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REVIEW OF DENTISTRY. 359

the tongue and pressing it against the loose front teeth, has the
effect of forcing them out almost at right angles to the original
natural position. I have seen persons only in middle life who
could not possibly close their lips.
" It is no uncommon thing to find the teeth enormously en-
larged by the deposition of lime which is attached in layers
around the teeth, usually those of the lower jaw. When such a
tooth is extracted the layers often fly off in chips, and sometimes
two teeth adhere so firmly that both must be extracted at once.
The natives fully appreciate the advantages of artificial teeth,
and so urgent are they in their demands for something with
which they can cliew betel that they insist on having an impres-
sion taken at once as soon as the old teeth are out, and can
scarcely wait until the mouth is in proper condition.
" The art of replacing artificial teeth for natural ones, by the
natives themselves, is the only thing that I have heard of their
attempting in the way of dentistry.
" It is a well-known fact that one of the former kings of Siam
carved and fitted for himself a full set of lower teeth out of the
hard shell of a cocoanut. So opposed was he to being seen with-
out teeth, that he kept quite secluded until he had finished his
work.
" Another well-known case is that of the late Regent's wife.
This lady, whose husband was at the head of the government
during the minority of the present king, replaced for herself,
one by one, every tooth that she lost until she had a full upper
and lower set. These also were made of the cocoanut hull and
fastened by wires to a silver plate. After her death this set of
teeth was found carefully wrapped up and laid away in a golden
box. It is still carefully kept as an heirloom in the family.
" The Siamese have a curious custom of preserving as me-
mentoes whatever has been used by their parents. The teeth
seem to be especially valuable as relics. Sometimes when I have
been extracting several for a person, and in my haste have thrown
them to all corners of my room, as soon as the job was over, a
servant would be ordered to gather up the teeth to make sure
that none were lost. These were then divided among the chil-
dren.
" Usually children of wealthy parents have these teeth pol-
ished and ornamented with gold bands and jewels for watch