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HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 187

of the New York Odontological Society, though originating with Dr. William
Herbst of Bremen, Germany. (It seems probable that it has been
publicly announced in Europe previous to this time.) In this method
the packing of gold is done by rotating burnishers used in the engine.
Cavities must have entire surrounding walls, either as found, or made
so by use of a matrix. Cylinders are placed against the walls all round and
polished against tlie walls with burnishers of suital)le sizes. This polished
surface is condensed further and slightly roughened l\v a small and corrugated
burnisher, and more added. ("Cosmos." Vol. XXVI, 188i. p. 665-68.)

DURABILITY OF FILLINGS BY THE HEEBST METHOD.
"At a clinic by Dr. W. Herbst at the S. S. White Depot in Xew York, in
August, 1886, five ajjproximal and two labial cavities were filled by the rota-
tion method, and appeared to be quite perfect under careful examination.
The patient. Dr. J. E. DaSilva, subsequently came under my care, and I
found the cavity of every approximal Herbst filling showing a lining of decay
at the cervical and palatal borders to an extent that necessitated the removal
of each of those fillings. The labial fillings were in better condition, and
because the patient was about to sail for Europe there was not tinie for
removing them and refilling the cavities. Dr. DaSilva is very particular in
the care of his teeth and it was through no fault of his that the fillings
failed. There was no overlapping of the gold, but it was not condensed at
the l)orders and so failed to preserve the teeth. The decay was of a white,
chalky nature, and the teeth very sensitive." ("Cosmos," Vol. XXXI, p. 408,
1889. Dr. W. T. Onderdonk, X'^ew York.)
At a meeting of the First District Dental Society of Xew York ("Cosmos,"
Vol. XXVIII, p. 762-3, 1886), Dr. Reese described filling with cement and
amalgam using soft oxyphosphate and packing amalgam into it at once,
squeezing out as much cement as possible and when nearly filled with amalgam
carefully freeing the margins from cement before completing the filling. He
also made gold fillings in the same way.
In the discussion Dr. C. S. W. Baldwin said he had tried the method five
or six years previously and said it was introduced and spoken of by Dr. T. B.
Welch before he went into the dental manufacturing business. Dr. Baldwin
concluded by saying, "I tried all of those experiments, and I found, as I
believe most of you will find, that there is nothing cjuite so good to hold gold
fillings as good, solid tooth material itself."