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70 HISTOIIV OF DENTAL SURGERY
The second chapter is devoted to the diseases of the alveolar process and
their consequences; the third to the diseases of the gums and their conse-
quences; the fourth to nervous pains in the jaw and the fiftli to extraneous
matter upon the teeth. He says that the removal of this adventitious sub-
stance is a part in whicli the dentist ought to he very cautious. He should
perfectly master the difference between the natural or original teeth and the
adventitious matter, and should be sensible of the propriety of saving as
much as possible of the tooth, and, at the same time, to take pains to remove
all tliat which is not natural. He says many persons have had their teetli
wholly spoiled by injudicious treatment of them in this I'espect. As the
cause of this incrustation is not either a known disease of the constitution
or of the parts, but depends iipon the property of the matter secreted, simply
as inanimate matter, the remedy, of course, becomes either mechanical or
chemical.
The sixth chapter is devoted to irregularities of the teeth and their treat-
ment. The seventh chapter is devoted to the irregularities between the teeth
and the jaw, and to supernumerary teeth. The eightli chapter is devoted
to the under jaw ; the ninth chapter to drawing of the teeth. The author
observes that extraction should never be done quickly as that often occasions
great mischief, In-eaking the tooth or jaw, on the same principle that a
bullet going against an open door with great velocity will pass tlirough it,
but with little velocity will shut it. He further oliserves:
"It is a C(minion practice to divert the gum from the tooth before it is
drawn, which is attended with very little advantage, because, at best, it
can only be imperfectly done, and that part of the gum which adheres to
the tooth decays when it is lost. But if such a separation can be made and
saves any pain in the whole of the operation, I should certainly recommend
it, and at least in some cases it might prevent the gum from being torn.
To close the gum after extraction can ha\c no useful purpose, as it cannot
be made to heal by the first intention. The cavity from which the tooth
came must suppurate like all other wounds, but the inflammations and sup-
purations in these cases are not as great as in any other part of the body
where so much substance has been removed."
A chapter is also devoted to the transplanting of the teeth.
Hunter says of transplanting the tooth : '"The saiccess of this operation
is founded on a disposition of all living substances to unite when brought
into contact with one anotlier, although tliey are of a different structure,
and even although the circulation is onlv carried on in one of them."