Page 92 - My FlipBook
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63 HISTOKY OF DENTAL SURGERY
liave been separated, or made shorter, l)y means of the file, they are made
stronger, and very often the further progress of caries is interrupted by it."'
The other continues further:
'"When the enamel of the teeth has been entirely filed away or has been
made very much thinner, it exposes tlie spongy portion of the bone, which
is the interior of the tooth." Fauchard replies: "That spongy bone, which
he names as the interior of tlie tooth, is a thing which those wlio have
studied the teeth and dissected them to their smallest parts have never yet
discovered."'
Fauchard proceeds in his criticism by saying: '"The method of filling
the teeth with lead, which this author mentions, is certainly very easy to
accomplish, Init it is not to be thought of if the operation is to he a success."
He continues: "The author prefers stannous chloride (oleum stanni) and
nitric acid (spiritus nitri), to oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon: liut these are
corrosive and etching in their action wlien tliey enter the sensitive portions like
the nerves which supply the teeth, and may cause unendurable pain and even
convulsions and delirium; and with these corrosives in the fluid form it is
necessary to use a great deal of caution, as they will flow more or less npon
the gums, which they so irritate as to create swelling and sores.""
It is not deemed proper to continue further in the pursuit of this con-
troversial difference between these early authors. One cannot help noticing
the peculiar style and positiveness which German and French authors as-
sumed in mentioning their positions. The frequent reference to the personal
pronoun in the first person would lay them very liable, judging from our
present viewpoint, to the accusation of being extensively conceited and pos-
sessed with almost inexcusable professional vanity, self esteem and assertive-
ness. But in judging of this we must remember the times, primitive condi-
tions and the small progress of professional and scientific advancement that
liad been made at that time. One must remember also that authorship in
those days was an exceedingly rare vocation or accomplishment.
TESTIMONIALS TO FAUCH.^RD.
Before dismissing this subject a number of testimonials written and
printed in tlie liack part of Fauchard's book endorsing the same and praising
the author strike one at tlie present day as somewhat peculiar, but as they
dejiict the condition of professional literary progress, the customs of the
day and somewhat of the status of dental and medical men at that time, a
few of these endorsements are here reproduced
63 HISTOKY OF DENTAL SURGERY
liave been separated, or made shorter, l)y means of the file, they are made
stronger, and very often the further progress of caries is interrupted by it."'
The other continues further:
'"When the enamel of the teeth has been entirely filed away or has been
made very much thinner, it exposes tlie spongy portion of the bone, which
is the interior of the tooth." Fauchard replies: "That spongy bone, which
he names as the interior of tlie tooth, is a thing which those wlio have
studied the teeth and dissected them to their smallest parts have never yet
discovered."'
Fauchard proceeds in his criticism by saying: '"The method of filling
the teeth with lead, which this author mentions, is certainly very easy to
accomplish, Init it is not to be thought of if the operation is to he a success."
He continues: "The author prefers stannous chloride (oleum stanni) and
nitric acid (spiritus nitri), to oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon: liut these are
corrosive and etching in their action wlien tliey enter the sensitive portions like
the nerves which supply the teeth, and may cause unendurable pain and even
convulsions and delirium; and with these corrosives in the fluid form it is
necessary to use a great deal of caution, as they will flow more or less npon
the gums, which they so irritate as to create swelling and sores.""
It is not deemed proper to continue further in the pursuit of this con-
troversial difference between these early authors. One cannot help noticing
the peculiar style and positiveness which German and French authors as-
sumed in mentioning their positions. The frequent reference to the personal
pronoun in the first person would lay them very liable, judging from our
present viewpoint, to the accusation of being extensively conceited and pos-
sessed with almost inexcusable professional vanity, self esteem and assertive-
ness. But in judging of this we must remember the times, primitive condi-
tions and the small progress of professional and scientific advancement that
liad been made at that time. One must remember also that authorship in
those days was an exceedingly rare vocation or accomplishment.
TESTIMONIALS TO FAUCH.^RD.
Before dismissing this subject a number of testimonials written and
printed in tlie liack part of Fauchard's book endorsing the same and praising
the author strike one at tlie present day as somewhat peculiar, but as they
dejiict the condition of professional literary progress, the customs of the
day and somewhat of the status of dental and medical men at that time, a
few of these endorsements are here reproduced
