break the tooth, for if this happens the remaining part will give the patient still greater suffering. It is necessary, therefore, to avoid acting like the ignorant and foolish barbers, who in their temerity do not observe any of the above-mentioned rules, and therefore very often cause the patients great injuries, the least among which is the breaking of the tooth, the root being left in the socket, or else the taking away, together with the tooth, of a piece of the maxillary bone, as the author often happened to see. After the extraction the patient must rinse his mouth with wine, or with vinegar and salt. If, as often happens, hemorrhage is produced, a little powdered blue vitriol must be applied inside the wound; and if this is not sufficient, the part must be cauterized with a red-hot iron. [Illustration: FIG. 37, FIG. 38 Forceps for loosening the tooth previous to extraction (Abulcasis).] The small forceps (Figs. 37 and 38) to be used in loosening the tooth must have the handle shorter than the jaws and be sufficiently strong not to bend when pressure is put upon the tooth. The large forceps (Figs. 39 and 40) with which the extraction must be performed should be made of very good Indian or Damascene iron, and have the handle longer than the jaws; these, moreover, on the inside must be toothed, or striated after the manner of files, so that they may have a perfectly firm grip, without slipping. From the foregoing quotations and on examining the annexed figures, it very clearly appears that the extraction of teeth was performed by Abulcasis with excessive timidity and in a manner which must have been torturing to the poor patients. These had to undergo, first of all, the detachment of the gums, then the prolonged shaking of the tooth either with the fingers or with the forceps, then the attempt at extraction by means of a stronger pair of forceps, but, so far as can be seen from the figure, very little fitted for the purpose; and finally, in many cases, fresh maneuverings to extract the tooth with an elevator. [Illustration: FIG. 39, FIG. 40 Forceps for performing the extraction after the tooth has been loosened (Abulcasis).]