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Art. XX. — On a new application of Lever Power in the Ex- 

 traction of Teeth. By the Hon. David E. Wilkie, M.D., 

 M.L.C. 



(With a Plate.) 

 [Read before the Institute, January 23, I860.] 



The extraction of teeth is an operation of such frequent 

 occurrence, that almost every one understands the different 

 methods that are used for this purpose. 



It is not my object, therefore, to detain you with a his- 

 torical account of the different instruments now in use for 

 the extraction of teeth. 



I shall simply exhibit soaie of these instruments, and 

 point out wherein they are defective in principle, in order 

 that you may be in a position to understand the importance 

 of discovering some new application of power for the more 

 direct and easy extraction of teeth. 



I shall then endeavour to show that a very simple instru- 

 ment, which I have recently invented, furnishes a new ap- 

 plication of lever power in the extraction of teeth, which I 

 believe is calculated, in a great measure, to surmount the 

 difficulties that are frequently experienced in this operation. 



It may perhaps be thought that this subject is strictly 

 medical, and that I should rather have brought my instru- 

 ment under the notice of the Medical Society, but it is 

 scarcely necessary for me to say that the extraction of teeth 

 has, of late years, been almost entirely taken out of the 

 hands of the medical profession, and that very few medical 

 men feel any particular interest in the subject. My object 

 is, therefore, to submit my instrument to the judgment of 

 scientific men, in the hope that its merits, if it has any, may 

 invite the attention of dentists generally, and that the 

 public at large may reap the advantages of the invention, if 

 it really possesses any advantages. If any apology were 

 necessary for introducing this subject to the Institute, I 

 might refer to Sir Charles Bell, Marshall Hall, Sir Ben- 

 jamin Brodie, and other eminent medical men, who first 

 published many of their original observations and experi- 



