Page 86 - My FlipBook

88 FIRST PERIOD—ANTIQUITY
"The first four teeth, being cutting teeth (incisors), are called bv' the
Greeks tomici. These are flanked on both sides by one canine. Beyond
this there ordinarily exist, on both sides, five grinders, except in the case
of those persons in whom the last molars, which commonly are cut very
late, have not vet appeared. The incisors and the canines are fixed
with one single root; but the molars at least with two, some even with
three or four. In general, the shorter the tooth, so much the longer is
its root. A straight tooth commonly has a straight root, a curved
tooth has it generally curved. The root of a temporary tooth produces
in children a new tooth, which usually pushes out the first; sometmies,
however, the new tooth appears either above or below it."
In the seventh chapter Celsus treats of fractures in general, but in
particular of those of the lower jaw.
"To reduce a fracture of this bone, it should be pressed in a proper
manner, from the inside of the mouth and from the outside, with the fore-
finger and thumb of both hands. Then in the case of a transverse fracture
(in which case generally an unevenness in the level of the teeth is pro-
duced). It is necessary, after having set the fragments m place, to tie
together the two teeth nearest to the fracture with a silk thread, or else,
if these are loose, the following ones. After this, one should apply
externally, on the part corresponding to the lesion, a thick compress,
dipped in wine and oil and sprinkled with flour and powdered olibanum.
This compress is to be fixed by a bandage or by a strip of soft leather,
with a longitudinal slit in the middle to embrace the chin, the two ends
being tied together above the head. The patient must fast the first two
days; then he may be nourished with liquid food, but in small quantities,
abstaining, however, completely from wine. On the third day it is neces-
sary to take off" the apparatus, and after having fomented the part with
The same is to be done on the fifth
the steam of hot water, to replace it.
day, and so on, until the inflammation has subsided, which generally
happens from the seventh to the ninth day. After the symptoms of in-
flammation have vanished, the patient may take abundant nourishment;
he must, however, abstain from chewing until the fracture is completely
consolidated; and, therefore, he will continue to nourish himself with
soups and like food. He must also entirely abstain from speaking,
especially during the first few days. Fractures of the jaw commonly
heal from the fourteenth to the twenty-first day.
"In luxations of the jaw (Chapter XII) the bone is always displaced
forward; but sometimes only on one side, and sometimes on both sides.
When the dislocation is only on one side, the chin and the whole jaw
are found deviated toward the part opposite to the luxation; and the
similar teeth of the two dental arches do not correspond; but instead
under the upper incisors will be found the canine tooth of the dislocated