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Sometimes teeth thus affected become tender, very sus-
ceptible of cold, and are made uneasy by the use of acids.
I am not able to assign any cause for this loss of the en-
amel and part of the substance of the tooth, especially as it
is confined to that portion of the teeth which could not be
acted upon by the friction of one tooth against another. I
have observed it both in healthy and delicate persons. As it
appears to be connected with some cause which may produce
a solution of the enamel, it is very possible that the saliva
may have some influence, and that the friction of the lips
may contribute to the removal of the enamel.
The only means to prevent a rapid progress of this dis-
ease, is to avoid whatever may contribute to it ; therefore, as
all acids act powerfully upon the teeth, their use as an article
of diet should be forbidden ; and, whenever there is any ne-
cessity for employing a medicine which contains an acid, per-
sons should be extremely careful to rince the mouth, and wipe
the teeth immediately afterwards with a cloth.

SECTION V.

OF THE WEARING OF THE TEETH BY MASTICATION.*

The mouths of some persons are so constructed, and the
teeth so placed, that when the jaws are closed, the incisors
not being so long as they usually are, meet each other at the
cutting edges. Thus a variety is formed from the usual
mode, which is, for the incisors of the upper jaw, when the
mouth is closed, partially to overlap those of the under jaw.

* Natural History and Diseases of the Human Teeth, by J. Fox, pages
57, 58, London, 1814.