Page 221 - My FlipBook
P. 221
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219
once, a case of scurvy when charcoal was for a long time freely
used. As to its cutting quality I think if rightly prepared, and
finely and perfectly pulverized, it will not often have this qual-
ity)—irregularity in cleaning the teeth—cleaning them a few
times, and then suffering them to remain for several days
without any cleaning, I think, often greatly hastens the pro-
gress of this disease—irregularity of the teeth themselves
may often predispose to it after this affection has advanced
so far as to loosen some of the teeth, and the membrane cov-
ering the fangs has become tender and inflamed, which in
nearly all cases it does, before the teeth are much loosened
then almost every thing that touches the loosened teeth
seems to aggravate the disease. Mastication with them irri-
tates the alveolar membrane, and soon becomes so painful,
as to be avoided entirely. They are elongated and pressed
upon by the other teeth, so that it causes pain, even to close
the teeth upon each other. The general health is now apt
to suffer, and an irritable state of the system takes place
this reacts upon the diseased gums, until Nature, if I may be
allowed the expression, considering the teeth foreign bodies,
sets up an active absorbing process, by which she removes
the alveoli, and the gums covering the teeth, and the alveolar
membrane, so that, at last, the teeth seem only to stand upon
the ends of their roots, which rest on the jaw ; they soon fall
out. This is a gradual work, and often requires from five to
fifteen years. Acute inflammation may, at times, take place.
Those teeth which are deepest and firmest in their sockets
naturally seem to remain longest in the mouth, and vice
versa. Even constitutional diseases sometimes arise from this
disease, and in the chapter upon diseases produced by dis-
eased teeth and gums will be noticed.
219
once, a case of scurvy when charcoal was for a long time freely
used. As to its cutting quality I think if rightly prepared, and
finely and perfectly pulverized, it will not often have this qual-
ity)—irregularity in cleaning the teeth—cleaning them a few
times, and then suffering them to remain for several days
without any cleaning, I think, often greatly hastens the pro-
gress of this disease—irregularity of the teeth themselves
may often predispose to it after this affection has advanced
so far as to loosen some of the teeth, and the membrane cov-
ering the fangs has become tender and inflamed, which in
nearly all cases it does, before the teeth are much loosened
then almost every thing that touches the loosened teeth
seems to aggravate the disease. Mastication with them irri-
tates the alveolar membrane, and soon becomes so painful,
as to be avoided entirely. They are elongated and pressed
upon by the other teeth, so that it causes pain, even to close
the teeth upon each other. The general health is now apt
to suffer, and an irritable state of the system takes place
this reacts upon the diseased gums, until Nature, if I may be
allowed the expression, considering the teeth foreign bodies,
sets up an active absorbing process, by which she removes
the alveoli, and the gums covering the teeth, and the alveolar
membrane, so that, at last, the teeth seem only to stand upon
the ends of their roots, which rest on the jaw ; they soon fall
out. This is a gradual work, and often requires from five to
fifteen years. Acute inflammation may, at times, take place.
Those teeth which are deepest and firmest in their sockets
naturally seem to remain longest in the mouth, and vice
versa. Even constitutional diseases sometimes arise from this
disease, and in the chapter upon diseases produced by dis-
eased teeth and gums will be noticed.
