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by the mode of inserting teeth upon stumps, without their
being prepared, (so much so, in many cases, as to almost de-
stroy the constitution and health of the patients,) has often
thrown this part of dental-surgery into great disrepute, and
has been a standing opprobrium to the profession. These
wretched effects, in every case when I have followed this
plan, have been completely prevented ; and the whole course
of operation has not produced as much pain as the extrac-
tion of the tooth or stump would have done. Other modes of
preparing stumps have been practised, but I prefer this to
any other. If the patients do not wish a new tooth to be
engrafted, then we need not drill the fang, but fill the inter-
nal cavity with a piece of soft pure lead wire, so firmly in-
troduced as that it will not come out, unless done so by art.
Little or no pain will ensue, and the patient's mouth will re-
tain its form. The first impulse of the instrument upon the
nerve seems to paralyze it to its extremity, and very little
pain is subsequently felt. The practitioner should have sev-
eral of these probes, of different sizes, so as to accurately
fill the cavity, and carry all the nerve before it, and not so
small as to prick and partially lacerate it, or so large as to
greatly strain the stump. I believe that this plan of treat-
ing the front teeth, and of preparing stumps of teeth for in-
sertion of artificial teeth, is founded upon the most correct
surgical principles ; and if generally adopted, will disarm this
part of dental-surgery of nearly all its terrors. We should,
before inserting a new tooth upon a stump, cut away the end
of the stump, so that the end of the new tooth shall pass
completely within the gum, and firmly against the end of the
stump. When so done, this is the best mode of inserting
artificial teeth with which we are at present acquainted.
In concluding this subject, and that of artificial teeth, I
©annot do justice to myself without remarking, that it is prac-