can be
easily manipulated, for it is rather plastic.

Crystal tin for taking the place of tin foil:

"Take chemically pure hydrochloric acid and dissolve tin foil in it
until a saturated solution is obtained; this may be done speedily by
heating the acid to a boiling point, or the same thing can be
accomplished in a few hours with the acid cold; it is then chlorid of
tin. It is then poured into a clean vessel and an equal quantity of
distilled water added; then a clean strip of zinc is plunged into the
solution, and tin crystals are deposited on the zinc; when there is
sufficient thickness on the zinc, remove both, and slip the crystals off
from the zinc into pure water, clean the zinc thoroughly, and reinsert
for another coating. The character of the crystallization will be
modified by the extent of the dilution of the solution in the first
place. Wash the tin in pure water until all traces of the acid are
removed, or a few drops of ammonia can be added to neutralize the acid.
It was suggested that it would be desirable to have some acid remain in
the tin for filling teeth in which there is no sensitive dentin. We have
put in a few fillings, and it works beautifully, and makes firmer
fillings than foil. It must be kept in water (probably alcohol is
better). It is pure tin, unites perfectly, and works easier than foil."
(Dr. Taft, _Dental Register of the West_, 1859.)

For some years it was considered the best practice to enlarge all
root-canals and fill them with gold; in many of these cases the crown
cavities were filled with tin.

Tin has been used for filling root-canals, but should there happen to be
any leakage through the foramen or tooth-structure, the tin will
discolor, and there may be infiltration into the crown, thus causing
discoloration, which might be objectionable if the crown was filled with
gold. Chloro-percha, gutta-percha, and oxychlorid of zinc are much
better for this purpose.

The apical quarter of a canal has been filled with tin, and the
remainder with cement. Tin can be used for filling root-canals. Roll on
a broach small triangular pieces of the foil into very small cone-shaped
cylinders, carry to place, then withdraw the broach, and force in the
cylinder with the same or a larger broach; sometimes it is necessary to
use another broach, to push the cylinder off from the one on which it is
rolled. Another method is to carry and pack into the canal by means of a
broach, very narrow strips