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Inaugural Dissertation. 4$
the end of life, it will be necessary to consider the disputed
First, we
points in the structure and pathology* of the teeth.
Will consider whether
the teeth are organized and posses-
sed of vitality, vascularity]- and sensibility; and secondly,
whether caries originate internally, within the bony structure
of the crowns of the teeth, from inflammatory action
; or ex-
ternally, from chemical action of foreign matter and corrosive
menstrua.
still contested.
All these points have been, and are The
most eminent physiologists of the last and present century,
who have paid any attention to the teeth, deny that their bony
there are
structure possesses either vascularity or sensibility :
also a great variety of opinions as to the causes and
origin of caries of the teeth. It may be proper for us to
observe, in this place, that we believe the teeth to be
organized, and possessed of vitality, vascularity and sen-
1
sibility ; and subject to the same laws of disease as the other
bones of the human system, though, modified by the cir-
stance of a greater density in their structure ; and hence, that
caries originates internally, from inflammation, and externally,
From the chemical action of foreign matter : We think we
have sufficient data in our possession to establish fully these
positions.
Structure op the teeth;
Are the teeth organized and living bodies, and possessed of
vascularity and sensibility?
Some physiologists have asserted, that the teeth possess
none of these attributes, and have considered them as inorgan-
ized bodies.
To consider their arguments i3 unnecessary, since it has
long been established that no inorganized body, or a body,
destitute of vitality, can compose a part of an organized, living
* Pathology, (a discourse oh diseases,) the doetrine of diseases,
t Vascularity, (vas, a vessel,) vascular, having vessels.
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