96 ON THE INFLUENCE OF HEREDITARY 



not to any. occult influence of the morbid poison. 

 In many instances I have seen the subjects of 

 inherited taint well grown and of good develop- 

 ment. The proposition, then, with which I set 

 out is, that whatever effects may be traceable 

 in the teeth, are due directly to inflammation of 

 the gums, periosteum, and dental pulps, occurring 

 diiring the first few months of life. The fre- 

 quency of general stomatitis as a symptom 

 of syphilis in infants, is universally recog- 

 nized. Let us ask, then, what effects upon the 

 teeth, should we, a priori, expect in an infant, 

 exposed, say at the age of six weeks, to an inflam- 

 mation involving parts in which those structures 

 are imbedded ? In giving an answer, we must 

 bear in mind what is their exact state at that 

 period of life. The temporary teeth are already 

 formed, calcified, and beyond the reach of damage 

 as regards their shape ; but the others exist as yet 

 as mere pulps. The effect, then, which we must 

 expect would not be so much upon the temporary 

 teeth as upon their successors ; and exactly so 

 does it appear to be in practice. The first set 

 show no peculiarities of form, but are liable to le- 

 sions of nutrition by which their premature decay 

 (see Figs. 2 and 3, Plate II.), or even exfoliation, 

 is caused, whilst the permanent ones, cut many 

 years after all morbid action has ceased, exhibit 

 its effects in peculiarity of shape, size, and colour. 

 I have remarked that the temporary teeth are 



