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we shall notice, that those which were previously loose, will
become quite firm, and that the tenderness of the membrane
lining their sockets, will be entirely removed. After the first
operation for removing the tartar, and subsequently, for sev-
eral weeks, or longer, if necessary, the patient should be di-
rected to use a strong astringent dentrifice ; for which see
the chapter containing the several formularies for dentrifices.
If there should be any constitutional causes which seem to
continue the disease of the gums, and retard their cure, re-
course should be had to those remedial means, which shall,
if possible, remove the peculiar constitutional affection. Mer-
curial medicines should, if possible, be most sedulously avoid-
ed for a considerable time after we have restored a degree
of health to the gums, for they will readily become diseased
upon a repetition of those causes which first impaired their
healthy action. We must likewise direct our patient to use
those means which shall prevent a re-accumulation of the tar-
tar. The teeth should be faithfully washed with a brush suited
to the state of the teeth, remembering as a general rule, not to
use our brushes so hard as to excite much irritation in the gums,
or to those teeth which may be somewhat tender, and the
dentrifices may be used at first with hardly any mechanical
property in them, and gradually increased until the patient
can use dentrifices of a mechanical nature, as great as is
ever proper for the teeth. In the chapter upon dentrifices
I shall give a great variety of formula, from which may be
selected those which shall be proper and agreeable, remem-
bering, as I before said with regard to tooth-brushes, that
our rule and guide must be the effect of the dentrifice upon
the teeth, the gums, and the feelings of the patient ; for our
measures should never greatly irritate the two first, nor occa-
sion much pain to the patient. For the farther and complete
illustration of this subject, I here subjoin the three following
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