of No. 10 or 20 foil; or the apical third of
the canal could be filled with gold and the rest with tin.

"About four years ago I concluded to try tin for filling root-canals;
then I began to look for patients whose general health was good, who had
strong, hardy-looking teeth, and kept their mouths in good condition. I
found one who answered all my requirements, with a molar to be filled,
and they would not have it filled with gold, or could not, on account of
the expense. I filled the canals with tin and the crown with amalgam.
After filling thirty-eight molars in this way I stopped for
developments. In six or seven weeks a lady returned with an inferior
molar abscessed, but at the time it was filled the circumstances were
such that it could not be properly treated. In nine months a gentleman
for whom I had filled four molars returned with an inferior one
abscessed. This is the sum-total of abscessed teeth where tin was used
in the root-canals, at the end of four years. The others are in good
condition, as I have seen them every six months. The roots were treated
from four to six weeks with carbolic acid before filling." (Dr. A. W.
Harlan, _Missouri Dental Journal_, 1872.)

"Tin foil is just as good as gold for filling root-canals, as it is
entirely innocuous and sufficiently indestructible, while its softness
and pliability commend it. Where gold is to be used for the crown, it is
better to fill the bulbous portion of the pulp-cavity with gold also, so
as to weld these portions of gold together. The success of Dr. Harlan's
treatment was about equal to what might be expected from the same number
of teeth where the canals had been filled with gold." (Editor, _Missouri
Journal_.)

Shavings turned from a disk of pure tin have been used in combination
with Watts's sponge gold for filling teeth, either by making a portion
of the filling from each metal or using them indiscriminately.

A mat of tin foil dipped in chloro-percha can be used to cap an exposed
pulp, or a concave tin disk can be used for the same purpose. A mat of
tin has been used over a slight exposure of the pulp, because of its
slight conduction of heat and cold, thus avoiding much thermal
irritation and stimulating recuperation.

Some use Robinson's fibrous material as a surface for tin fillings,
thinking that it is harder and will wear longer because of the erroneous
notion that it has platinum in it.

CHAPTER IX.

Tin has been recommended f