THE MOUTH, AND ITS TREATMENT. 271 



intend to select the periosteal membrane, and the 

 mucous membrane, as they will afford quite 

 matter enough for the time at our command. 



I trust the days are now over — at least in large 

 towns, where there are a sufficient number of intel- 

 ligent dentists to compel each practitioner, by a 

 wholesome competition, to keep himself well- 

 informed in his profession — when the only treat- 

 ment for the cure of all aches and pains in the 

 mouth is the extraction of a tooth, a carious 

 one if such can be found, but failing that, a 

 soimd one. When T first entered the profession, 

 I not uncommonly witnessed such irrational prac- 

 tice, but, thanks to this Society pre-eminently, 

 and to other agencies of lesser pretensions, such 

 practice has almost, if not altogether, ceased. I 

 do not pretend to say that all cases of toothache 

 can be successfully treated without extraction, but 

 I am quite sure that very large numbers of teeth 

 were, but a few years ago, probably many still are, 

 extracted for affections which are amenable to 

 other and more scientific treatment. I think 

 extraction may be regarded as as much the oppro- 

 brium of the dental art as amputation is that of the 

 surgical ; and just as we advance in accurate 

 medical knowledge will the use of the forceps 

 diminish. Why should not the same general 

 principles which are brought to bear on inflamma- 

 tion in other organs be brought into operation by 

 the dentist, and with the same average amoimt of 



