Page 67 - My FlipBook

HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 37

at least t p alveoli, so that at time a portion of the saliva or the food does
uot follow its natural course but is discharged through the nose, or that
the m'licous which should flow through this channel is discharged into the
mouth. Thus the articulation of the voice is interfered with, and breathing
is only carried on with difficulty. In order to relieve these difficulties, I have
invented five ditterent styles of stoppers of the gums (obturators) or instni-
ments by the help of which the patient again has the use of those parts which
ji'e had lost. Of this I give a very extensive description.
"I have thought that it is necessary that I should give an explanation i)i
this treatise of my manner of using the various instruments which are con-
structed with a view of operating upon the teeth. Of these I have improved
some and others I have invented in order that they may be used with greater
advantages.
"At the end of the first part of this book I have enumerated seventy-one
of the most peculiar diseases which I have treated, together with directions
how to proceed in similar cases. In order that nothing should be omitted
which might be conducive to the general usefulness of this book, I liave had
prepared forty copper plates, which represent the teeth in their natural state
and also in malformeil and malplaced positions; those of excessive sizes;
tartar stones, or bone which has been removed from them or other portions
of the mouth ; the instruments which are necessary for operations ; the arti-
iicial pieces which serve to substitute a portion of the teetli and the five dif-
ferent obturators which I have already mentioned.
"At last I give in this treatise needed directions belonging to the spirit
of this matter ; and positions of tlie portions of the mouth ; the positions
in which the patient is to be placed during operations, and the appropriate
position which the operator must take. Further, I show to the reader that
there are people who care very little to learn from the foundation the dif-
ficulties which surround the art of a dentist, and who have no taste for reading
u manual or a description of the instruments. There are also people who
will criticize this work and the things which I mention, which may seem to
them either too simple or too well known, but I reply to tliem in advance that
i*^ was my object to write for everybody, and particularly for those who
desire to learn the part of surgery which I practice. That I wish to give
them that advantage, which they may grasp clearly, and to place in their hands
a method which appears to me the clearest and simplest, in order that the
public may derive the most satisfaction therefrom. Such as mav read this
book without the desire of learning how to operate will find in it instruction