TOOTH FOLLICLE AND ITS CONNEXIONS 323 



from this one specimen but in several other less perfect 

 preparations of the follicle procured, and an investigation 

 of a Rodent developing tooth for comparison confirms the 

 conclusion arrived at. In the mouse, which was one of the 

 animals examined by Von Brunn, it is seen that the enamel 

 organ terminates at the point of junction of the follicle 

 with the tooth, and is clearly not continued downwards on 

 to the roots (fig. 211). 



P 



FIG. 211. Developing tooth of Mouse, a. Termination of enamel organ 

 at the point where the enamel terminates : the space occupied by the 

 enamel, of which some portions have escaped complete decalcification, is 

 contracted by disturbance of the section in cutting ; d. dentine ; p. pulp. 



(x400.) 



It would appear that the great difficulty of obtaining 

 sections showing the attachment of the follicle with dis- 

 tinctness has led to this misinterpretation of the conditions. 

 Especially in the tooth germs of the lower animals with 

 their irregular crowns it is very difficult to be sure of the 

 exact relations of the follicle to the tooth, but in the simpler 

 teeth of man it is very clearly visible in complete longi- 

 tudinal sections. 



Y 2 



