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use of the file. The same cleanliness which is indispensable
after filing the teeth will keep them sound without it.

Of the Manner of Performing tliis Operation.

This operation requires a careful, gentle hand. The oper-
ator should remember that he is operating upon living organs,
and that with at least a harsh and disagreeable instrument,
which, if harshly handled, almost doubles the pain ot the
operation. It is surprising to notice of what roughness and
violence some operators are guilty in filing the teeth ; often
breaking their files, and occasionally the teeth themselves.
It is but this day, whilst writing this section, a lady called on
me to have my advice respecting her teeth, and showed me
one of her front upper incisores, having a large piece broken
out of it by the dentist in filing it. Before applying the file,
to the teeth, examine them with the utmost care, and notice
whether there is any checks or cracks in the enamel, which
is sometimes the case ; and if so, there will be great danger
in using the file, as the jar and violence of it will very ofted
break off the enamel which was before cracked. In these
cases, the enamel will usually be found checked on the front
flat surface of the incisores, and not on the posterior surface,
as I do not remember as ever I saw a check of the enamel
on the posterior side or surface. If, however, the tooth has
strength to allow the use of the file, and we purpose to di-
vide the teeth merely, then we may take a flat file, the pa-
tient's head supported against the head-piece of the chair,
and apply it so as to cut equally upon each tooth, and by
gentle strokes of the file, pass it between the teeth to the
gum, keeping the file true, so that it. shall not bind itself, or
be confined before the operation is finished, as if it does be-
come confined before the operation is finished, we are apt