46 VE TERINAR ) ' D i:\TAL S URGER 1 '. 



The process of absorption of a temporary tooth 

 commences at the apex of the root in cementum 

 which has heretofore shown no indications of any 

 tendency to disease. The first recognizable step in 

 the process of physiological removal of the primary 

 teeth is found in a roughness of the cementum, a 

 corrugation of the exterior of the root, with the solu- 

 tion or at least the softening of the surface of the 

 cementum thus affected. This diminution of the 

 firmness of the dental textures is then followed by 

 the entire removal of the tissue at the root of the 

 tooth and a progressive advance of the process of 

 absorption towards the mucous membrane, until there 

 remains only the margins of the gum to afford attach- 

 ment to the crown of the tooth, the radical portion 

 having entirely disappeared from the jaw. 



" The exciting cause of the normal absorption of 

 the tissues of the milk tooth is the approach of the 

 secondary or permanent tooth in the course of its 

 development. The second tooth growing from its 

 papilla in an upward direction towards the position 

 it is to occupy in the alveolar process, comes into im- 

 mediate proximity with the root of the deciduous 

 tooth. The continued increase in the development 

 of the secondary tooth is the cause of active phe- 

 nomena at the apex of the root of the deciduous 

 tooth, which resembles in many respects those of a 

 moderate inflammation of the root. The result is a 



