Page 27 - My FlipBook

INTRODUCTION. yfi.
comfort and economy, to preserve the natural teeth, than
to neglect and lose them, and afterwards require, as sub-
stitutes, artificial ones. Hence we found the presumption,
that a work like the one which we propose, upon this sub-
ject, will be of general utility.
The perusal of medical works by persons out of the pro?
fession, may probably be of no advantage to them ; but the
perusal of a judicious work upon the diseases and the best
management of the teeth, especially in the present state of
conflicting opinions on the subject, we think, will prove of
essential service. And first, because, as has been be-
fore remarked, persons generally are unacquainted with
the most proper means to be employed for the best security
of the teeth : second, because such is the structure, nature,
exposure and liability to decay of these organs, that every,
thing relative to their preservation depends upon daily care #
or a.constant application of such of the means of preserva-,
tion, as are naturally and necessarily within the province of
the individual himself: and another circumstance; thesituation
of the teeth is such, and they often decay in such parts, that
they are not unfrequenlly screened from the eye of the pos-
sessor, and even from that of an inexperienced operator, and
defy his detection ; and their structure is such, that the
possessor is not sufficiently admonished of their very de?
fective state, by their appeal to his sensibilities, until thaj
state is become almost entirely hopeless, and .consequently
operations for the preservation of them useless. .Resorting
to remedies for them in this state, is like a sick man in the
last stage of some organic disease applying to the physician
for relief, who, notwithstanding he may have an accurate
knowledge of the character, symptoms, progress and tenden-
cy of the disease ; and with the very best means for combat-
ing it yet, he can only palliate now, that, which in its jnci?
;