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HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 9
three superior artificial teetli, by banding them to adjoining natural teeth.
In this drawing the cuspid and lateral incisors were natural teeth, while the
two central incisors were evidently carved from some large animal's tooth
to fit the space. Figure No. 2 represents No. 1 in a position to show the
missing artificial bicuspid and the adjoining natural teeth, which had crumbled
to dust when this relic of human misery was unearthed. No. 3 represents a
partial denture which was taken from an ancient Roman tomb dating back
four hundred years before Christ. The remaining tooth in this specimen
was evidently a human tooth, as, no doubt, was the missing one. It rep-
resents the early Roman method of replacing two inferior incisor teeth on
theJEtruscan plan. No. 4 shows~?Co. 3 reversed, giving a clear view of the
position of the missing artificial tooth, with the manner of holding the same
in position. The gold used in these specimens was very soft, evidently made so
for the purpose of more easily slipping the rings over the natural teeth in
adjusting the piece in the mouth. The two centrals in No. 1 were well carved
and the dentures were cleverly made."'
In the February number of this same journal for 1S8G appears another
article by Dr. VanMarter of Rome, in w-hich he gives quite an extensive record
of his search in various places of Italy for evidences of ancient dental practice
and construction of artificial substitutes, and in which lie mentions the recent
opening of an Etruscan tomb at Capadimonti near the Lake of Bolsena. This
tomb belonged to the sixth century B. C. and dates a hundred years further
back than the discoveries at t'orneto. Among its contents are gold spiral
springs for side hair, silver finger rings, necklaces of amber and glass, arm
bands, etc., "and three teeth bound together with a band of pure gold,"
which we reproduce as Figure 5. Dr. VanMarter states that the manner of
binding these teeth together "is more primitive than the Corneto dental
specimens and marks a distinctively earlier stage of pre-Roman dentistry.
"There is nothing to indicate that these three teeth are attached to any
adjoining teeth," he continues, "and we were left to conjecture whether they
were loose natural teetli, supported by the gold l)and, or if the cuspid were
transplanted and held in position by the gold band around the lateral and
bicuspid. It is not at all improbable that the biscupid may have been a trans-
planted tooth, for we are sure in those earlier days they had very clever
surgeons, and slaves were made to serve their lords and masters in anv
capacity, from building grand temples and monuments to supplying teeth
for transplantation. Tiie position of the teeth does not indicate that perfect
' See illustrations on page IG.
HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 9
three superior artificial teetli, by banding them to adjoining natural teeth.
In this drawing the cuspid and lateral incisors were natural teeth, while the
two central incisors were evidently carved from some large animal's tooth
to fit the space. Figure No. 2 represents No. 1 in a position to show the
missing artificial bicuspid and the adjoining natural teeth, which had crumbled
to dust when this relic of human misery was unearthed. No. 3 represents a
partial denture which was taken from an ancient Roman tomb dating back
four hundred years before Christ. The remaining tooth in this specimen
was evidently a human tooth, as, no doubt, was the missing one. It rep-
resents the early Roman method of replacing two inferior incisor teeth on
theJEtruscan plan. No. 4 shows~?Co. 3 reversed, giving a clear view of the
position of the missing artificial tooth, with the manner of holding the same
in position. The gold used in these specimens was very soft, evidently made so
for the purpose of more easily slipping the rings over the natural teeth in
adjusting the piece in the mouth. The two centrals in No. 1 were well carved
and the dentures were cleverly made."'
In the February number of this same journal for 1S8G appears another
article by Dr. VanMarter of Rome, in w-hich he gives quite an extensive record
of his search in various places of Italy for evidences of ancient dental practice
and construction of artificial substitutes, and in which lie mentions the recent
opening of an Etruscan tomb at Capadimonti near the Lake of Bolsena. This
tomb belonged to the sixth century B. C. and dates a hundred years further
back than the discoveries at t'orneto. Among its contents are gold spiral
springs for side hair, silver finger rings, necklaces of amber and glass, arm
bands, etc., "and three teeth bound together with a band of pure gold,"
which we reproduce as Figure 5. Dr. VanMarter states that the manner of
binding these teeth together "is more primitive than the Corneto dental
specimens and marks a distinctively earlier stage of pre-Roman dentistry.
"There is nothing to indicate that these three teeth are attached to any
adjoining teeth," he continues, "and we were left to conjecture whether they
were loose natural teetli, supported by the gold l)and, or if the cuspid were
transplanted and held in position by the gold band around the lateral and
bicuspid. It is not at all improbable that the biscupid may have been a trans-
planted tooth, for we are sure in those earlier days they had very clever
surgeons, and slaves were made to serve their lords and masters in anv
capacity, from building grand temples and monuments to supplying teeth
for transplantation. Tiie position of the teeth does not indicate that perfect
' See illustrations on page IG.
