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HISTOKY OF DENTAL SUBGERY 43
In order to make the operation easy, it is well to place him in an easy arm chair
that is iirnily constructed and is clean and comfortable, the back of wliich
is upholstered with hair, or su])plied witli a soft liair cushion which may be
raised or turned according to the shape of the person. When the person
ha? been placed in this chair so that liis feet rest upon the ground, his body
against the back and his arms upon the arms of the easy chair, his hea
changed according to the necessity.
"Tiie head must be placed in such position as shall give to the person the
least inconvenience, but it should at the same time be in the most comfortable
position for the operator. Tt is not sufficient when one wishes to operate that
he consider only the condition of the patient, but there must be added to tiiis
tlie position of the dentist, his varied attitudes, the motion of his arms and hi.s
iingers. He has to be first on the riglit and then on tlie left side, seldom be-
hind the person. ITe should sehhnn occupy a jiosition in front of the patient,
as in that way he stands in his own light which is so necessary to him."
He further describes cases in which the easy chair is not suitable ami
instead of this he uses a couch or sofa, or a rug or low bench such as the
Turks employed.
"It causes me to wonder that those who devote themselves to teeth drawing
conuuojily liave tlieir jiatients sit down u])on the floor, as that seems l)ad and
unskillful," Fauchard writes. "Aside from this, the position is tiresome and
creates fear, especially in pregnant women it is highly injurious. What
astonislies me more than all is that even now certain writers recommend this
position as tlie most preferable, although it should be absolutely discarded."
To aid in the eruption of the deciduous teeth Fauchard recommends
'"the application of the marrow or brain of a rabbit, the foot of an old rooster,
or his comb, that has been freshly cut off and is still bleeding, to ])e rul)l)ed
upon the gums."
He says: ''These latter remedies ha. e been praised by many distinguislied
jiractitioners. An extract of the gramen caninum (dog grass) is to lie pre-
ferred." He says also: "One may take cleansed barley, prunes, figs, to be
boiled together, to which decoction is to be added a small quantity of rock
candy. In this is to be dipped a soft linen rag and with this the gums are
to be frequently moistened."
"In difficult dentition he advises that "the general remedies which the
physician should order should not be neglected, such as bleeding, clysters to
keep the bowels open, which reduces the fever and stops or prevents con-
