTAL REVIEW, LONDON-AUGUST.
"COLLODION A NEW BASE FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETI.-The present may
well be called an age of experiment, invention, and improvement, when
the wonders of to-day are superseded by the novelties of to-morrow, and
that which at one time was declared to have arrived at perfection must
give place to an even more perfect arrangement.
"The profession has been revolutionized by the introduction of the
hardened india-rubber base, and vulcanite has now become a household
word. The dental depots abound in novelties-vulcanite teeth of all
patterns, shapes, and sizes-vulcanizers and vulcanizing flasks have
variously commanded attention. The war set in with steam patents, dry
patents, and superheated patents; every hour brought its novelty, until
the profession, surfeited with vulcanite in all colors, and tired of the
many improvements flooded in upon them, awoke from its trance to cry,
'Hold I I'll hear no more.'
"Vulcanite was not, however, entirely to take the place of gold,
although it might of bone; vulcanite was not applicable in every case,
and was not to be the ruin of the profession. Highly valuable as an
auxiliary, an auxiliary alone it must remain.
"No sooner has this fever somewhat abated than a new rival appears
unexpectedly upon the scene. On the fourth of May last, letters-patent
were sealed to John Macintosh for 'Improvements in Setting Artificial
Teeth,' and thus runs the specification:"'This invention has for its object improvements in setting artificial
teeth. For this purpose I employ COLLODION, (or a solution of gun-cotton or fibre in a solvent;) this material I apply to the teeth to be set
when in a fluid or soft state, so that, when it hardens, the teeth may hecome securely imbedded in it. A form or mould is by preference em