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 once a favourite practice ; nor has the custom at 

 the present time fallen quite into disuse, but it is 

 generally resorted to only during the cutting of the 

 primary teeth, and not commonly adopted to facilitate 

 the appearance of those teeth which the horse-dealer 

 employs it to quicken. In the latter case, on man 

 the gum lancet is not employed ; and, if found useless 

 on one animal, a strong inference is created as to 

 the inutility of constantly experimentalizing with the 

 instrument upon another. By incising the gums a 

 wound is created, the part is thickened, and a cica- 

 trix induced; the effects of which are to cause an 

 impediment to the growing tooth ; and this being 

 seen and corroborated by practical observation, the 

 best dentists and surgeons of the present day are 

 not very enthusiastic in the use of the gum lancet, 

 which they have in a great measure cast aside, and 

 which is beneficial only in scientific hands. The 

 loss of blood likewise is to be considered, and 

 that certainly aids in retarding the growth, which 

 the adoption of the other means, general with the 

 breeders of horses, could not accelerate. The em- 

 ployment of the cautery, to expedite the appearance 

 of the teeth, is so strange a resort, that I can only 



