This author relates having carried out several transplantations with perfect success, a thing that contributed greatly to his renown not only in France, but also in England. He distinguished himself, besides, by the correction of dental irregularities. Lastly, it is to be noted that this author frequently had recourse, as a remedy against toothache, to the stretching of the dental nerve by means of moving and partially raising the tooth (subluxation).
A. Westphal. In proof of the great utility of lancing the gums in cases of difficult dentition, A. Westphal reports a case in which the difficult eruption of an upper canine tooth provoked considerable inflammation and protrusion of the eye on the same side as the tooth; these symptoms promptly disappeared, however, as soon as the gum was lanced down to the tooth itself.[476]
J. Bertin also declares himself in favor of this operation; he recommends never to neglect it in cases of difficult dentition, and to make the said incisions deep and wide enough.[477]
L. H. Runge, a surgeon of Bremen, published, in 1750, a monograph on the diseases of the frontal and maxillary sinuses. He says that in cases of inflammation of Highmore’s antrum, the pus may make its way, corroding the bone, as far as the alveoli, or, sometimes, as far as the orbital cavity; and, vice versa, alveolar suppuration can give rise, by diffusion, to abscess of the maxillary sinus. In this latter, tumors of various kinds may form (polypi, cysts, sarcomas, cancers, exostosis), the existence of which is ignored at first, and only becomes manifest tardily. Runge’s father, who was also a surgeon, had occasion to observe, and to treat an important case of disease of the maxillary sinus, with considerable dilatation of the same, not only on the side of the cheek, but also on the side of the palate and of the nasal fossæ. With a strong scalpel he perforated the outer wall of the antrum above the molars (keeping the cheek detached) and enlarged the aperture by making the instrument turn around on its own axis, thus giving exit to a considerable quantity of non-purulent liquid. Detersive and aromatic injections were used for some time. The canine tooth, situated obliquely, having been extracted, its alveolus was found to communicate with the antrum. From this moment, the injections being continued, a rapid improvement was obtained and the patient was so completely cured that no deformity of the face remained.
Runge relates a case in which, having extracted a canine tooth, he found a cyst adhering to its root. From this he is induced to believe that in the case related above the disorder was also to be attributed to a large cyst having its origin in the root of the canine.
According to him, the ozena always stands in relation to a suppurative affection of the maxillary sinus, and for its treatment one must, therefore, have recourse to Drake’s operations.[478]
Georg Heurmann, a surgeon in Copenhagen, recommends making use, after the Cowper-Drake operation, of a small cannula in order to facilitate the exit of the pathological material contained in the sinus, and also to render it easier to introduce into it medicated or detersive substances.[479]
Lécluse. One of the most celebrated French dentists of the eighteenth century is Lécluse. Dental literature was enriched by him with several works, partly written in popular style, partly addressed to dental specialists. In 1750 he published his Traité utile au public, où l’on enseigne la méthode de remédier aux douleurs et aux accidents qui précèdent et qui accompagnent la sortie des premières dents, de procurer un arrangement aux secondes, enfin de les entretenir et de les conserver pendant le cours de la vie. The work seems to have been very favorably received, as its first edition, printed in Nancy, was followed by a second, printed in Paris, only four years later. In 1755 he published another book: Eclaircissements essentiels pour parvenir à préserver les dents de la carie et le conserver jusqu’à l’extrème vieillesse. But the most important of his works is the Nouveaux éléments d’odontologie,[480] the first edition of which was published in 1754, and followed by a second in 1782.
We do not enter into a minute examination of these works, which, taken altogether, do not contain anything very new. We will only remark that Lécluse treated in a succinct but correct manner the anatomy of the mouth; invented some and perfected other instruments, the most important of which is the elevator that still bears his name, and finally, that he frequently performed the operation of replantation, warmly recommended by him as an excellent means of cure in certain cases of caries. The extracted tooth was stopped and afterward replanted, and, says Lécluse, became fast within eight days, proving as serviceable as a perfectly healthy tooth, and never again causing any pain.