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HISTOEY OF DENTAL SIJEGERY 209

chemical oil, frequently gives relief, and if repeated for sometime, often
destro3's the nerve. I have knofln good effects from the application of half
a grain of crude opium, rubbed with a few drops of common water to the
consistence of a bolus, with, the addition of half a grain of camphor brought
to the same consistence, introduced into the hollow part of the tooth with a
small portion of lint, and repeated daily for eight or ten days. This kind
of toothache is sometimes cured by cauterizing the ear. * * * Destroy-
ing tlie c.\])Osed nerve of a tooth by the actual cautery is an operation 1 have
sometimes performed with success, and many times without any."
"Benjamin .lames, in 'A Treatise on the Management of the Teeth,' pul)-
lislied in Boston in 1814, recommends, in addition to the opium and cam-
phor of Wooffendale, a drop of either laudanum, oil of niint, or oil of cajeput,
placed in the hollow of the tooth."
"Josiah Foster Flagg, in 18"2"?, pul.)lislied a work entitled "The Family
Dentist," in which, speaking of e.xposed pulps, and after recommending oil
of clii\es or oil of cajeput, he says, 'they are also sometimes destroyed by the
dentist. * * * by the use of strong mineral acids, or by instruments
"
designed for the purpose.'
'"Koecker, 1S2C), recommends ^ the attention to diet, and the actual cau-
tery, and stimulates externally with myrrh, camphor, and opium to reduce
intlannnation of the gums. This author was the first to introduce the
"'
operation of 'capping.'
''Dr. S. S. Fitch, in 1820,- used astringents, as alum, borax, and galls,
the a])]d.ication to be rene^^ed every ten or fifteen days for several weeks or
even months. He mentions caustic potash as a nerve destroying agent which
had then been used.''

PULP DESTKUCTION.
3 "We now come to an important year in pulp treatment, 183G. In this
year Dr. Shearjashub Spooner gave to the world in his book, 'Guide to
Sound Teeth,' etc., the use of the agent arsenious acid for the destroying of
tooth-pulps. This practice originated witli his brother, J. R. Spooner, of
Montreal. Dr. Spooner (Shearjashub) says of it: 'The nerves of the teeth
may be certainly and effectually destroyed, with little or no pain to the
patient, and without tiie least danger, by means of a little arsenious acid

^ Principles of Dental Surgery, London, 1826.
- Dental Surgery, New York, 1829.
^ History of Dental and Oral Science in America.