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226 HISTOEY OF DENTAL SURGERY

Robert Huey, of Philadelphia, "at least a dozen years ago." Dr. Guilford also
showed one of his own devising.
At a meeting of the New York Odontological Society, ("Cosmos," Vol.
XXVIII, p. 287, 1886,) Dr. T. W. Brophy, of Chicago, showed a band matrix
of his own invention, in which the band was tightened by turning a screw
which passed througli the buccal side of the band against the surface of the
tooth, drawing the band away on that side and tightening it on the proximal
and lingual sides.
At a meeting of the New Y''ork Odontological Society, ("Cosmos," Vol.
XXIX, p. 23G, 1887,) Dr. S. G. Perry said Dr. Bogue had sent him from
Paris the Ladmore Brunton set of matrices, made by Ash & Sons, of London.
"The matrix is simply a little band of steel with holes in each end, and so
shaped as to pass between the teeth and be caught by little fingers which
engage in the holes and are controlled by an adjusting screw. With it comes
a very neat watch key wrench, the flexibility of which makes it easy to use in
almost any position."

MECHANICAL DEVICES—DRYING MOUTH AND CAVITIES.
1 "Nothing, perlia])s, indicates more accurately the want of thoroughness
and attention to detail in the early practice of the dental art than the total
obliviousness to all minutia; of operating shown by even the best dental writ-
ers of over fifty years ago." (This was written in 1876.)
"It may be stated as a fact that until after the introduction of gold foil,
the absence of moisture from the filling was not, as now, considered of great
importance. * * * As the manner of insertion was not calculated to pre-
vent the after entrance of moisture around the plug, it will be conceded that
its first presence was probably not thouglit highly objectionable. Koecker,
although treating somewhat elaborately (for the time) of the filling operation,
says not a word as to the importance of a dry cavity. Fitch mentions inci-
dentally the wiping out of cavities with locks of cotton; and so, also, Desira-
bode." (The raw cotton used at that time absorbed moisture much less
freely than the prepared cotton now used. My preceptor, in 1865, bought his
cotton in the dry goods store, and it was while a student with him that the
dental supply houses began to supply prepared cotton for dental uses. Ed.)
"The napkin was probably the first, and for a long time the only imple-
ment used * * * to prevent access of saliva, that already in the cavity
' History of Deutal and Oral Science in America.