ON CAPPING THE EXPOSED PULP. 141 



years since. Last month (June, 1857,) the filling 

 fell out. On examination I could find no aperture 

 in the floor of the cavity ; the bone was discoloured 

 and somewhat soft, and I removed a considerable 

 portion of it without exposing the pulp again ; the 

 dentine becoming very sensitive, however, I desisted, 

 making a solid gold filling, but leaving a little 

 decay underneath it. I trust that a third operation 

 two or three years hence will make this a perfect 

 filling. It was rather unfortunate that I was 

 unable to convince the owner of the tooth of the 

 benefit she would confer on science by allowing me 

 to extract it. She was, however, particularly posi- 

 tive on the subject, and I am therefore unable to 

 offer the Society any report of microscopic examina- 

 tions of the tissues. 



I think, however, that the most reasonable way 

 of accounting for the continued health and utility 

 of teeth which have some of them been treated 

 on this plan for more than four years, is by assuming 

 that ossification in some shape has ensued. Were 

 it not so, inflammation of the pulp, and its conse- 

 quences, would have been likely to occur on every 

 temporary derangement of the general health or 

 local affection of the mouth. 



A more systematic course of observation is, how- 

 ever, necessary, before any definite conclusions can 

 be arrived at. The constitution and temperament 

 of the patient seem especially worthy of con- 

 sideration. I can but regret that my own notes 



