Chap. 6.] [ 107 ] 



CHAP. VI. 



THE TEETH. 



General Defcription --.f the Teeth. Incifores. Canlai. Mola.res.-~, 

 Enamel of the Teeth. Growth of the Teeth. The Face lengthened 

 offer Eight Tears cf Age. Varieties in the Teeth of different Ani- 

 mals. 



r ~I~^ H E teeth, both of the upper and lower jaw, 

 JL are fixed in Tuckets of the jaw-bones, formed of 

 thin bony lamellas. That part of the teeth which pro- 

 jefls beyond the gums, is called their body ; the exter- 

 nal termination of the body, the corona or crown j and 

 that which is hid, and which terminates in a wedge- 

 like point, is called the radix or root. The roots of 

 the teeth are perforated at their extremities, for the re-r 

 ception of nerves and blood-vefTels. 



The teeth are divided into three orders. The four 

 front cutting teeth, are called incifores. Next to thefe 

 is placed on each fide a tooth, called from its form the 

 canine or dog-tooth ; and lalily, on each fide five mo- 

 lares or grinding teeth. The lad tooth on each fide, 

 from its not being cut till after the age of puberty, is 

 alfo called dens fapientias, or the tooth of wifdom. 



The four incifores are fmalier and narrower in the 

 lower than in the upper jaw. The corona of the incifores 

 is broad and fliarp, and in children is much notched* 

 The roots of the incifores are (hort, and terminate in 

 a fingle blunt apex. The canine teeth are ftronger, more 

 acute, and more deeply rooted than the incifores. 

 They are convex before and concave behind, and are 

 fitted for tearing our food to pieces. The molares, by 

 the eminences on the corona, and by their broad upper 

 furfacesj are evidently, as their name expreffes, de- 



figned 



