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THE DECAY OF THE TEETH, ETC. 165
Besides this decay at the external end of the Stump, there is
an absorption of the Fang at the bottom, which is known by
the following observation : the end of the Stump, which was
in the gum or jaw, becomes irregularly blunted, and often
rough, and has not the appearance of the end of the Fang of
a Sound Tooth.
Such Stumps are in general easily extracted, being attached
often to little more than the gum, and that sometimes
loosely.
Although the disease appears to be chiefly in the Tooth
itself, and but little to depend on external causes, yet in many
cases the part which is already rotten, seems to have some
influence upon that which remains
: for if the rotten part
be perfectly removed before it has arrived at the canal of the
Tooth, a stop is sometimes put to the farther progress of the
decay, at least for a time, (d)
However this is not constantly so ; it is oftener the con-
trary ; but it is expedient in most cases to make this trial, as
it is always right to keep a Tooth clean, and free from
specks.
This decay of the Teeth does not seem to be so entirely
the effect of accident as might be imagined for it some-
;
times takes place in them by pairs, in which case we may
suppose it owing to an original cause coming into action at its
stated time the corresponding Teeth being in pairs, with
;
respect to the disease, as well as to situation, shape, &c.
This opinion is somewhat strengthened by the fore Teeth
in the lower Jaw not being so subject to decay as those in the
upper, although equally liable to all accidents arising from
external influence, which could produce the disease in general.

(d) [Diseased teeth are not the direct cause of caries in others, but
inasmuch as they allow the food and the fluids of the mouth to accu-
mulate and to undergo decomposition, they favour its development and
progress.]