PROBLEMS OF HITMAN DENTITION 



PROF. DR. L. BOLK 



Director of the AnaUnniral Institute, University of Ainsterdnni 



TAVENTY-EIGHT PIGURES 



INTRODUCTION 



During the last few years I have been occupied with ana- 

 tomical and enibryological researches upon the dentition of 

 mammals and I'eptiles. The memoirs dealing with the results 

 of these investigations are published in the Dutch or German 

 language. ^ly researches on the mammalian dentition were 

 principally executed on human and other primate material. In 

 consequence of these investigations, I have arrived at conclu- 

 sions regarding some fundamental odontological problems, differ- 

 ing somewhat strongly from those generally accepted. However, 

 as my conclusions are founded partially on the examination of a 

 large amount of material and partially on the observation of here- 

 tofore unknown facts and relations, I believe that my points 

 of view in some respects throw new light upon odontological 

 problems. 



The present jjaper discusses only some purely moi'phological 

 i:)roblems of the primate dentition, especially with reference to 

 the dentition of man. In the next essay I hope to treat of some 

 embryological phenomena. 



I have demonstrated in my ''Odontologische Studien"^ that 

 the ontogenesis of the mannnalian teeth shows peculiarities pre- 

 viously undescribed, the knowledge of which makes their devel- 

 opmental history in some degree different from the generally 



' Odontoldgische Studien I. Die Ontogonie der Primutciizahne. .Toiui, (iu.stuv 

 Fisclier, 1913. Odontologischc Studien II. Die Mor])li()genie der Priinaf eiizahne. 

 Jena, (Justav Fisehcr, 1914. 



91 



THE AMKIUCAX JOrHNAI, Ol" AXATOMY, \'>I.. Ill, NO. I 



