_Dentition._—Of the 22 skulls of Munsee adults at hand it is possible
to ascertain the state of dentition in 14. In 11 of these cases there
were 32 teeth in each, while in three there were 31. The congenital
deficiency consisted in one case of the third left upper molar; in the
second, the third left upper molar is completely absent, while the
right corresponding tooth is rudimentary; and in the third there is
a congenital absence of the left lower lateral incisor, while on the
right side we find the very rare condition of a complete fusion of the
lower lateral incisor and the canine (pl. 22).
_Loss and decay._—Teeth lost through caries and the presence of decay
are common in this series, more so than in other Indian groups. Among
the males, 13 per cent of all the teeth were lost in life, while 12 per
cent of those still present show more or less decay; among the females
21 per cent were lost in life and 16 per cent of those present show
caries—this notwithstanding the fact that the average age of the female
skulls was less than that of the males. The teeth lost or affected were
mostly the molars, especially those in the lower jaw.
_Wear._—In every instance the remaining teeth show more or less
pronounced effects of wear. Where the wear is advanced, it is generally
also irregular. The detailed notes show that the wear is slight in
eight, moderate in five, and advanced in nine of the 22 specimens.
_Size, quality, shovel-shaped incisors._—In size the Munsee teeth
in all cases are medium. Where not decayed or worn off they show
invariably regular and normal development. The upper incisors present
in every case the cingulum which gives their lingual surface a more or
less pronounced shovel-shaped character, common to and characteristic
of all Indians, with rare individual exceptions.
[Illustration: BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY BULLETIN 62 PLATE 21
BASE OF FEMALE SKULL NO. 285,311, U.S.N.M. (BRACHYCEPHALIC EXTRANEOUS),
FOUND AMONG THE MUNSEE BURIALS, SHOWING EXCESSIVE SIZE OF THE FORAMINA
OVALE, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE]
[Illustration: BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY BULLETIN 62 PLATE 22
LOWER JAW OF FEMALE MUNSEE SKULL NO. 285,307, U.S.N.M., SHOWING
COMPLETE FUSION OF THE RIGHT LOWER LATERAL INCISOR AND CANINE]
_Anomalies._—The anomalies of the teeth are always of considerable
interest, being mainly either reversive or degenerative (progressively)
in character. The skulls observed indicate the following conditions:
Male no. 285,301: A small supernumerary tooth between and on the labial
side of the left lower second and third molars. The lateral upper
incisors in this skull are somewhat abnormal lingually, their surface
appearing as if rolled together from side to side, so that the tooth
is cylindrical in form and its shovel-like hollow has become almost a
cavity.
In male no. 285,303: The third right upper molar is diminutive.
In male no. 285,305: The third lower right molar is impacted, its
vertical axis tending forward and upward.
In male no. 285,326: The third right upper molar is diminutive.
In female no. 285,305 is present the aforementioned fusion of the right
lower lateral incisor and canine. The resultant tooth appears like a
broad stout incisor (pl. 22).
In female no. 285,310: The crown of the right lower third molar is
unusually large (13.5 mm. long by 12 mm. broad) and looks like that of
a fused double tooth, but both first and second molars are present.
The opposite tooth is also larger than ordinary, but the upper
corresponding teeth are normal.
Finally, in no. 285,311 the third right upper molar is rudimentary.
_Cuspids._—Many of the molars present were so worn that a determination
of their cuspid formulæ was impossible. The better preserved teeth
showed the interesting conditions detailed in the following table: