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rapid succession as Mr. Hunter and Dr. Underwood men-

tion. Dr. Armstrong says * that he met with two cases,
where the small grinders appeared first of all ; I have lately
however, by carefully examining the
met a similar case ;
gums of a child, we can seldom mistake what tooth is about
to appear, as the gum is frequently somewhat higher over it,
than elsewhere, or it becomes so thin, that through it the
shape of the tooth can be perceived.

section v.

OF THE SHEDDING OF THE TEMPORARY TEETH AND OF THE
PERIOD AT WHICH THE PER3IANENT TEETH APPEAR.f

We meet with such strange opinions in the works of a
celebrated author, (Van Swieten,) respecting the temporary
teeth, that I think it worth while to insert some extracts from
them : He says, " I have taken out and examined several
of the first teeth when they begin to loosen, and in most of
them I did not observe the slightest appearance of a root.
This surprised many surgeons, who, in the treatment of dis-
orders of the teeth, were esteemed exceedingly skilful.
They were of opinion that the teeth which are usually shed
about the seventh year have had roots, but when they took
out those that were already loose they found no roots. To
account for this, they said that the second tooth while it
rises, rubs away the roots of the first and so reduces them
to the most minute powder, which, being so very fine, en-

* Diseases of Children, page 82.
t Blake. Essay on the Teeth, &c pages 55 to 70. ,