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164 FILLING TEETH.

position, one end upon the bottom of the cavity, and
the other protruding from the orifice, and pressure
then be made upon it to consolidate it, and force it*
into its position against the wall of the cavity. This
may be done with the pliers, or better with the
instrument represented by Fig. 21. The part of the
instrument brought to bear upon the gold should be
roughened either longitudinally or transversely, so
that a proper surface may be left for the reception of

the succeeding portions. The largest blocks are then
introduced and consolidated successively as described,
the end of each left protruding, till the cavity is
filled; each portion as it is introduced, should be per-
fectly condensed. The gold should be filled in faster
at the sides of the cavity than in the center, thus
being disposed round the walls till it meets at a point
opposite the place of beginning; and thus it is adapted

to all the walls of the cavity before it is entirely
filled, the last portions being introduced somewhere
near the center of the filling. As the cavity dimin-
ishes by the introduction of the gold, the small and
more dense blocks will be required ; which should be
forced in and condensed, by crowding the instrument
(Fig. 23) down against the side of the cone. Some
operators terminate the filling against the wall of. the
cavity, forcing down the blocks and compressing, as
above, till it is full. By this method there is danger