On the so-called " Nerve" of the Tooth. 

 By T. C. White, Hon. Sec. 

 {Read October 27^/^,1871.) 



There is no field of microscopical investigation more pregnant 

 with, interest than that which comprises the study of the histological 

 characters of the various elements that help to make up the sum of 

 the animal frame. I would not in saying this seem to depreciate 

 those other subjects in which lovers of microscopy find such delight. 

 Micro-zoology, the physiology and structural elements of the 

 vegetable world, and those studies having for their object the 

 development and correction of the higher powers of our micro- 

 scopes, possess their several interests, and are very important as 

 fields of research ; but I believe they will be found to pale before 

 that study which enables us to arrive at a knowledge of those 

 structures which build up and bind together the various organs of 

 the human frame. A vast amount of work has yet to be done in 

 comparing these several tissues with those of the lower animals, 

 both as regards their embryonic condition as well as that of adult 

 life : but it is not of comparative histology, nor of histology in its 

 general aspect, that I would speak to-night, so much as of one 

 particular tissue for which all present have, doubtless, at one time 

 or another, felt a peculiar interest — I mean what is called the 

 " nerve'''' of a tooth. Great uncertainty exists in the popular mind 

 relative to its exact locality and nature ; all know it to be a very 

 painful subject, not to be touched upon except very lightly, and 

 many desire to see what it is like. Now it occurred to me that 

 it might not be altogether an uninteresting subject to bring- 

 under your notice, and while we were enabled to see what structural 

 elements even so small a portion as this might afford for our powers 

 of observation, it might at the same time stimulate the members of 

 oar Club generally to work out systematically the histology of the 

 other structures of the animal frame. These fields have been well 

 worked by others, it is true, but we reap the harvest of their 

 labours in the many manuals on the subject with which our scientific 

 libraries abound ; but though skilful gleaners in the field of scientific 

 investigation leave little for us to gather, yet stray facts may still 



