

OF THE TEETH. . 473 



Their body is very nearly cylindrical, being flattened, however, 

 on the faces next to adjoining teeth. The masticating surface 

 of the body is formed into two points, whence the name ; one 

 external, and the other internal: the former is the longest and 

 thickest, and, consequently, the most conspicuous. The ena- 

 mel forms an almost circular crown, covering the projecting 

 parts of these teeth. The root of each one is single, but has a 

 deep and well marked fossa on each side running its whole 

 length, and presenting the semblance of an effort at duplicity; 

 it is also conoidal, and sometimes in the upper jaw bifurcated 

 at its end. 



The bicuspate teeth of the upper and of the lower jaw re- 

 semble each other so strongly that the difference between them 

 is not striking; it is, however, determined by those of the up- 

 per jaw being rather more voluminous and ovoidal in their bo- 

 dies, and having rather longer and larger roots. 



The Molar Teeth, (Denies Molares,) three in number, on each 

 side, succeed the bicuspated. They are well characterized by 

 their greater size. Their bodies are almost cuboidal, with 

 rounded angles, and are protected with a circular crown of 

 enamel; their grinding surface has five points, three externally, 

 and two internally: the rule, however, is not uniform, as they 

 frequently have only four, and sometimes in the upper jaw only 

 three points. 



The first molar is the largest of any, and very generally has 

 five points, in the upper jaw it has three roots, two of which 

 are outward, and the other inward; but in. the lower jaw it has 

 only two roots, one before the other. 



The second molar of each jaw, with the exception of its being 

 smaller than the first, presents no essential difference from it, 

 either in regard to its body or roots. The fifth point is some- 

 times not so well developed. 



The third molar resembles the other two in its body, but is 

 smaller than either of them. Most frequently its roots, instead 

 of diverging from each other and standing out distinctly, are 

 imperfectly developed, and fused together. Some slight sepa- 

 ration at their extremities, and the longitudinal depressions on 

 their sides, mark the effort to form three roots for the tooth of 

 the upper jaw, and two for the lower, according to the general 



40* 



