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HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 225

lower and thin edge is rounded to outline the c-urved margin of the cervical
wall, and to effect pressi^re upon either the gum or the appliances used to stop
the escape of mucus and Ijlood from this tissue." The "depressions" were
shaped with a view to gi\c the proper form to the proximal surface' of the fill-
ing, and polished. They were expected to extend slightly beyond the margins
of the cavity everywhere so that the gold could be perfectly adapted and con-
densed over them. This required a very considerable variety of forms, sizes
and thicknesses. The ends of the matrices were notched so as to be handled
with forceps made for the purpose. Some were made with doulile faces so as to
admit of filling adjoining teetli with one matrix, and they were firmly fixed in
place by means of boxwood wedges.
For filling in this manner Dr. Jack says: "I use for the upper (cervical)
.5, or 6, of slightly adhesive gold,
half or move of tlic filling, ribbons of Nos. 4,
but not annealed. These ribbons are made of one-fourth to whole sheets of
foil, depending on the size of tlie space, and then folded into blocks, varied
in length by the requirements of the ease. For tlie lower (occlusal) third I
prefer rolled gold of No. 30 to 30, of the most adhesive character, and an-
nealed." (The essentials are that tlie cervical portion be non-cohesive, or
very nearly so, and the occlusal portion cohesive). ''The instruments for in-
troducing the filling are of simple forms and direct action, but they should
be in fine condition,—that is, the points should be well serrated and sharp.
The only important modification needed are some pairs of mated pluggers,
formed as at Figure 5, in which one side of the edge is considerably longer than
the other, which longer side, in malleting, is constantly kept against the
matrix ; tliis effects the greatest pressure upon the margins, and secures with
positiveness the perfect fullness and proper consolidation of the gold at these
parts. Several sizes and varied curves of this point are required."
These forms of pluggers and these matrices were soon manufactured by
S. S. Wliite and were sold, more or less, for a good many years. The princi-
pal difficulty in their use was to obtain a sufficiently close correspondence of
the outline of the depression to the outline of the cavity, and the subsequent
introduction of many other fimns of matrices led a large proportion of
operators to jirefer those made of thin and flexible steel bands clamped in
position liy devices of various sorts.
In a paper read Ijefore the First District Dental Society of New York,
("Cosmos," Vol. XXVIII, p. 138, 188(i,) Dr. S. H. Guilford, of Philadelphia,
says the first band matrix of which he had any knowledge was made by Dr.