132 ON CAPPING TPIE EXPOSED PULP. 



mean the disclosure of the contents of the tnhnli 

 of the dentine, — every such discovery tends to 

 show more conclusively the intimate connexion 

 existing between the pulp and the osseous matter 

 of the tooth, and consequently the dependence of 

 the healthy condition of the latter, and the use- 

 fulness of the whole organ, upon the preservation of 

 the former in its natural state. Hence, therefore, it 

 has been my practice in most cases to resort to the 

 destruction of the pulp only when all measures for 

 its preservation have failed, and among other opera- 

 tions with this view I have followed out that of 

 capping the exposed surface of the nerve, with, I 

 think, a fair chance of success. I may premise, 

 that should there be any chance of leaving the pulp 

 covered by its natural protecting substance, I inva- 

 riably take advantage of it, even should the con- 

 tiguous dentine be carious, and I have found that 

 teeth so operated upon last many years, and are in 

 most cases capable of successful after-treatment. 

 If, however, the pulp is actually bare when the 

 patient presents himself, or is exposed accidentally 

 or otherwise, during the preparation of the cavity of 

 decay, then, should circumstances to be mentioned 

 hereafter be favourable to the performance of the 

 operation, I proceed immediately to put it into 

 practice. 



The first mention of this or any similar opera- 

 tion that I have met with, is in Koecker's work, 

 published in 1826, in which, after advising the 



