L'art du dentiste, ou, Manuel des operations de chirurgie, qui se pratiquent sur les dents, et de tout ce que les dentistes font en dents artificielles, obturateurs et palais artificiels : ouvrage dans lequel on a expose la semeiologie buccale, et le bien qu'elle procure dans la pratique de l'art de guerir . . . : avec 16 planches de gravures, representant 53 objets, en instrumens, dents, dentiers et obturateurs : le tout precede et accompagne de la theorie fondee sur les principes de chirurgie reconnus les plus avantageux jusqu'a present . . .

A Paris:: Chez l'auteur . . . : Crouillebois . . . , rue des Mathurins : Barois jeune, rue Haute-Feuille: Mequignon, rue des Ecoles de Medecine: Gabon et comp. . . . , an X, 1802., 1802. 8vo. 396, [2] pp. 16 leaves of plates (containing 55 figures)*, drawn by Miel jeune and engraved by Thuillier, errata. [* The 55 figures are numbered 1-12, 16-21, 29-37, 39-41, 85-100, 102-110]. Contemporary half calf with blind-stamped decorative spine, four raised bands, tree-marbled boards, edges sprinkled green. A very fine copy. First edition. A very complete work, describing all the operations in use at the time in the field of dentistry, one of the most important contributions to dentistry of the period. It is illustrated with 16 engraved plates out of the text, representing 53 objects: instruments, teeth, dentures, etc. Two more edition were issued in 1806 and 1810, the latter altering the title some as, Theorie et pratique de l'art du dentiste. In 1803 the work was translated into German. / Some of the plates may have been used to illustrate earlier books by Laforgue (printed before 1791), which may explain the irregular numbering of the figures contained on the sixteen plates. Laforgue rejected porcelain dentures because of their fragility and because they sounded like cracked bells. / He opens the work, arranged in three parts, with a call to the qualities of a person to become a dentist: knowledge of physiology (particularly the mouth), knowledge of inflammation suppuration and resolution, knowing the patient's health, have not an unpleasant appearance, "have good, clean teeth," "have long, slender fingers," lots of [dental] skills, clear thinking, good judgement, kind character, patience, honesty, be clean. He is very aware of dental pathology, gum disease (p.35+) & its treatment (p. 39+), softening of the tenth (p. 51+), tooth fractures (p. 52+), wear of teeth (p. 54+), tooth decay (p. 56+), tooth pain (p. 62+), signs of pain (p. 66+), some drugs used for dentistry (p. 71+), use and application of dentifrices (p. 72+), transplanting a tooth from one person to another (p. 113+), etc. The second part is concerned with dental surgery. Teeth cleaning in considered here (p. 141+). Filing tenth (p. 159+). Tooth extraction (p. 170+). Accidents during tooth extraction (p. 208+). Bleeding (p. 214+). Straightening of teeth (p. 222+). Part three is engaged with artificial teeth. Drilling teeth (p. 262+). Piecing a separated tooth together (p. 265). A section is oriented to supplying artificial teeth derived from that of a hippopotamus (p. 275+, 283+, 301+). The author even addresses artificial tenth with an artificial jaw (p. 304+). / Laforgue was a dentist in high repute in Paris in his time. He practiced dentistry already in 1785 and was approved in 1788. He was a member of the College de Chirurgie, Paris. REFERENCES: Coltham & Hagelin, Odontologia, pp. 104-5; Hirsch III, 649; Bibliotheca Walleriana 10665; Weinberger I, 316 & 438; Weinberger Bibliog., 81; Wellcome III, p. 431.