ON CAPPING THE EXPOSED PULP. 135 



the concavity, so as not to press against the part 

 intended to be protected. He afterwards obtained 

 still greater results by filling the cavity external to 

 the cap with Hill's stopping, instead of with gold, 

 though he considers this merely as a temporary 

 operation. 



Dr. Hullihen (whose premature death we must 

 all regret) substituted for the cap a few coils of gold 

 wire from the end of a spiral spring. The advan- 

 tage which he considered this plan to possess was 

 that, gold being used to complete the filling, every 

 stage of the operation can be more closely viewed, 

 so that the slightest shifting of the nerve-covering 

 can be rectified. 



Dr. Elliott believes that when any space is left 

 between the bottom of the filling and the surface of 

 the pulp, the least increase of circulation forces the 

 delicate lining membrane of the tooth through the 

 opening in the partition which separates the natural 

 from the artificial cavity, and that the sharp and 

 irregular edge of the bone around this opening 

 lacerates the membrane, thus increasing the un- 

 avoidable irritation which foUows the exposure of 

 the nerve. He therefore, after carefully preparing 

 the cavity, envelopes asbestos in a few thicknesses 

 of gold foil, particularly ensuring the contact of the 

 smooth surface of the foil with the pulp, and presses 

 the mass gently but firmly down with a warm 

 plugger. In only two cases out of a large number 

 (how many he does not specify), did any after 



