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THE ARABIANS 135

It consists sometimes m the simple extraction of the misplaced tooth.
But when there exists an intimate (osseous) union of the irregular tooth
with another one, it is necessar\' to operate for the resection of the former
with an instrument of the following shape, that is, like a small axe:

Fig. 49

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An instruiiKiir likt- a small axo, tor rt-st-cting irregularly situated teeth (Abulcasis).

The operation must be performed in many days, not only on account
of the hardness of the tooth, but also in order not to shake any of the
neighboring teeth.
In other cases, the deformity, consisting in one tooth projecting above
the level of the others, may be corrected with a saw.
The instrument must be made entirely of Indian iron, and the opera-
tion, like the preceding one, is to be carried out in several days, that
the fall of the tooth may not be provoked by excessive shaking. The file
(Fig. 55), too, must be used to destroy the edges and points of broken teeth,
that thev may not injure the tongue, or give any trouble in speaking.

Fig. 50

Forceps for extraction of sphnter or necrosed fragments of the maxillary bones (Abulcasisj.

When, in consequence of a blow or fall, one or more teeth have become
loose so that the patient cannot bi e his food with them, if the use of
styptic remedies has been found of no use, it will be necessary to bind
and make such teeth firm by a gold or silver wire. Gold is to be pre-
ferred as being unalterable, whilst silver in a few days turns green. Having
chosen, therefore, a suitable gold wire of perfectly uniform consistency,
it must be passed at its middle part between two firm teeth, that is between
the two nearest on one side to the loosened tooth or teeth; then, bv binding
tightly around the sound tooth and each of the loosened teeth the two