BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
The Principles and Practice of Pental Surgery. By Chapin A.
Harris, M. D., D. D. S, Professor of the Principles and Practice
of Dental Surgery in the Baltimore College, &c. &c. Fourth
Edition; revised, modified and greatly enlarged, with two
hundred illustrations. Philadelphia. Lindsay & Blakiston:
1850.
We hail with pleasure every advance made in this kindred
branch of surgery, and gladly award the meed of praise to him
who adds but a mite to the treasury of fast-accumulating lore in
this department. Among the most energetic in the good cause of
reform is the industrious author of the work before us, whose high
appreciation by his brethren is manifested in the rapid sale of
three large editions and the appearance of a fourth. The days of
empiricism and charlatanism are fast disappearing under the
labors of the author and his colleagues, and other colaborers, and
scientific attainments are rapidly becoming a sine qua non to
him who would hope for even moderate success in his profession.
Mere mechanical dexterity is not all that is necessary to make an
accomplished dentist. A knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology,
Hygiene and General Therapeutics, are even more essential to con-
servative dentistry, the great end and aim of every judicious prac-
titioner.
These general remarks have been drawn forth by the perusal of
the volume before us, which although familiar to us, and doubtless
to the mass of the profession, from an acquaintance with former
editions, still demands that we should speak in flattering terms of
the care and erudition displayed in its production. We observe
three new chapters on “Filling Teeth” and one on “ Mechanical
Dentistry,” with the addition of forty-five new engravings. In
mechanical execution the work cannot be excelled, and we predict
for the present edition an equally favorable reception as those of
its predecessors.