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which we shall find that the operation is not practicable,
without cutting away a considerable of the healthy sub-
stance of the tooth ; and other cases when it is not expedient,
either from the caries having progressed so far as to render
the tooth so weik, that it will not retain a plug ; or wh'en a
tooth is entirely useless or loose, or dead : in many instan-
ces of this kind, we should prefer extracting the tooth to
plugging it, directed however in some degree by the feelings
and wishes of our patients. In cases when the caries is very
superrieial, and extending superficially to a considerable extent,
we shall find that it will be better to cut away the caries and
let the tooth remain, than to cut away a large portion of the
tooth, to make room for the plug and retain it.
There are two states in the progress of caries, which re-
quires separate consideration, as our treatment will be dif-
ferent as regards the preparation of the tooth for receiving
the plug. These two states are ;
First, When the caries and chronic inflammation has affec-
ted the bony structure of the tooth, and not exposed its cavi-
ty lining membrane or nerve. This state of the decay, as
before mentioned, is called Simple Caries.
The second state is, when the cavity and lining membrane
and nerve are exposed ; this is called Complicated Caries.

Treatment of Simple Caries.

All that we have to do in simple caries, is to clean out the
cavity of its decayed and inflamed substance, and introduce
our stopping at once as will be directed hereafter.