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as far as the articulation and appearance are concerned, they
will prove as useful as the first teeth. I think this direction
is of the first consequence, that the incisor and canine teeth
should never be extracted, but cut off, and their nerves
treated as before referred to. In this way we shall prevent
the falling in of the lips by preventing the absorption and re-
moval of the alveolar processes, which will not be absorbed
away if the stumps are left, and certainly will be if they are
extracted. And, as we have before observed, the stump of
the tooth is not deprived of its vitality when the nerve and
lining membrane are destroyed, but continue to support their
vitality by their connection with the alveolar membrane which
lines the socket and covers the fang of the tooth. There is
no method of fixing artificial teeth that is as good as upon
sound stumps of teeth, and it should be an object of the
greatest solicitude to preserve the stumps of these teeth in-
stead of extracting them, and the pain of it is never as great
as the pain occasioned by their extraction. Natural teeth
may be fixed upon stumps of teeth so as to be worn for years
and to elude detection, even from the most experienced eye.
If no tooth is fixed upon the stump, this last may be preserved
to be of great use to the patient for many years. I have
thus far anticipated my subject, and will here remark, that
the inflamed tooth should not be extracted or cut off, unless
we are unable to alleviate the pain, or, in case of a tooth or
a stump which could be of no use. In cases when the teeth
would be of use if the inflammation was relieved, it ought to
be our most solicitous endeavour to relieve it, which we may
do in a great many cases by removing, as far as in our power,
all the exciting causes, and then applying to the nerve and
tooth some strong stimulant, or andoyne and astringent com-
bined, or the astringent alone. In the pharmaceutical
part of this work will be found a considerable many odontal-