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HISTOEY OF DENTAL SUEGERY 283

In the "American Journal and Lilirary of Dental Science,'' Dr. Solyman
Brown says : "Few suction dentures arc ILxed firmly upon the gum, and used
successfully for mastication, by mere suction or atmospheric pressure without
any aid from the tongue, lips, cheeks, and antagonizing jaws."
In "A Guide to Sound Teeth,"' by S. Spooner, published in 1838, he says:
"Suction cases are exciting considerable interest from the novelty of them,
and the advertisements of some dentists, who would have the public believe
themselves the inventors of the important discovery."
The "Dental News Letter"' for July, 185"?, lias an article on "air-cham-
bers," bv Professor T. L. Buckingham, in which he recommends them.
In 1850 Dr. J. A. Cleveland patented a vacuum chamber, very much like
Gilbert's, and generally used for metal dentures, but it had an acute edge
which generally kept the tissues sore.
In 1893 Eichardson said : "There is no reason for their employment, ex-
cept in rare cases. Experience has proved that equally secure and much more
enduring attachment of the denture may be ohtained in the utilization of
adhesive force alone." Dr. John Spyer devised for plastic work a thin me-
tallic form, the surface of which is covered with minute papilliform promi-
nences which by displacement of mucus at the points of gum contact effect
surface cohesion.
In 1905 Eauhe patented a plate retainer which he claims does away with
all objections to the old style rubber suction plates. This retainer is a soft
rubber disk vulcanized into the center of the palatal portion of a dentui'e.
In 1904r The Dental Suction Company patented the "Perfection Flexible
Suction," which is made of velum rubber and is placed upon the palatal side
of the plate before tlie case is vulcanized.
The vacuum chamlier undoubtedly has a field of usefulness, and in full
lower dentures it will occasionally be useful.

DENTAL ARTICUL.VTOK.
The dental articulator was invented by J. B. Gariot about 1S05, and
many forms constructed on principles similar to his have been used since that
time.
On August 28, 1848, Daniel T. Evens, of Philadelphia, obtained a patent
for an articulator having slot and pin joints, by means of which, as he ex-
presses it in his specifications, "the lower plate is allowed a motion at the
Joints similar to that which is admitted by tlie condyloid processes in the liv-