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THE SIXTEENTH CENTUR}' 179
is the first treatise ever written on the anatoiiu' of teeth, and represents a
noteworthy progress in this branch of study.
In this Httle book—divided into thirty chapters, forming in all ninct\-
h\e pages—the author treats with great accuracy and in an adniirahle
manner all that concerns the anatonn, physiology, and development
of the teeth.
Eustachius not onh treasured up what ancient authors had written
on this subject, but he himself made very long and patient researches and
observations on men and animals, on living individuals as well as on
corpses, and not onl\' on adult subjects, but also on children of ever)- age,
on stillborn children and on abortive fetuses.
The macroscopic anatom\- of the teeth was brought b\- him to a high
degree of perfection. Very wonderful, among other things, is the accuracy
with which he studied and specified in several synoptical tables the number
of the roots of molar teeth, and all the variations occurring not only in
their number, but also in their form, length, etc.
In Chapter IV, speaking of the means by which teeth are held in their
sockets, Eustachius mentions in quite explicit terms the ligaments of the
teeth. He begins by saying that the perfect correspondence between the
dental roots and the alveoli, both in shape and in size, is one of the elements
which contribute to the firmness of the teeth, since the alveolus, being
exacth' applied, on all sides, to the root or roots of the tooth, causes the
latter, b\' this simple fact, to be fixed in a determined position. Also,
the nerves inserted in each single tooth contribute, as was alread\' the
opinion of Galen, to the stability of these organs. "There exist besides"
—
—Eustachius continues "very strong ligaments, principally attached
to the roots, by which these latter are tightly connected with the alveoli"
(adsiiut prceterea vinculo fortissima radicihus pra'cipiie adherentia, quihus
prcFscpiolis arctissime colli gantin-). Lastly, says the author, the gums,
too, embracing the teeth at their exit from the alveoli, contribute to their
firmness. And here Eustachius notes that in the joining of the gums to
the teeth there is great analogy to that of the skin with the finger nails;
a very proper observation, which makes us almost suppose that the
perspicacious mind of Eustachius nia\' ha\e guessed the kindred nature
of nails and teeth.
In Chapter XV are related the researches made by the author to ascer-
tain at what period the development of the teeth begins. Here is a passage
of this chapter, almost literally translated
"Hippocrates, before anyone else, wrote that the first teeth are formed
in the uterus. Wishing to assure myself thereof, I dissected many
abortive fetuses, and by ver\' careful observations I found it to be true
that the teeth have their oriirin during intra-uterine life. Wherefore, the
opinion of those who consider that the first teeth are formed from the milk,
THE SIXTEENTH CENTUR}' 179
is the first treatise ever written on the anatoiiu' of teeth, and represents a
noteworthy progress in this branch of study.
In this Httle book—divided into thirty chapters, forming in all ninct\-
h\e pages—the author treats with great accuracy and in an adniirahle
manner all that concerns the anatonn, physiology, and development
of the teeth.
Eustachius not onh treasured up what ancient authors had written
on this subject, but he himself made very long and patient researches and
observations on men and animals, on living individuals as well as on
corpses, and not onl\' on adult subjects, but also on children of ever)- age,
on stillborn children and on abortive fetuses.
The macroscopic anatom\- of the teeth was brought b\- him to a high
degree of perfection. Very wonderful, among other things, is the accuracy
with which he studied and specified in several synoptical tables the number
of the roots of molar teeth, and all the variations occurring not only in
their number, but also in their form, length, etc.
In Chapter IV, speaking of the means by which teeth are held in their
sockets, Eustachius mentions in quite explicit terms the ligaments of the
teeth. He begins by saying that the perfect correspondence between the
dental roots and the alveoli, both in shape and in size, is one of the elements
which contribute to the firmness of the teeth, since the alveolus, being
exacth' applied, on all sides, to the root or roots of the tooth, causes the
latter, b\' this simple fact, to be fixed in a determined position. Also,
the nerves inserted in each single tooth contribute, as was alread\' the
opinion of Galen, to the stability of these organs. "There exist besides"
—
—Eustachius continues "very strong ligaments, principally attached
to the roots, by which these latter are tightly connected with the alveoli"
(adsiiut prceterea vinculo fortissima radicihus pra'cipiie adherentia, quihus
prcFscpiolis arctissime colli gantin-). Lastly, says the author, the gums,
too, embracing the teeth at their exit from the alveoli, contribute to their
firmness. And here Eustachius notes that in the joining of the gums to
the teeth there is great analogy to that of the skin with the finger nails;
a very proper observation, which makes us almost suppose that the
perspicacious mind of Eustachius nia\' ha\e guessed the kindred nature
of nails and teeth.
In Chapter XV are related the researches made by the author to ascer-
tain at what period the development of the teeth begins. Here is a passage
of this chapter, almost literally translated
"Hippocrates, before anyone else, wrote that the first teeth are formed
in the uterus. Wishing to assure myself thereof, I dissected many
abortive fetuses, and by ver\' careful observations I found it to be true
that the teeth have their oriirin during intra-uterine life. Wherefore, the
opinion of those who consider that the first teeth are formed from the milk,
