Page 303 - My FlipBook
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THE EIGHTKKXT/l CKNTUK)' 281
ence than I had, I begged him to give me his opinion as to the best method
to follow in this case, in order to insure success. Whether it he that he
would not give me advice, or that he was not in a j^osirion to he ahle to do
so, the fact is, that his answer was not such as 1 could ha\e wislud. 1
therefore felt myself obliged to tell him that 1 hoped to put this gentle-
man's teeth in order within three or four da\s. M\ colleaiiue was not
aware that this could be done so (juickh ; urged by curi()sit\, he returned
when the time I had indicated had elapsed, and found, not wirhour sur-
prise, M. Morin's teeth reduced to perfect order."'
"Several years ago the wife of M. Gosset, Reviseur des Comptes, sent
tor me to examme the teeth of her daughter, then twelve \ears of age.
I found the lateral incisor on the left side of the lower jaw strongh inclined
toward the palate m such a manner as to constitute a real disfigurement.
Interrogated b\- the mother as to the possibilit\' of remedying this, I
replied that it could easily be done in eight or ten days, with the method
of threads, if the \oung girl were only sent every day to m\ house. As,
however, the young lad\ received instruction from several masters who
came to her house each da\-, my proposal was not accepted, in order not
to distract her from her studies. This induced me to say to the mother
that, if she were willing, I would put the crooked tooth into its natural
position in a few minutes. Surprised at so short a time being demanded
for the operation, she consented to my performing it immediately. Making
use of the file, I began by separating the tooth from the neighboring ones
which pressed upon it, slightly diminishing the space it ought to have
occupied. This done, I straightened the tooth with the pelican, placing
it in its natural position, to the great astonishment of the \oung girl's
mother and of other persons present, who told me they had many times
seen similar corrections that had been carried out by the late M. Car-
meline and others, never, however, with this method or in so short a
time. As soon as I had reduced the tooth to its normal position I fixed
it to those next to it b\- means of a piece of common thread, which I left
there eight da\s; and during that time I made the young girl rinse her
mouth four or five times a day with an astringent mouth wash. After
the tooth had become firm, it would not have been suspected that it had
"-
ever been out of its normal position.
In Chapter XXX the author gives an account of five cases of dental
replantation and one of transplantation. This last operation was carried
out on a captain who had the upper canines on the left side decayed and
aching; he inquired of the author if it were possible to draw it and replace
it by another person's tooth. Having received an affirmative reply, the
officer sent immediateh' for a soldier of his company to whom he had
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