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front under incisores, that the disease soon advances so as to
destroy their vitality. In this case, I extracted three of the
irregular teeth, and by cleaning the others, and using the
wash as before directed, and an astringent dentifrice, the dis-
eased gums were perfectly cured, and the gentleman's teeth
and gums to this time remain perfectly healthy.
When the scurvy attacks the gums of children, as it
readily inclines to do, we are are very often obliged, besides
our other curative measures, to scarify those parts of the gums
which are most affected. Its attacks in these cases are most
frequently made during the first dentition, and after some of
the teeth have passed through the gums and the others are
passing, matter is lodged around the teeth already above the
gum, which excites some irritation, and this united to the pain
of the other teeth which are passing out, and the irritation
all united, occasions in some cases a very alarming degree of
constitutional excitement, and inflammation is apt to be very
extensively spread through all the gums, lining of the alveoli,
and to the maxillary bones. In these cases we must be
governed by circumstances, and the urgency of the case.
Leeches may be applied to the gums, extensive and pretty
deep scarifications, and gentle aperient medicines ; the teeth
should be cleaned with the greatest care, and afterwards the
oak-bark decoction, or of the nut-gall, will be found almost
invaluable, and a perseverance in all the measures before re-
commended must be enjoined. At the time of the second
dentition, before all the first teeth are shed, and during the
cutting of the second, great irritation at times arises, gener-
ally in children that eat a considerable animal food, and do
not observe proper cleanliness of their teeth. The following
case will illustrate all that I wish to say at present on this
subject.