Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/P 59
Scientific nameGallus gallus
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameTooth, Comb and Wattles, foreign body, Transplantation, Experimental, Union of Different Parts, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionSection showing a human tooth inserted into a cock's comb to illustrate the processes of transplantation.
This is the other section of the comb in P58. Here a narrow empty space can be seen between the surface of the tooth root and the comb tissue, illustrating that this was not a successful transplantation.
Production date Estimated 1760 - Estimated 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Related objectsRCSHC/P 58
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Dimensions
whole height: 119 mm
whole diameter: 60 mm
whole weight: 356 g
whole diameter: 60 mm
whole weight: 356 g
Bibliography
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 1, page 26.
NotesText taken from Stanley & Paget (1846-9), and Paget (1882-5).
TranscriptThe other section of the same comb and tooth. There is here a narrow empty space between the surface of the tooth and the adjacent substance of the comb.
SourceHunter 'Works'
Vol. 2, page 104.
NotesAlso in Proger 1966-72.
TranscriptI took a sound tooth from a person's head; then made a pretty deep wound with a lancet into the thick part of a cock's comb, and pressed the fang of the tooth into this wound, and fastened it with threads passed through other parts of the comb. The cock was killed some months after, and I injected the head with a very minute injection; the comb was then taken off and put into weak acid, and the tooth being softened by this means, I slit the comb and tooth into two halves, in the long direction of the tooth. I found the vessels of the tooth well injected, and also observed that the external surface of the tooth adhered everywhere to the comb by vessels, similar to the union of a tooth with the gum and sockets*. (* May I here just remark, that this experiment is not generally attended with success. I succeeded but once out of a great number of trials.)
SourceProger 1966-1972
Vol. 1, page 26.
TranscriptIn this account Mr Hunter plainly alludes to the preparations numbered P58 and P59, in which the comb has been separated from the head; but though he says he was only once successful in this experiment, it is certain that his success was much less in this case to which he alludes that in that of which the result is preserved in Nos. P56 and P57; for in them the union of the tooth and comb is perfect.
SourceHunter 'Works'
Vol. 2, page 103-4
NotesAlso in Dobson, 1971.
TranscriptThis operation, like all others, is not attended with certain success. It sometimes happens that the two parts do not unite, and in such cases the tooth often acts as an extraneous body*, and instead of fastening the tooth becomes looser and looser, the gum swells, and a considerable inflammation is kept up, often terminating in a gum-boil. In some cases, where it is also not attended with success, there are not these symptoms: the parts appear pretty sound, only the teeth do not fasten, and sometimes drop out.
It also happens that transplanted teeth have a very singular operation performed on them while in the socket; the living socket and gum finding this body kept in by force, so that they cannot push it out, set about another mode of getting rid of it, but eating away at the fang till the whole is destroyed, exactly similar to the wasting of the fangs of the temporary teeth in the young subject.
I have all along supposed, that where this practise is attended with success there is a living union between the tooth and socket, and that they receive their future nourishment from this new master. My reasons for supposing it were founded on experiments on other parts, in animals, and also observations made on the practise itself; for first I observed that they kept their colour, which is very different from that of a dead tooth; for a living tooth has a degree of transparency, while a dead one is of an opake chalky white.
Secondly, there are instances of their becoming diseases, in the same manner as an original living tooth; at least the following case favours strongly this opinion.
In October 1772, a gentleman of the city of London had a tooth transplanted, which was perfectly sound, and fixed in its new socket extremely well; about a year and a half after two spots were observed on the fore part of the body of the tooth, which threatened a decay; they were exactly similar to specks, or the first appearance of decay, which come in natural living teeth. Pain is also sometimes felt in the transplanted tooth.
But what puts it beyond a doubt is, that a living tooth, when transplanted into some living part of an animal, will retain its life; and the vessels of the animal shall communicate with the tooth, as is shown by the following experiments.
(*I say often, because I do not suppose that it always acts as an extraneous body ; because we know that dead teeth have stood for years without affecting the sockets or gums in the least. We may therefore suppose that it is sometimes the case with transplanted living teeth.)
SourceClift 1830 Part 1
NotesCatalogue number 59
TranscriptTwo sections of the head of a cock, prepared in a similar manner. Vessels here (as in No. 57) are seen passing into the pulp of the tooth.
