58 A MANUAL OF DENTAL ANATOMY. 



Von Bibra gives another analysis : 



Cartilage . . . . . .2042 



Fat . -58 



Salts . . . . . .1-00 



Magnesium phosphate . . . . 2*49 



Calcium phosphate, and fluoride . 67*54 



Calcium carbonate . . . . 7' 9 7 



And Berzelius gives 



Gelatine and water . . . .28-00 



Sodium salts . . . /.;* 1*50 



Magnesium phosphate . . . s - 1 '00 



Calcium phosphate . . , . 62-00 



Calcium fluoride . . . .2-00 



Calcium carbonate . . . . 5 '50 



The dentine of many mammals is very much more rich 

 in magnesium phosphate than human dentine is; even 

 the latter, it would seem, from the discrepancies existing 

 between the various analyses, is variable in composition, 

 but, on the whole, it may be said that, amongst inorganic 

 constituents of dentine, calcium phosphate largely prepon- 

 derates ; from 3 J to 8 per cent, consists of calcium carbo- 

 nate j a much smaller proportion consists of magnesium 

 phosphate, while calcium fluoride exists in traces only. 



The organic basis of the matrix is closely related to that 

 of bone, with which however it is not identical ; it is of 

 firmer consistence, and does not really yield gelatine on 

 boiling, but, according to Kolliker (who quotes Hoppe), the 

 dentine of the pig yields a substance resembling glutin, 

 the dentinal globules remaining undissolved. The animal 

 basis of the dentine is called " dentine cartilage," and is 

 readily obtainable by submitting a tooth for several days to 

 the action of diluted acids. The form and most of the 



