XXVI INTRODUCTION^. 



have been tinged lose their color in time, when the 

 animal leaves off feeding with the madder (though 

 very slowly), and as that dye must be taken into the 

 constitution by the absorbents, it seems that the teeth 

 are without absorbents as well as other vessels." 



The editor of Hunter's "Treatise," Thomas Bell, 

 F.R.S., differed with Hunter about the vascularity of 

 the teeth. He thus concludes a note on the above 

 quotation : 



■" The truth appears to be that the teeth are organ- 

 ized bodies, having nerves and absorbent and circula- 

 ting vessels, but possessing a low degree of living 

 power, and so dense a structure as to exhibit phenom- 

 ena, both in their healthy and diseased condition, 

 which are very dissimilar from those which are ob- 

 served in true osseous structures." 



TEANSPLAKTING TEETH. 



The transplanting of teeth, which Dr. Hunter says 

 is " similar to the ingrafting of trees," is expatiated 

 upon at some length. He then gives an account of a 

 case of transplanting which he admits "is not gener- 

 ally attended with success," he having "succeeded but 

 once out of a great number of trials." It is as follows 

 (« The Human Teeth," pp. 100-101) : 



" I took a sound tooth from a person's head ; then 



goats at Mount Libanns are of a silver color, and adds : ' This 

 confirms to me that which I observed in Candia, to wit, that 

 the animals that live on Mount Ida eat a certain herb which 

 renders their teeth of a golden color, which, according to my 

 judgment cannot otherwise y)roceed than from the mines which 

 are under ground.' — Dandini, Voyage to Mount Libanns" 



