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FINGER POSITIONS. 61

In some degree, rests are shown in the illustrations, thougli
this has not been an especial object. In this group of illustra-
tions, the position of the operator at the chair will be indicated
by the position of the right or instrument hand and of the left
in exposing the field of operations. The positions of both the
hands should be carefully studied. When both hands are on tlie
right side of the face, the position of the operator is to the right
side in front. He could not stand elsewhere and use his hands
in the positions shown. When the right hand is on the rigid side
of the face and the left hand on the left side, the positions of the
hands will readily indicate the position of the operator, although
tlie right hand is on the right side and the left hand on the left
side in both the right side behind position and left side behind
position. In the left side in front position, both the hands of the
operator are on the left side of the patient, or reaching across
from the left side. Observing the hands carefully will always
indicate the relative positions of the operator and patient.
Eight side in front. Upper teeth. Figure 46 illustrates
a common position when operating upon the upper molars of
the right side, especially in opening cavities with a chisel, or with
the enamel hatchet, also in doing various other things u])on the
occlusal or proximal surfaces of these teeth. It is a position to
be used in very many cases. The left hand exposes the field of
oj^eration easily, while the right is free in the handling of the
instrument. Generally the rest is not a good one for it must be
on the soft tissues of the lower jaw, and is necessarily an unre-
liable rest for that reason, but it is the only finger rest that can
be had in this position. The effort to rest the fingers on the
lower teeth would be just as bad as the rest shown in the illus-
tration. It is an excellent position for free-hand manipulation
in the use of the chisel, or other cutting instruments, and in pack-
ing gold. With the patient's head well back and the chin well up
from the patient's breast, the position is very easy and should
be much used in the operations in the occlusal and proximal sur-
faces of the molars of the right side.
Right side in front. Lower teeth. The approach to the
lower molars of the right side is much easier from the right side
in front than from other positions for the reason that it brings
the left hand in good position to expose the field of operation to
view. Tliis is very well seen in Figure 47, illustrating the use of
an enamel hatchet with a half inverted pen grasp. (See Figure
55.) As the operator would ordinarily stand in using this posi-
tion, his person would be between the field of operations and the
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