_The hand of the side toward which the patient’s face is turned_ supports the jaw and keeps the face-piece or mask adapted to the face. The middle finger is pressed into the space below the symphysis mentis, and _exercises traction forwards and a little upwards_, thus preventing the jaw from slipping backwards; the index finger lies along the lower part of the mask, maintaining adaptation between it and the chin; the thumb bears on the mask higher up, keeping its upper part pressed against the bridge of the patient’s nose, and also serving as a _point d’appui_, or fulcrum, from which the jaw traction by the middle finger can conveniently be exercised. This grip once learnt is not fatiguing to the hand, and is in the author’s opinion one of the essential points for the beginner to master (_see_ Fig. 28C, page 85). _The opposite hand_ holds the drop bottle, if the method in use is an open one, the wrist resting upon the uppermost side of the patient’s head. [Illustration: FIG. 6.--Hewitt’s dental props.] Fig. 28C shows this grip in operation, while Fig. 28D shows the alternative frequently adopted. This alternative has various disadvantages. It covers up a larger part of the patient’s face than the method recommended, and it tends to tilt the mask sideways. The little finger is supposed to be hooking forward the jaw by pressing behind its angle, but such a method is very fatiguing if in use for more than a few moments. In a proportion of cases, it is found that a free air-way cannot be maintained by these simple measures. Upper or lower teeth (or both) may be missing and traction upon the lower jaw only closes the mouth the more firmly. In most of these cases, the difficulty can be met by the use of the _dental prop_. These are made in various sizes and shapes, of which the best known are Hewitt’s and Bellamy Gardner’s (_see_ Figs. 6 and 7). The latter are made of aluminium and are of small size only. They are the most convenient for cases with teeth both in the upper and lower jaw, but who suffer from a receding lower jaw not easily kept forward unless the prop is used as a rocker, as it were, upon which it can be slid forward. Hewitt’s props are of plated metal, with lead on the cups, to avoid injury to the teeth. They are made in five sizes, of which the middle and larger are very convenient for cases in which one or both rows of teeth are missing. [Illustration: FIG. 7.--Bellamy Gardner’s Dental Props.] [Illustration: FIG. 8.--Phillips’ modification of Hewitt’s artificial airway.] For cases entirely without teeth, and in which a large flabby tongue is prone to fall back over the epiglottis, the mouth tube (Fig. 8) is very convenient. The rubber shank lies along the top of the tongue, the metal end lies between the gums. As originally introduced by Hewitt, the air-way was circular in cross section, but the flattened model figured is a distinct improvement. It was introduced by Dr Phillips.