Even the ancient savages used to make holes in the skull to let out the demons which they believed were responsible for disease. Instances are recorded in which they also repaired such holes by the insertion of buttons of bone previously removed. In attempting to repair the ravages of disease, surgeons today sometimes fill in defects with substances of various kinds. At the recent meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in Colorado Springs, one entire session was devoted to the newest points in this fine surgical art. _Removing an Eye._--When an eye must be removed because of inflammation or disease--and this sometimes done promptly to save the sight of the remaining eye--the cavity that is left may be extremely unsightly. Dr. Harold Gifford of Omaha told of various operations that are done to secure a good appearance. When an artificial eye is to be worn the socket must be made suitable to hold it. Sometimes paraffin is employed to develop a proper cavity, although most physicians fear this substance because its injection may produce irritations and overgrowth more unsightly and certainly more dangerous than the condition the paraffin was planned to correct. Dr. Harry L. Pollock of Chicago told of several instances in which cancerous growths had followed the injection of paraffin by beauty doctors to relieve wrinkles or the sunken bridge of a nose injured by a blow. The appearance seemed beautiful immediately after the injection of the paraffin, but soon the irritation set in. Then the face became a mass of humpy tumors which had to be removed by surgery and which left serious scars. Celluloid was tried for a while, but it also was discarded because the results were unsatisfactory. _Use of Ivory._--The newest and for the present apparently the best substance to use for repairing defects is ivory--either natural or synthetic. Dr. Pollock pointed out that this substance is more nearly like bone in its composition than any other substance known. Both bone and cartilage are used also, but Dr. Pollock’s experience inclined him to favor ivory over either. Obviously this work is not for the amateur, but for the experienced worker. The so-called advertising beauty doctors seldom attempt it because the conditions under which most of them work are not conducive to successful surgery. They choose rather to delude their patients with promises of rapid and easy relief that are never fulfilled. BEWARE OF BEAUTY DOCTOR WHO OFFERS GUARANTEES Recently there came to medical attention the case of a woman who had been the victim of the search for beauty through surgery. She was the wife of a prominent merchant in a foreign country. When she was eight years old she was operated on for the relief of tuberculous glands in her neck. She grew up, married successfully and gave birth to a handsome son.