COGSWELL ON THE HUMAN TEETH. 167 



tion of the enamel, and found the teeth invariably in an excellent 

 condition, the discoloration from the vehicles used in embalmin^y, 

 generally disappears on exposure to the air. Shelden McKenzie, 

 D. C. L. of Philadelphia, in a paper read before the Philadelphia 

 Odontographical Society, relates the following among his travels ; 

 "Near the harbour of Holyhead (in Wales) and within view of 

 the Stack lighthouse, is an overhanging cliff called Capal-na-Carrig, 

 which in the Celtic language means the Chapel on the Rock. 

 Tradition reports that a Druidical temple once stood on or near 

 this precipice. It is very much exposed to the weather, and 

 portions of the soil fall into the sea frequently ; after a storm 

 visiting Holyhead in 1837 I found on the summit of this cliff 

 an immense number of human bones, protruding through the sandy 

 soil, and at almost every step, with my walking stick, exposed a 

 skull or some large bones. The bodies lay north and south, and 

 not east and west, according to the christian practice of placing 

 them. From what could be ascertained, at some very remote 

 period there had been a battle on the island, and the dead had 

 been buried where I found the bones. From these I collected 

 several hundred human teeth in a perfect state of preservation." 



The disinterment of the remains of William Rufus, who was 

 shot by Walter Tyrrel, is another instance of the indestructibility of 

 the enamel of the human teeth —from his coffin were taken nine 

 teeth, perfect, having been entombed 768 years. 



We will glance briefly at some of the principal causes of the 

 loss of the human teeth, both in those imperfectly formed, as well 

 as those of perfect structure. 



Among the causes of premature loss of the human teeth, next to 

 the chemical action of the vitiated condition of the saliva, is the 

 presence of a foreign body attacking generally the six under front 

 teeth, and the superior molars on each side. This deposit is sali- 

 vary calculus or tartar ; a low form of animalculse form gradu- 

 ally, and after years of accumulation, force the gums away from 

 these teeth, produce inflammation, suppuration, and ultimate loose- 

 ness, and entire displacement and loss. 



Thorough cleanliness and the free use of coarse food and meats, 

 acting on and around the necks of the organs, would prevent this 



