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REVIEW OF DENTISTRY. 247

The Scandinavian Dental Society's Journal is edited at Helsing-
fors since January I, 1894. Editor-in-chief is Matti Ayrapaa,
M. D. (See Denmark.)

FRANCE.

(republic.)

Area, 204,092 square miles. Population, 38,218,903.
-Capital, Paris; population, 2,344,550.
The first ordinance regarding the practice of dentistry in
France dates from the year 1614. It was later followed by
another of 1699. In those ordinances, the dentist was placed on
a level with the oculist, the bone setter and the lithotomist, every
one being considered an " expert" in his branch of surgery.
Later came the edict of May, 1768, which is rightly considered
as being the most important ordinance relating to the profession,
prior to the Revolution. This edict had for its principal purpose
—to be sure—the organization of the College of Surgery of Paris,
but we find in Section 9 four articles in relation to the dentists.
According to Article 126, it was required of the candidate to
matriculate at the college of surgery as " expert." Article 127
prescribed that the aspirant should stay at least two years with a
master of surgery or expert dentist in Paris, and three years in
the provinces. Article 128 contained stipulations for the theo-
retical and practical examinations to which the aspirant was sub-
jected, the construction of the examination committee and the
formalities to which the candidate had to submit himself, in case
he was admitted. The candidate was also compelled to take
oath before the King's First Surgeon or his lieutenant. Article
129 contained the penalties prescribed in cases of dentists who
"
went beyond their specialty and practiced as " surgeon dentists
instead of " expert dentists."
Thus we see that during the ancient regime, the dentists, like
physicians and surgeons, were compelled to matriculate at a col-
lege of surgery, pass their examination, and be sworn, in order
to obtain the title of " expert."
Things w ent on in this way until the time of the Revolution.
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