Reply to the 'Additional strictures', contained in the first number of the Quarterly Medical Review, on the Principles of dental surgery, etc. : Containing various remarks on the teeth, especially on the perniciouseffects of tartar, and other causes of diseases of the teeth and gums / [Leonard Koecker].

Leonard Koecker

Date:: 1827

Credit: Reply to the 'Additional strictures', contained in the first number of the Quarterly Medical Review, on the Principles of dental surgery, etc. : Containing various remarks on the teeth, especially on the perniciouseffects of tartar, and other causes of diseases of the teeth and gums / [Leonard Koecker]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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believe he understands his art, and his book contains much valuable matter.” See The Lond. Med. Repos. and Review, No. 154, pp. 323—329. To these observations are appended some criticisms and kind suggestions, of which the author will not fail to take advantage in due time. . I shall next bring forward some favourable evidence from the very Review to which the strictures, as already said, form a kind of appendage. “‘ Whatever professed Dentists may think of Mr. Koecker’s work, and of the freedom with which he exposes the mischief which he un- equivocally imputes to the majority of their principles and operations, we are quite persuaded that it must prove essentially useful to the medical profession, and to the public in general.” —‘* We beg leave once more to recommend the work to the medical profession, as one well deserving aitention; and from the perusal of which, intelligent practitioners cannot fail to derive hints which may be highly bene- ficial in general practice.” It is quite evident besides, that the editor of the Quarterly Medical Review, did not agree with the penman of the ‘additional strictures,’ for he expressly says, “« Notwithstanding the difference of opinion expressed by the writer of these observations, from that which we hold with regard to the general merits of the volume under review, we think it but fair to give to Mr. Koecker’s professional brethren, an opportunity of replying to the accusations he has so freely levelled against them.” See The Quarterly Med. Review, pp. 40, 41. 49. The critic himself most mercifully acknowledges that my work contains “a quantity of useful matter,” though he is of opinion that, “all that is either new or important,” might have been much condensed, and that I, “now and then deviate into a sensible hint” and a ‘‘ shrewd observations” consequently he avows that the work possesses some merit. Again, he assumes a charitable vein, and adds— ‘<1 am happy to say that I have discovered, even in the volume of such a writer as Mr. Koecker, some judicious remurks, and new observations ;” and he also talks of “the value of the remark;” and adds, ‘* The following observation, from its importance to the pub- lic, cannot be too often reiterated :’—* I have great pleasure too, in extracting the following passage, which, in my opinion, is grounded on sound observation.” See The Quarterly Med. Review, No. 1, pp. 49. 59, 56. The Dentist-Critic, after proclaiming his merciful con- descension in passing over, in silence, ‘the author’s con- ceit, egotism, and bad english,’ tells us that he prefers .s i ] lain statement of the contents of the presenting merely a plain statemen 8 book,”’ and then he proceeds to make his charges against me.

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