194 COMPARATIVE DENTAL ANATOMY 



teeth are well arranged, and irregularity is un- 

 common; the roots of the third molar are sep- 

 arate, like the other molars, — in the higher races 

 they are fused together; the second lower molar 

 has the fifth tubercle. 



As the higher races vary from savage strength 

 and perfection of the teeth, it is in the direction 

 of incompleteness and imperfection. The best 

 dentures among European races are those which 

 have the animal perfection of form and organiza- 

 tion, so that the differences that distinguish the 

 teeth of the lowest savage from those of the 

 European are much the same as mark the change 

 from the anthropoid to the human type, though 

 the latter are far greater. The large size of the 

 jaws of the savage is due to the harder work to 

 which the teeth are put, owing to the hard and 

 often gritty nature of the food used by savages. 

 For the same reason the teeth of low races are 

 much worn with age, which does not always occur 

 among civilized races. In a general way the sav- 

 age has what we would call a good set of teeth, 

 if it were found in the mouth of a European; but 

 the massive jaws are among the most marked of 

 structural traits of low races. The use of the 

 teeth as tools, until superseded by tools made by 

 hands, also caused the greater development of the 

 parts. 



The fossil remains of Man found in Europe 



