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172 HISTORY OF DENTAL SUKGERY

"Witli crystal gold a new era had opened to the profession in the restor-
ing witli gold of broken and lost portions of teeth. This process was carried
still farther with cohesive foil; and restored crowns came to be almost com-
mon. Then, also, occurred the initiation of 'contour fillings,' since carried to
tlie perfection which is now apparent. Operations before almost unthnught
of were now commonly performed, and, in short, operative dentistry took a
great stride forward.
"The range of weight of leaf of gold foil has been very extensive. From
the first form of rolled 'old Joe"s,' weighing ten to twenty grains, it ilwindled
to two or three; tlicn, Jt-boiinding, went higher and higher, until some tiaimed
a]i])robation for using four hundred and eighty grains to the leaf. The
weight now most used is an average of about four to six grains.
"Philininii has long been known as a tooth-tilling material, thougli it can-
not lie said to have been used as such to any very great extent. * * *
While the old pellet process was in vogue, platinum was used in this way;
but its harshness and want of plasticity have prevented its use by the newer
methods of ojierating. A different form, however, has been very lately intro-
duced, which pi'omises success. In it the platinum foil, made thin, is covered
by a layer or deposit of gold. This preparation has not been long enough in
use to warrant the expression of a tinal opinion. Alloys of phitinum and gold
have also been latterly introduced, the platinum being used merely to harden
the foil for particular purposes. These forms constitute a very desirable addi-
"
tion to 'tinisliing foils.'
The preceding quotation was written in 1876. Tlie concluding statement
lias been verified by subsequent experiences and the platinized foils are standard
])reparations for use wherever force of occlusion or mastication is so great as
to require increased hardness in the surface of the filling, and wherever, in
the front of tlie mouth, it is desirable to modify the bright yellow color of pure
gold.
"Silver (foil) was once used to a very considerable extent liy the pellet
method. It was found, however, to oxydize in the mouth, and possessed also
the physical disadvantages of stiffness and want of ductility. It is no longer
employed as a filling material.
•'7'i'h.—Of the simjile metallic fillings, excepting lead and gold, tin has
been the most extensively used. It was not generally employed until about
1830, although isolated members of the profession put in tin fillings as early
as 1822.' It grew in favor, especially for large cavities in molars and for the
' New York Dental Eeeorder, Vol. IX, p. 195.