If it should be asked what advantage has resulted from it to the therapeutics of this disease, I answer, that it is already a very great one to have fixed the nature of the lesion with which the patient who claims our aid is affected. Now, precision of diagnosis is necessarily an approximation to a more efficacious mode of treatment; and though we have not yet attained the desired end, it is nevertheless a great good to know the extent of the evil which we wish to avert. But, if we reflect that pneumo-thorax is most frequently a mode of termination of a disease generally fatal, either chronic pleurisy or phthisis pulmonalis; if we consider that it is most generally a phenomenon of the last stages of the disease, we will see that it was quite natural that so grave a case should present few therapeu tic indications, and we shall be less disposed to render auscultation responsible for the little progress which science has made with respect to its treatment.

(TO BE CONTINUED.) /

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Bibliographical Notices.

ART. II.-The New England Quarterly Journal of Medicine and Surgery. Vol. 1st, No. 1, for July, 1842. Boston, pp.

156.

Cunard's steamers and the "Western Railway" seem to have given an impetus to more things than commerce in Bos-. ton: a new-born excitement has taken hold of the profession." Hitherto, notwithstanding her advantages for such an enterprise, the only medical periodical published there has been a small, neat-looking, "one-masted" vessel, (we might have said one mastered) yclept the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, under the guidance of that learned Theban and experienced navigator, Jerome Van Crowninshield Smith, M. D., of ichthyological memory, who is as punctual in his visitations as a bank notice, for which he deserves and receives due thanks. But here we have a new craft looming up in the distance, a regular "three-decker," we suppose it might be called, though not a vessel of war, which is to anchor and lay its cargo at our door every three months.

To drop such an incongruous metaphor, though, ere it has led us into error, if it has not already done it, and speak in landsman's phrase, as best becomes one who never snuffed a sea-breeze, we would simply say, that the above is the title of a new Quarterly, whose first number has been lying on our table some days, having with a sort of rail-road celerity reached us considerably in advance of its appointed time. It is edited by Charles E. Ware, M. D., and Samuel Parkman, M. D., names not unfamiliar to the reader, and is backed by some of the best pens in New England.

The first feeling we had, when, two months or more since, we copied a notice heralding the advent of this journal was one of surprise that something of the kind had not been undertaken long before; and we must still express the same feeling. It would be superfluous to say that there is plenty of talent and material in Boston for such a work, when some of our best writers, both surgical and medical, are or have been residents of that city. And as to support, the territory comprehended under the term New England, ought by all means to sustain two journals, even supposing their circulation to be confined to its limits, which is not the case with the weekly already mentioned, and of course will not be with the new quarterly.

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Some of our exchanges-the New York Lancet for example-predict that it will be a failure on account of its trimestrial character, and express a doubt whether any thing can succeed save a cheap weekly journal. With due deference to them, we think differently. The rage (if such there be) for hebdomadals, will be short-lived, and work its own cure, to which nothing will tend more promptly or effectually than their multiplication. We do not deny them a measure of utility; they quickly disseminate a knowledge of the novelties occurring in the profession, in which respect they are attractive and peradventure useful; but from their very constitution they can do little more. For solid learning, for extensive research, for all, in short, that can give character and dignity to the profession, that will set its members to thinking and reflecting, and result in permanent improvement, a monthly or quarterly will be required. There are few readers, we opine, who do not look with far more interest and anticipated benefit for the American Journal of Medical Sciences, or some of the foreign quarterlies republished in this country (modesty forbids the mention of our monthly in such a connection), than for any of the weekly periodicals now existing among us. Boston has quick communication with the world beyond the waters, she has numerous and large hospitals, extensive libraries, a corps of liberal and enlightened medical men-wherefore, then,

should she not possess a valuable and popular journal of the kind now offered to the public?

This number exhibits a handsome appearance-nothing flashy or dandyish-both inside and out. Its contents are of a diversified character, consisting of nine original papers on medical and surgical subjects, with reviews, bibliographical notices, scientific intelligence, and a variety of selected matter. The original papers are all of a valuable nature, such as will at once give a high standing to the work; one of them will be found in our pages for this month, and we shall take an early opportunity to introduce our readers to some others that we have marked for transfer. Under the head of scientific intelligence are extracts from reports made to the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, which contain much that is of interest; this is a feature thatwill be continued, we presume, in the future numbers. On the whole we augur very favorably of this periodical, and give it a cordial welcome. If any of our readers crave more food than is served up to them in our monthly dish, we commend the New England Quarterly to their favorable notice.

C.

ART. III.-The American Journal and Library of Dental Science. Vol. II, No. 4, June, 1842. Baltimore.

There was as much truth as wit in the wag who said he never saw "M. D." after a dentist's name, that he did not read it "miserable dentist"; as much truth, we say, as wit, as many an unfortunate young gentleman and gentle "spinster" can abundantly testify. Of all professions or callings, of all occupations or employments, of all sciences or arts that have ever risen and flourished, we venture to give it as our firm belief that there have been more absolute, unredeemed bunglers and botches, more downright, incorrigible ignoramuses and dolts, in that of dentistry than all others put together. We have seen and heard of so much irreparable injury inflicted by them, if not with malice prepense with at least something akin to it, that we freely confess the appellation is, or rather was, any thing

but a badge of knighthood, or a stamp of gentility in our view.

Such, we say, was the case; but it is a source ef pleasure to think that the day has gone by when a fellow, too lazy to work, provided with a leaf or two of gold foil, or something resembling it, an old file and a pair of forceps, could set out, advertise himself "dentist," with a long string of recommendations, and commence his murderous work of rasping, filing and filling. Men of talents, and many of them possessing high attainments, have entered the field and wrested it from the occupancy of mountebanks and greedy charlatans, driving out these unclean spirits who infested it. Both as a science and an art dentistry has made rapid advances within the last few years, and bids fair soon to attain an honorable rank among the departments of surgery. To practice this profession successfully now, not only is great mechanical skill required, but likewise an intimate acquaintance with the laws and phenomena of diseased action as it affects the whole or a part of the body. A man cân set him down now in a dentist's chair (what an inviting air they all have, too!), without fear of being mangled or crucified-of undergoing tortures to which the rack, iron boots, and screws of Torquemada, or the live coals of Cortez, would be beds of down, and exquisite pleasure.

In extending the reform thus happily commenced, the Journal will prove an efficient instrument in the hands of the association by whom it is published, and afford powerful aid to the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery recently established by the same Society. For this reason, therefore, if there were none other, it commends itself to the patronage of the profession. Its appearance, to use, the language of a contemporary, "is every way creditable"; indeed, as to typography, it is one of the most neatly printed journals that we have seen. No pains or expense seems to be spared by the conductors to render it valuable. The journal department of the present number, which completes the second volume, contains several interesting papers, both original and selected, and is embellished with numerous wood-cuts. The third volume commences in September next, and we hope will be issued to an increased number of subscribers.

C.