56 DESCRIPTION OF AN INVERTED TOOTH. 



gave tlie following history of her case. Nine 

 months since, a swelling appeared on the lower 

 jaw, around the unplanted portion of the second 

 molar tooth, and was supposed to be consequent 

 upon the formation of a gum-boil. At first the pain 

 in the enlarged part of the jaw was slight and 

 intermittent ; but with a gradual increase in the 

 size of the swelling, the amount of discomfort 

 became greater, although it was at no time very 

 severe. I saw her for the first time on December 

 15th, 1856. There was very considerable enlarge- 

 ment of the alveolar portion of the lower jaw, 

 around the second molar of the right side of the 

 mouth ; the tooth itself was, however, perfectly 

 sound, and although slightly tender when pressed 

 upon by the antagonistic teeth,, yet it was not 

 considered by the patient to be the seat of pain. 

 The colour of the tooth was perfectly natural, 

 and the implantation firm — indeed, there was a 

 total absence of any indications which would 

 induce a belief that disease had arisen first in 

 the tooth and subsequently extended to the jaw. 

 The swelling was not confined to the soft parts 

 — the bone was obviously involved in the disease. 

 At one point, however, fluctuation could be felt, 

 but the examination did not appear to produce 

 any considerable amount of pain in the part. 



The absence of active inflammatory symptoms, 

 and the comparative freedom from tenderness on 

 })ressure, coupled with the large amount of local 



