102 DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



the wound heals without leaving perceptible blemish. This 

 operation should always be performed when there is any 

 great difficulty in the withdrawal of the tooth, and this will 

 often be met in cases such as I am referring to. 



Apart from disease, the molars are not readily extracted. 

 They have not a well-defined head, and a very long, broad, 

 and well-implanted fang. Various kinds of forceps have 

 been invented, the best being those designed by Mr Gowing. 



These forceps are certainly preferable to the clumsy keys 

 which, if perchance a good hold is obtained with them, lead to 

 severe fracture of the jaw in order that the tooth may be 

 removed. I may here quote Mr Mayhew's remarks on the 

 forceps. He says: 



" They are about twenty-two inches long, in order that 

 they may be applied, if required, to the most backward of 

 the grinders, and of such substance as renders impossible 

 any springy action which might cause the bite to be lost 

 when the force was applied. As will be imagined forceps of 

 such dimensions are not to be used by the unassisted hand. 

 The reader, by looking at the end of the handles, will observe 

 that one is comparatively large; the smaller of the two 

 contains within it a female screw, and the other is only a 

 plain eye. To act on these, a cross handle or lever is added 

 (see Fig. 56). 



" This, as is shown in the woodcut, consists of two pieces, 

 the smaller of which works freely in a hole made for its re- 

 ception, and being curved at one end, can be either extended 

 in the manner represented above, or laid close to the lever 

 in the way depicted in the next view of the instrument. It 

 is what is technically called a ' tommy/ and its use is to gain 

 dispatch and power in the employment of the forceps The 

 main part consists of a rod of steel, having in the centre a 

 screw, which, at the end towards the ' tommy/ exhibits au 



