Page 129 - My FlipBook

THE .1R.1BIANS 131 ,

around, with a sufHcienth strong scalpel. Tlun cirlur with tlu- fingers
or with a light pair ot forceps the tooth must be shaken very gently, until
it is loosened. Then the surgeon, keeping the head of the patient firml\-
between his knees, applies a stronger pair of forceps and extracts the
tooth in a straight direction, so as not to break it. If it is not possible to
draw it out, one of those elevators must be taken which the author adxises
for the extraction of roots (as ma\' be seen afterward), and by insinuating
it under the tooth the surgeon must endeavor to extract it. When the
tooth is corroded and hollow, it is necessary to fill the cavity with lint,
compressing it hard inside with the end of a probe,' so that the tooth may
not break under the pressure of the instrument. In all cases, the operator
must take great care not to break the tooth, for if this happens the re-
Fio. 37

Fig. 38

5Ys^:^^"^

Forceps for loosening the tooth previous to extraction (AInilcasis).

maining part will give the patient still greater suffering. It is necessar\
therefore, to avoid acting like the ignorant and foolish barbers, who in
their temerity do not observe an\' of the above-mentioned rules, and
therefore very often cause the patients great injuries, the least among
which is the breaking of the tooth, the root being left in the socket, or
else the taking away, together with the tooth, of a piece of the maxillary
bone, as the author often happened to see. After the extraction the
patient must rinse his mouth with wine, or with vinegar and salt. It,
as often happens, hemorrhage is produced, a little powdered blue vitriol
must be applied inside the wound; and if this is not sufficient, the part
must be cauterized with a red-hot iron.
The small forceps (Figs. 37 and 38) to be used in loosening the tooth
must have the handle shorter than the jaws and be sufficiently strong
not to bend when pressure is put upon the tooth.
The large forceps (Figs. 39 and 40) with which the extraction must

* An advice already given by Celsus.