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TRIAL OF JOHN W. W EBSTER. 167
I see no particular absorption of the alveolar process. My -impression
is, that if it were placed among a dozen others which I can produce, I
should not be led to pick it out, from any peculiarity in that respect.
The absorption is greater than exists in some, and less than is to be
seen in other models.
I don't think that the teeth, as they now are, fit the blocks with any
great degree of exactness. I have a block, a refuse block of my own,
which fits the right side of the cast of the lower jaw of Dr. Parkman.
As far as it extends, it fits as perfectly as I could make it.
[The witness here produced several plaster-casts of jaws, and also
several natural jaw-bones, exhibiting unusual absorptions of the jaws;
differing, however, as to the shape of the absorption, from that of the
model produced by Dr. Keep.]
Dr. Morton, resumes.-The teeth remaining in the model of Dr. Park-
man's lower jaw, are those which usually last the longest; such as I
should most expect to find in a person of his years. I do not consider
the projection of the lower jaw, a remarkable one. Among these casts,
[referring to those previously produced,] are some taken from persons
now living, which have as great, or even greater projection than his. All
dentists have more or less of these cases in their practice.
[Mr. Sohier here exhibited to the witness the left lower block of the
teeth taken from the furnace, and asked him what marks it bore, of
having been fitted originally to Dr. Keep's model; or what means of
identification, this latter afforded, from any supposed conformity or
similarity?]
Witness, again.-If the blocks shown to me did not appear to have
been fused, or to have had an opportunity to warp, I should say that
it might have been made on this model, as probably as upon any other,
and not more so; but, as some of the accompanying blocks seem to have
warped so as to fall over, I should think that there was a liability of
this.
having warped out of its original shape, and so into a shape to fit the.
mould.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bemis.-I knew Dr. George Pax'kman. 1
don't know how to answer your question, " whether his jaw was. a
peculiar one." No two jaws are alike, though there is a general resem-
blance among al! jaws. I never saw a person's that his could not be
distinguished from; yet I have seen many persons whose under jaw
projected as much as his. I could identify individuals among my
patients, who have as prominent a lower jaw as his, but prefer not to
do so, from motives of professional delicacy.
Perhaps, these teeth, [those taken from the furnace,] might be
capable of identification, if they had not been subjected to the action
of heat. I can identify my own work in many cases.
Mr. Bemis.-Did you ever see a set of artificial teeth made for one
person's jaw, that would fit another's?
Dr. Morton.-The teeth might answer for another person's jaw; per-
haps, the plate would not.
Chief Justice.-Take a complete set, sir, fitted to the plate.
Witness.-I never saw a set thus complete, made for one person,
that would answer for another; the case might happen; once, in a
thousand times.
Mr. Bemis.-Would the difficulty be enhanced, in attempting to find
a set that would fit both jaws in connection? I mean, that would fit,
both upper and lower jaw, and at the same time conform to the adapta-
tion of the two jaws to each other?
Witness.-Certainly, there would be very much less likelihood of
finding such a coincidence in all these respects, at the same time.
The most prominent specimen of absorption among the casts pro-
duced by me, is that of a person about fifty-five years old. The absorp-
tion has taken a different shape, in this instance, from that of Dr. Keep's
model of Dr. Parkman's mouth. The absorption on the right side, also,
is not coincident with that of. the right side of the model.
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