LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE X RAYS. 665 



on their luminous surfaces these shadoAvs and to make them evi- 

 dent to the eye. An interesting use of flexible sensitive films in- 

 stead of glass plates has been made in dentistry. The films are 

 put in the mouth, and the Crooke's tube placed outside in such a 

 position that the rays can pass through the jaw. In this way the 

 accompanying photographs were taken (Fig. 4).* 



The use of photographic films in the application of the X rays 

 in surgery will doubtless extend; we can easily imagine cases 



Fig. 4.— 1. Mule patient, aged ten years. Temporary incisors in position with the permanent 

 incisors nearly ready to erupt. The roots ot the temporary teeth nearly absorbed. Right 

 temporary central cut incisor destroyed by a blow five years previous, showing gutta- 

 percha filling put in at the time which, with the dead root, has been absorbed (same as 

 the live I'oot of the other central). It is taught in the text- books that teeth with dead 

 nerves are not absorbed. 2. Temporary molars in position with no signs of the perma- 

 nent bicuspid which should take its place. 3. Patient, aged ten years. Shows the open 

 ends of the incisor roots. 4. Shows one bicuspid and two molar teeth. The roots of tlie 

 teeth pass through the floor of and into the cavity of the antrum. The spongy character 

 of the bone is shown. 5 and 6. Superior jaw, right and left sides, showing temporary 

 cuspid teeth in place, with the permanent cuspids imbedded in the jaw entirely covered. 



where the necessity of the use of the knife may be avoided by the 

 information which a carefully placed film might afford. In gen- 

 eral, X-ray photographs convey more information to the skilled 

 eye of the specialist than to the untrained inspector of them. They 

 should be studied from the negatives themselves, for the delicate 

 details can not be reproduced in a print. It is remarkable that 

 shadow pictures can show go much definition. Here is a photo- 



* Kindness of Dr. Dwight M. Clapp, Boston. 



