“Several years ago the wife of M. Gosset, Reviseur des Comptes, sent for me to examine the teeth of her daughter, then twelve years of age. I found the lateral incisor on the left side of the lower jaw strongly inclined toward the palate in such a manner as to constitute a real disfigurement. Interrogated by the mother as to the possibility of remedying this, I replied that it could easily be done in eight or ten days, with the method of threads, if the young girl were only sent every day to my house. As, however, the young lady received instruction from several masters who came to her house each day, my proposal was not accepted, in order not to distract her from her studies. This induced me to say to the mother that, if she were willing, I would put the crooked tooth into its natural position in a few minutes. Surprised at so short a time being demanded for the operation, she consented to my performing it immediately. Making use of the file, I began by separating the tooth from the neighboring ones which pressed upon it, slightly diminishing the space it ought to have occupied. This done, I straightened the tooth with the pelican, placing it in its natural position, to the great astonishment of the young girl’s mother and of other persons present, who told me they had many times seen similar corrections that had been carried out by the late M. Carmeline and others, never, however, with this method or in so short a time. As soon as I had reduced the tooth to its normal position I fixed it to those next to it by means of a piece of common thread, which I left there eight days; and during that time I made the young girl rinse her mouth four or five times a day with an astringent mouth wash. After the tooth had become firm, it would not have been suspected that it had ever been out of its normal position.”[438]