TOOTH FOLLICLE AND ITS CONNEXIONS 317 



It is clearly seen in the author's preparations of the 

 permanent tooth follicle that, far from this being the case, 

 the epithelium at this late stage is present in great abun- 

 dance, and Warwick James's conclusion with regard to the 

 temporary teeth is no doubt also true as regards the per- 

 manent, that ' the epithelium is produced continuously up 

 to the period of eruption ', and that while some cells are 

 proliferating, others are degenerating, those immediately 

 over the enamel organ appearing to be undergoing degenera- 

 tive changes, while those in the centre of the follicle would 

 seem to be in a normal, active condition. 



There are probably some differences in the arrange- 

 ment of the epithelial tissue within the follicle of the 

 permanent teeth, as they are more completely enclosed 

 within the bony crypt than are the temporary teeth, 

 and thus further cut off from the oral epithelium and its 

 extensions. 



The author had an excellent opportunity of studying the 

 histology of the follicle of the permanent tooth in a specimen 

 kindly given to him by his friend Mr. Dolamore. This, a lower 

 second molar entirely enclosed in the follicle and freshly 

 preserved in formol, enabled him to procure a series of sections 

 by the freezing method, including the whole width of the tooth, 

 and the connexion of the follicle with the tooth at the neck 

 was fortunately maintained, the enclosed area representing 

 the calcified enamel (which had been decalcified in formic 

 acid). These preparations of the follicle are represented by 

 the drawing on Plate V, which, though semi-diagrammatic, 

 accurately shows the relations and connexions of the tissues 

 as seen in the sections. 



Apart from the epithelial cells, two rather remarkable 

 appearances are met with in the follicle. Calcified masses 

 of irregular shape are seen in the centre (fig. 206). These 

 are within the connective tissue and not in contact with 

 epithelium. The calcification encloses small rounded or 

 fusiform cells which do not resemble osteoblasts, but appear 

 to be the unaltered connective-tissue cells of the surrounding 

 tissue. These small masses are exactly similar in structure 

 to the calcified bodies in the centre of the pulp in many teeth 

 (see fig. 153). They do not appear to show the structure of 



