Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

diately after the destruction of the nerve-pulp would be always followed by dull aching pain ; but I am happy to say, that not the slightest indication of pain has in the great majority of instances ensued, in rather an extensive employment of this agent and method. As a rule, however, it is my opinion the tooth should not be filled permanently on the same day that the electro-cautery has been applied, unless in the instances just mentioned ; that is, if the removal of the carious portion is not then being attended with sensibility. Experience and practice teach us to know the proper cases which can be fdled at once or not. " I have found by experience, also, that by waiting a day or two, any sensibility remaining after the destruction of the dental pulp and excavation of the carious parts of the affected tooth is sure to disappear, assisted by the solution of morphia and mastic, or mastic and camphor, which temporarily occu- pies the cavity. By this time the cavity will bear the pressure of an instrument within it, and an examination will show that the destroyed pulp has receded considerably inward ; the black spot is now so out of the way that the filling will not press upon it, or, if it docs, it becomes a matter of the smallest possi- ble importance, so far as my experience permits mo to judge in this respect. I must here, however, warn others not to mistake the black speck here referred to for actual remaining caries. " Under the circumstances which have now been mentioned, the results of this operation are completely successful, and the teeth so treated are serviceable for years. If, however, tender- ness of the tooth remain after the use of the cautery, it is always better to wait for its complete disappearance before proceeding to permanent filling. I cannot call to mind any single instance in which the pain was at all persistent after its use ; but it will be sure to become so if the tooth is one not fairly suitable for preservation, from being either loose, or diseased at the apex or bottom of a fang, such as a small fungous growth, or some sim- ilar cause. In such cases, the destruction of the tooth-pulp, accomplished no matter by what method, will prove unavail-