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42 : II1ST()1;Y of dental SIKGERY
which are in such condition that it is impossible to retain tlie lead within them.
When the caries proceeds to the chamber in the tooth it sometimes occurs that
an abscess is formed. When I discover that pus is formed, I am satisfied with
removing the carious portion, and then I place the end of my sound or ex-
plorer into the pulp chamber in order that the parts may be more easily affected.
After the pus has flowed the pain ceases, then I allow the patient to wait one or
two months, and then fill the tooth with lead."
He admits that certain topical applications may be made which, to some
extent, would contribute to the stopping of the toothache by conducting the
flow of the circulation and "juices" away from the tooth and into other
directions (counter irritation), and then gives a number of prescriptions of
plasters for toothache, as follows
"Take of pyrethrum root, black pepper, ginger, staphisagria, mace, cloves
and cinnamon, each, a half ounce ; sea salt, an ounce ; make all into a fine
powder and place it in a glazed earthen vessel ; pour over this twelve ounces
of good red vinegar. Let tliis sinnner over a low fire and stir the same con-
tinuously with a wooden spatula until it becomes of the consistency of thick
honey; then take it from the fire and transfer it into a bowl of delft porcelain.
-\|)ply a piece of this as large as a small bean, enclosed in a hit of lint, and
place this between the gums and cheeks on the side where the pain is."
He describes the operations which may be undertaken upon the teeth as
follows
"They may be cleaned ; they may be straightened ; they may be made
shorter : caries may be removed from them ; they may be cauterized ; they may
be filled with lead ; they may lie separated : tliey may be placed in proper
position ; they may be fastened ; they may be removed from the jaw ; they
may be rqilaced in the jaw: or they may be taken out to be placed in another
person's mouth, and, at last, teetli are artificially constructed and may be
placed instead of those that ha\e lieen lost. All of these operations demand
a skillful, steady and trained hand and a complete theory. They require a
scientific knowledge in order that one may know the right time at which
to undertake an operatiou, to postpone it or to avoid it. From this we must_
conclude that a knowledge which is demanded, if one wishes to be a completely
equipped d'."ntist, is not confined to as narrow a sphere as many imagine, and
that it is careless and dangerous to place oneself in the hands of one who has
not undertaken to learn even the beginning of the teaching.
"When a patient presents himself I endeavor to place him in an advantage-
ous position in order that a careful examination of his disease may be made.
42 : II1ST()1;Y of dental SIKGERY
which are in such condition that it is impossible to retain tlie lead within them.
When the caries proceeds to the chamber in the tooth it sometimes occurs that
an abscess is formed. When I discover that pus is formed, I am satisfied with
removing the carious portion, and then I place the end of my sound or ex-
plorer into the pulp chamber in order that the parts may be more easily affected.
After the pus has flowed the pain ceases, then I allow the patient to wait one or
two months, and then fill the tooth with lead."
He admits that certain topical applications may be made which, to some
extent, would contribute to the stopping of the toothache by conducting the
flow of the circulation and "juices" away from the tooth and into other
directions (counter irritation), and then gives a number of prescriptions of
plasters for toothache, as follows
"Take of pyrethrum root, black pepper, ginger, staphisagria, mace, cloves
and cinnamon, each, a half ounce ; sea salt, an ounce ; make all into a fine
powder and place it in a glazed earthen vessel ; pour over this twelve ounces
of good red vinegar. Let tliis sinnner over a low fire and stir the same con-
tinuously with a wooden spatula until it becomes of the consistency of thick
honey; then take it from the fire and transfer it into a bowl of delft porcelain.
-\|)ply a piece of this as large as a small bean, enclosed in a hit of lint, and
place this between the gums and cheeks on the side where the pain is."
He describes the operations which may be undertaken upon the teeth as
follows
"They may be cleaned ; they may be straightened ; they may be made
shorter : caries may be removed from them ; they may be cauterized ; they may
be filled with lead ; they may lie separated : tliey may be placed in proper
position ; they may be fastened ; they may be removed from the jaw ; they
may be rqilaced in the jaw: or they may be taken out to be placed in another
person's mouth, and, at last, teetli are artificially constructed and may be
placed instead of those that ha\e lieen lost. All of these operations demand
a skillful, steady and trained hand and a complete theory. They require a
scientific knowledge in order that one may know the right time at which
to undertake an operatiou, to postpone it or to avoid it. From this we must_
conclude that a knowledge which is demanded, if one wishes to be a completely
equipped d'."ntist, is not confined to as narrow a sphere as many imagine, and
that it is careless and dangerous to place oneself in the hands of one who has
not undertaken to learn even the beginning of the teaching.
"When a patient presents himself I endeavor to place him in an advantage-
ous position in order that a careful examination of his disease may be made.
