Immediate Root-Filling. [Volume: 29, Issue: 4, April, 1887, pp. 234-235]

234

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

placed in absolute alcohol, and brushed on both sides with a fine
camel's-hair brush; after this they are placed in oil of cloves for a
final clearing. They are now ready for the finishing step,-that is,
they are to be mounted in the above described manner in Canadabalsam, or in styrax, or monobromide of naphthaline. Of all these
mounting mediums I prefer the styrax, because the outline of the
micro-organisms can be the most distinctly seen when prepared in
this medium.
I prepare it in the following manner: I take the crude styrax
(styrax officinalis) and dissolve it in a large quantity of chloroform;
the whole mass is then warmed, and while in this condition filtered
through fine filtering-paper; the clear yellow filtrate is then evaporated until it has a thick consistence like molasses. It is now ready
for use.
Carious teeth prepared in this way appear under the microscope
just as illustrated in the drawings. The micro-organisms can be
very distinctly seen, as they are of a dark-blue color. No other
color or method has given me such complete and satisfactory
results as the one described; and I strongly recommend it to all
who are engaged in this kind of investigation.
IMMEDIATE ROOT-FILLING.
BY J. SMITH DODGE, JR., M.D., D.D.S., NEW YORK, N. Y.
THIS practice may be familiar to others, but it came to my mind as
a direct application of Listerian surgery, and I am not aware that
anyone has adopted it outside of my immediate circle. At any rate,
the uniform results of about a year's experience lead me to publish
my plan.
What is here said relates exclusively to roots from which the
dentist removes a portion of living pulp. It may be enly that little
fiber near the apex which is so slow to die, or it may be any greater
amount. But unless the last of the pulp removed gives pain, or
(what I like better) is followed by a drop of blood, this article has
no reference to that root. And if the final bit of root-pulp is taken
away alive, it makes no difference what may have been the condition
of the rest. When I have a hopeless pulp to get rid of, with immediate
root-filling in prospect, I generally make an application of arsenic
and wait till the bulk of the pulp is dead. Those who, after removing
this, pass a fine broach actually to the apex will seldon fail to find
the desired remnant of life. I have several times disregarded the
alight apical soreness which often accompanies the death of the pulp,
and have had no bad result.