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220 HISTORY OF DEXTAL SURGERY
made to remove tlie malady by palliative means, and if it prove carious the
diseased jjart should be removed and the tooth repaired. Indeed, tliere is
no necessity for having recourse to this dangerous expedient (extraction) even
if the crown be entirely decayed ; for the fangs of the teeth will always admit
of engrafting. Extraction, therefore, can only be necessary eithei- to pre-
vent or remedy irregularity in the arrangement of the permanent teeth of
children, or in some diseases of rare occurrence in the adult. * * * In all
other cases it is to be opposed, and is a wanton outrage on the unhappy indi-
vidual who, from the effect of pain, is brought to submit to this harsh and
often unavailing measure."'
Koecker appears to have had a somewhat different opinion and probably
more nearly represents the general judgment of that period, for in his book,
published in 1826, he gives to the subject of extracting no less than eighty
pages, about one-fifth of the book, and he remarks
''When we consider the frequent necessity for this operation, and its bene-
ficial effects even only so far as it regards its physical influences, the great
importance of it seems to be placed bej'ond any doubt, and, indeed, on all
accounts it must be allowed that there is not an operation in any branch of
surgery more worthy of the particular consideration of the liberal minded and
scientific surgeon, than extraction."'
Koecker mentions the punch, the pelican and the key, and "some pairs
of forceps" as the instruments then in general use in extraction. He depre-
cates the use of the key, says the pelican is almost obsolete, and the punch
extremely ill-adapted to its purpose, and adds, in regards to forceps, that those
"in common use at present are generally so ill contrived as to be usually ap-
plied only for removing loose teeth."
Harris says ^ of the forceps that "until the last seven or eight years
they were not very commonly or extensively used, but the improvements
that, during th's period, have been made in their construction have Ijeen so
great, that their use has now, with many practitioners, altogether superceded
that of the key."
"From about the year 1825 there appears to have grown gradually a feel-
ing in the profession against the indiscriminate extraction so common liefore
(and, to a large extent, after) that period. This date is also that of the gen-
eral appearance of the idea that teeth should lie saved, not extracted.
"The transplantation of teeth is an old operation ; but as Hunter was the
first and greatest of dental writers to advocate the practice, its origin has
' Dental Surgery, Baltimore, 1S39, p. 181, et seq.
220 HISTORY OF DEXTAL SURGERY
made to remove tlie malady by palliative means, and if it prove carious the
diseased jjart should be removed and the tooth repaired. Indeed, tliere is
no necessity for having recourse to this dangerous expedient (extraction) even
if the crown be entirely decayed ; for the fangs of the teeth will always admit
of engrafting. Extraction, therefore, can only be necessary eithei- to pre-
vent or remedy irregularity in the arrangement of the permanent teeth of
children, or in some diseases of rare occurrence in the adult. * * * In all
other cases it is to be opposed, and is a wanton outrage on the unhappy indi-
vidual who, from the effect of pain, is brought to submit to this harsh and
often unavailing measure."'
Koecker appears to have had a somewhat different opinion and probably
more nearly represents the general judgment of that period, for in his book,
published in 1826, he gives to the subject of extracting no less than eighty
pages, about one-fifth of the book, and he remarks
''When we consider the frequent necessity for this operation, and its bene-
ficial effects even only so far as it regards its physical influences, the great
importance of it seems to be placed bej'ond any doubt, and, indeed, on all
accounts it must be allowed that there is not an operation in any branch of
surgery more worthy of the particular consideration of the liberal minded and
scientific surgeon, than extraction."'
Koecker mentions the punch, the pelican and the key, and "some pairs
of forceps" as the instruments then in general use in extraction. He depre-
cates the use of the key, says the pelican is almost obsolete, and the punch
extremely ill-adapted to its purpose, and adds, in regards to forceps, that those
"in common use at present are generally so ill contrived as to be usually ap-
plied only for removing loose teeth."
Harris says ^ of the forceps that "until the last seven or eight years
they were not very commonly or extensively used, but the improvements
that, during th's period, have been made in their construction have Ijeen so
great, that their use has now, with many practitioners, altogether superceded
that of the key."
"From about the year 1825 there appears to have grown gradually a feel-
ing in the profession against the indiscriminate extraction so common liefore
(and, to a large extent, after) that period. This date is also that of the gen-
eral appearance of the idea that teeth should lie saved, not extracted.
"The transplantation of teeth is an old operation ; but as Hunter was the
first and greatest of dental writers to advocate the practice, its origin has
' Dental Surgery, Baltimore, 1S39, p. 181, et seq.
