236 VE T ERIN A R Y DEN TAL SUR GER T. 



In operating on the human tooth the decayed 

 portion is not always entirely removed. In cases 

 where the dentine is entirely decomposed down to 

 the pulp, when by its removal the pulp would be 

 exposed, it is thought by some operators that the de- 

 cayed dentine gives better protection to the pulp 

 than any artificial covering. 



By others it is thought that the decayed dentine 

 being in an abnormal condition, will irritate the pulp 

 and in many cases destroy it. 



The ultimate destruction of the pulp and tooth 

 seems the most rational consequence of confining 

 the decayed dentine in the cavity. In my opinion 

 the decayed dentine, being in a diseased condition, 

 acts as a fountain head of disease, and filling over it 

 is like trying to stop a train going down grade with- 

 out putting on the brake. "Yet cases are cited 

 where fillings have been introduced into cavities at 

 the bottom of which a portion of softened dentine 

 covered the pulp, and on removal of them in from 

 one to five years afterward, all parts were found to 

 be equally and normally dense." (Taft.) 



Whether decayed dentine covering the pulp 

 should be removed or not, I will leave each student 

 to decide for himself. 



There are some particulars in which all operators 

 agree: First That all decomposed dentine should 

 be removed from all parts of the cavity when the 



