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METHOD OP LANOING THE GUMS. 35T

blade is inserted into the gum at the point at which

the incision is to begin ; and as the instrument cuts,
rotate the larger shaft slightly, and the blade will
follow the outline of the tooth as it cuts round it."

THE METHOD OF LANCING THE GUMS.

In all cases, the gum should be separated from the

tooth as far as the embrace of the forceps is to ex-
tend ; the lancet should pass close to the tooth, so as
to make the separation clean about its neck;—in
order to do which, the lancet must be kept in good con-
dition;—and it should also be passed freely between
the teeth. A complete separation of the gum is
essential to a good hold of the forceps on the tooth.
Some operators, however, do not use the lancet for
this purpose, but tear the gum away by forcing the
forceps to its position on the tooth. This method is
objectionable on several accounts : it causes the patieDt

much more pain than with a sharp lancet ; the for-
ceps can not thus be adjusted to the tooth with so
much facility ; there is far more danger of lacerating
the soft parts, and, because of an imperfect adapta-
tion of the forceps to the tooth, more danger of
fracturing it ; and the operation is always more diffi-
cult of accomplishment. In those cases in which the