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teeth and gums were quite free from any diseased appear-
ance, the pain, therefore, was considered as rheumatic
; she
had taken much medicine, and continued under the care of
an eminent practitioner for a considerable length of time,
without receiving any benefit. The gums were lanced,
blisters were applied behind the ears, but all means were in-
effectual ; she at length determined to have both the teeth
extracted. This was reluctantly performed, because they
appeared perfectly free from disease.
When one tooth was removed, the cause of her complaint
became evident, for the whole surface of the fangs was in-
creased in size by the irregular addition of a quantity of bony
matter. This induced me to comply with her wish of re-
moving the other, which had precisely the same appearance.
The cause of her pain now became certain
; the increase in
the size of the fangs, necessarily occasioned a distention of
the alveolar cavity, and kept up a constant uneasiness.
The
lady was immediately relieved, and recovered her health and
spirits, to the great joy of her family, who were nearly de-
prived of her society by reason of her excessive nervous
irritability.
Where the disease has occured in teeth already carious,
the persons have not been afflicted with extreme tooth-ache,
but they have had occasional uneasiness, which at length has
become more uninterrupted, and the tooth has projected to a
certain degree from the socket, so that in closing the mouth,
the tooth felt as if out of its natural situation, thus rendering
mastication painful. When extracted, the fangs have been
found enlarged.
Some persons will refer this appearance upon the fangs
of the teeth to an original mal-formation
; but so different is
it in appearance from the smooth structure of any ill-formed,
crooked, or diseased tooth ; and when extracted, so much