192 

 mouth, and tlie sharp edge is lodged against the 

 back of the tooth, when it is given to an assistant to 

 hold, while the operator, taking the chisel, proceeds 

 to employ it in the way before mentioned. The 

 object here is two-fold. In the first place, the chisel 

 is restrained or prevented from being urged against 

 the posterior of the mouth by the stroke of the 

 hammer; and in the next place, the concussion is 

 received upon the instrument, and taken from the 

 jaw. Sometimes when a tooth is loose, but not 

 either of sufficient size, or fitting shape, for the ap- 

 plication of the forceps, the sharp edge can be got 

 to a certain degree behind, and under it, when by a 

 wrenching action it can be either elevated or forced 

 out. There are, however, cases in which none of 

 the instruments hitherto described answer so well as 

 might be wished. Frequently little pieces or sharp 

 corners of teeth project, and to remove these, demands 

 more variety of position on the part of the operator, 

 than the previous instruments will admit of. To meet 

 this difficulty, Mr. Gowing, who to the surgery of 

 the teeth has devoted more study than any person 

 has hitherto bestowed upon the subject, invented 

 the instrument represented in the annexed wood -cut. 



