28 ON ABSORPTION. 



In looking in mammals for the vascular organ, 

 we find that portion of the capsule of the tooth 

 which covers the enamel organ, of condition equal 

 to that which is required. Nature always makes 

 use of material at her command. To create an 

 especial organ for the purpose of absorbing fangs of 

 the deciduous teeth would appear to be a work of 

 supererogation. The more so since, if the remark 

 be true,* that osseous tissue is developed beneath the 

 absorbing papilla as fast as it encroaches upon the 

 old organ, it would again require an absorbing organ 

 to remove that osseous deposit. 



That the vascular surface of the enamel pulp is 

 not only capable of performing the function of 

 absorption, but that it actually does perform that 

 office, can be shown, I think, to demonstration in 

 the following case of irregular normal absorption in 

 the mouth of a young child, as shown in Plate III., 

 Figs. 5, 6, 7. 



The permanent central incisor is well developed. 

 The lateral deciduous incisor having been removed, 

 the deciduous canine closely approaches the perma- 

 nent central incisor. The consequence is, that 

 the permanent lateral has come into contact with, 

 and absorbed the upper portion of the deciduous 

 canine, while the permanent canine on the one side 

 has distorted the partially developed fang of the 

 permanent lateral incisor, and on the other absorbed 

 the lower portion of the fang of the deciduous 



♦ Hunter. Tomes. 



