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whilst the mouth is in an unhealthy state, are in a few
months after entirely destroyed by the progress of the ca-
ries. It should be a rule never to be departed from, never
to file the teeth, unless the the rest of the mouth, is in a
healthy state.

Of the Instruments requisite for the performance of the
operation of removing Carious Portions from Diseased
Teeth.

The instruments required for this operation, are in the
first place, different kinds of files, having different shapes,
&c. so that we can operate upon the teeth under al-
most any circumstance ; so that we may be able to file
one tooth and not any others, or divide the teeth and cut a
little from the two teeth in contact, or in other cases to
merely separate them. The files required for dividing the
teeth, or filing between the two teeth so as to remove a part
of both, or to remove a portion of a tooih in contact with
another, and not injure its fellow, must be thin and fiat.
The flat sides of some may be cut on both sides, and others
on one side only ; whilst others should be thin and smooth on
both sides, having the edges cut, &c. Round files are
in some very rare instances required, but very rarely. The
files should be of fine cut, and immediately laid aside upon
becoming dull, for the sharper they are, the less jarring a d
pain is experienced by the patient. We ought to have the
instruments in such order as to make as little irritation as
possible, and this is prevented in some degree, by having our
files very sharp.
The next instrument we want, is one to cut away super-
ficial caries upon the flat surfaces of ihe teeth, and outside
of the grinders and bicuspids, &c. which i have before men-