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140 THE TECHNICAL PROCEDURES IN FILLING TEETH.

form that it may be easily so laid in the cavity as to cover the
exposure, and try it in place. Then the walls of the cavity
should be moistened with eucalyptol or oil of cajuput, to pre-
pare them for receiving a gutta-percha filling, and any excess of
oil removed. Then place a small, but sufficient amount of
arsenical paste upon this paper, and apply it directly to the
exposure, and press it gently in place ; see to it carefully that
there is not so much of the paste that it will run out around the
margins of the paper, and be in danger of smearing the walls of
the cavity, and possibly getting out toward the gingival margin
of proximate cavities, for in this case there will be danger of
arsenical poisoning of gum tissues. Place over this a gutta-
percha filling, using especial care not to make unnecessary
pressure over the exposure of the pulp that will cause compres-
sion and pain. This gutta-percha filling should be as perfect in
its adaptation to the cavity walls as it is possible to make it, in
order that there may be no leakage of the arsenic outward to
poison the surrounding tissues, or of moisture from without
inward to interfere with the action of the drug. Another impor-
tant care should be that in proximate cavities no overplus of
gutta-percha be allowed to infringe upon the gum septum and
cause absorption. Overplus in this direction is readily avoided
by placing any suitable instrument between the teeth at the gin-
gival, such as the shaft of hoe 8-3-6, and making the gutta-
percha filling against that, and afterward removing the instru-
ment. This gives room for the gum septum, and yet allows the
temporary filling to be placed firmly against the proximating
tooth. Finally, the filling must be so finished as not to give the
patient annoyance, after which the patient may be discharged for
forty-eight hours, or until the arsenic has acted.
Anaesthetizing the dental pulp.— If it has been decided
to anaesthetize the pulp with cocaine under pressure, the opening
into the pulp must be free and large, and the position such that
the after manipulation can be readily done. The surrounding
walls must be sufficient so that the drug may be readily confined
under pressure, and the access fairly direct. Otherwise arsenic
should be used.
When the cavity has been fully prepared — an occusal cav-
ity in an upper first molar for example— a sufficient amount of
cocaine crystals should be dissolved in a few drops of water in a