80 EMriOYMENT OF ELECTEICTTY 



A few Practical Hints on the Employment of Elec- 

 tricity in Dental Operations, with a description 

 of an improved Apparatus for the purpose. By 

 J. N. Heaeder, Electrician, Plymouth. 



The object of the present paper is to endeavour 

 to remove some of the practical difficulties which 

 may be in the way of the efficient application of 

 an agent, comparatively new, perhaps, to some 

 who may have to employ it. Electricity involves 

 such a variety of contrivances to enable it to 

 accomplish specific objects, the success of which 

 depends so much upon the electrical knowledge 

 of the operator, that it is not at all surprising, 

 without the least disparagement, if all do not 

 obtain the same amount of success. Hence it is, 

 that in the late employment of electricity to alle- 

 viate the pain of the extraction of teeth, there has 

 been so much difference of opinion as to its real 

 efficiency for this purpose. Different operators, 

 apparently employing the same means and under 

 apparently the same circumstances, have obtained 

 widely differing results, leading to opposite con- 

 clusions. It is with a view to reconcile these 

 apparent anomalies, by pointing out the various 

 sources of failure, and the difficulties likely to be 

 met with by those who are unskilled in electrical 

 science, that the present communication is ad- 

 dressed to the Society. 



