Dentists Who May Cause Disease.Hygeia of June, 1924, does a servicein calling attention to the need for strict supervision of the methods employed by dentists, to prevent the transmission of disease. While there are probably no available figures to indicate the amount of damage that has been done by dentists who are careless of fundamental laws of aseptic surgical procedure, it is safe to assume from observation that a great deal of damage is done, the cause of which is usually unrecognized both by the patient and the dentist, or which, if perchance it should be recognized, it is difficult to prove as being due to the disregard of surgical cleanliness. Even those dentists who make a practice of properly sterilizing their instruments after they have been used in a given case, are guilty of many offensive practices which are not only unesthetic but which may be distinctly harmful. Too often one notices that instruments that have been sterilized, are put back on an ornate bracket that has been soiled with salivary secretions of the preceding patients; a fresh paper or linen napkin is not placed on the bracket for each new patient. Not infrequently a soiled napkin is employed over and over again. Also, after a dentist has ostentatiously cleaned his hands, he will, in the course of conversation, rub his eyes, put his hands into his pockets, or place his fingers to his lips or teeth, especially if he wishes to illustrate the virtues of his own work. Or, he will handle an assortment of objects in and about the room that may have been soiled in a variety of ways. Our bacteriological friends may tell us that disease has rarely been traced to these practices. They are at least unesthetic, repulsive; they may be exceedingly dangerous. Education of the general public to be alert to these things would seem to be a very desirable public health function. The dentists, too, should be advised and instructed where necessary as to the value of the application of surgical principles in their work.