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Shedding of the Temporary Teeth. 37
Dr. Blake says, " coral is a most dangerous weapon put into
the hands of children to destroy themselves ; for as the teeth
rise and become slightly elevated above the edges of the
socket, those hard bodies press and bruise the gum between
them and the sharp points or edges of the teeth underneath :
inflammation and its consequences follow, and in this way I am
firmly persuaded the lives of thousands of children have been
lost."
SHEDDING OF THE TEMPORARY TEETH AND THE
SECOND DENTITION.
The falling out of the temporary teeth* to make way for the
permanent set, is called shedding of the teeth, and the coming
in of the permanent set, the second dentition. The necessity for
the functions of the teeth commences as soon as the support
from the mother ceases ; and hence nature prepares a tempora-
ry masticatory apparatus, at an early period of life, which occu-
pies but a few months in formation, and is destined to continue
only a few years. The temporary teeth also, are proportioned
to the size of the mouth : hence the necessity of a second set,
of a larger size and of a more substantial structure, to serve
during after life.
The shedding of the teeth is one of the most curious opera-
tions of nature. As soon as the permanent teeth begin to ad-
vance to occupy the place of the temporary ones, their fangs
are gradually absorbed* till nothing but the crown remains,
when they fall out of the mouth. This circumstance accounts
for the vulgar opinion that the temporary teeth have no fangs.
If a temporary tooth be extracted while the process of absorp-
* Absorption, (from absorbeo, to suck up ;) a function in an animated
body, arranged by physiologists under the head of natural actions. It
signifies the taking up of substances applied to the mouths of absorbing
vessels ; thus the nutricious part of the food is absorbed from the intes-
tinal canal by the lacteals, {lac. milk, so called because the chyle or
fluid they contain looks like milk.) Hooper's Med. Die
Shedding of the Temporary Teeth. 37
Dr. Blake says, " coral is a most dangerous weapon put into
the hands of children to destroy themselves ; for as the teeth
rise and become slightly elevated above the edges of the
socket, those hard bodies press and bruise the gum between
them and the sharp points or edges of the teeth underneath :
inflammation and its consequences follow, and in this way I am
firmly persuaded the lives of thousands of children have been
lost."
SHEDDING OF THE TEMPORARY TEETH AND THE
SECOND DENTITION.
The falling out of the temporary teeth* to make way for the
permanent set, is called shedding of the teeth, and the coming
in of the permanent set, the second dentition. The necessity for
the functions of the teeth commences as soon as the support
from the mother ceases ; and hence nature prepares a tempora-
ry masticatory apparatus, at an early period of life, which occu-
pies but a few months in formation, and is destined to continue
only a few years. The temporary teeth also, are proportioned
to the size of the mouth : hence the necessity of a second set,
of a larger size and of a more substantial structure, to serve
during after life.
The shedding of the teeth is one of the most curious opera-
tions of nature. As soon as the permanent teeth begin to ad-
vance to occupy the place of the temporary ones, their fangs
are gradually absorbed* till nothing but the crown remains,
when they fall out of the mouth. This circumstance accounts
for the vulgar opinion that the temporary teeth have no fangs.
If a temporary tooth be extracted while the process of absorp-
* Absorption, (from absorbeo, to suck up ;) a function in an animated
body, arranged by physiologists under the head of natural actions. It
signifies the taking up of substances applied to the mouths of absorbing
vessels ; thus the nutricious part of the food is absorbed from the intes-
tinal canal by the lacteals, {lac. milk, so called because the chyle or
fluid they contain looks like milk.) Hooper's Med. Die
