ANOHJLOSIS OF. THE JAW. 265 



only so far separated, that, with some trouble, the 

 little finger could be introduced in front. 



" Speech much resembled that which takes 

 place with the mouth closed ; and food which did 

 not require mastication was introduced between 

 the defective teeth. 



** To remedy this state of things, the gums were 

 separated by an incision from the cheeks to the 

 lips, and a broad portion of the connecting arch 

 on either side removed by a small saw. The jaws 

 could now be expanded by the aid of the mouth- 

 speculum to the extent of half an inch, some 

 painful stretching of the muscles being induced. 

 The patient was, however, enabled to voluntarily 

 close the mouth again, proving that twenty-three 

 years of inactivity had not destroyed the functions 

 of the joints and muscles. After several weeks' 

 perseverance in gradual dilatation, a still wider 

 expansion was obtained, enabling the patient to 

 chew food that was not too hard, -which, indeed, 

 the loose state of the teeth rendered impossible." 

 {Vide ** Medico- Chirurgical Review.") 



31rs. was in all probability more than thirty 



before the band began to be formed, and hence 

 now, after the lapse of so many years, there is 

 every probability that both the muscles and joints 

 are implicated. 



As, therefore, anchyloses of the jaws are rare, 

 either when dependent on morbid growth of the 

 alveoli, or the nnion of the coronoid process and 



