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gums of those teeth which are affected. This remedy will
usually communicate a new action to the diseased gum and
greatly promote their cure. He also says that if a good deal
of offensive matter is discharged from the gums about the
necks of the teeth, &c. we may use a weak solution as a
wash to the whole mouth. I have used this solution, and can
most cheerfully recommend it as a valuable remedy in the
cure of these diseases. In cases when the mouth is in a
somewhat unhealthy state, and the breath is affected in con-
sequence of it, this remedy is very valuable. However, in
many cases, we can cure this disease by the means before
mentioned, without having recourse to the use of the argen-
tum nitratum.
After bad teeth have been extracted, and the remaining
teeth have been perfectly cleaned, and the astringent wash
with the brush, which has been recommended, and a dentri-
fice I shall hereafter mention, have been used for a few days,
we generally notice a striking change in the appearance of
the gums ; and in many instances, a great change in the health
and spirits of the patient. We soon notice a healthy appear-
ance of the gums. In those cases where there was an un-
natural redness, we notice a decrease of this colour ; the
swollen gums, which seemed to shrink from the teeth, now
fall around and embrace them, and the abraded surface
If we have be-
around the fang often perfectly unites to it.
fore observed an unnatural paleness, we now notice a return
of colour ; and, in fact, every symptom and sensation of dis-
ease soon disappears. If any of the teeth which remain are
diseased, we must treat them as has been before recommend-
ed in the chapter on that subject, only remembering that an
unusual degree of care is required when operating upon
them, so as not to excite fresh irritation by rude and un-
reasonable operations. It will not be a great while before