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similar disease—noticing that the disease has been found most-
ly in marshy or low countries—that the Asylum is exposed to
malaria, the water, impure, the diet of the children meat
once a day, molasses, indian mush, &.e.—breakfasts and up-
pers, bread and milk, we come to his description of the
disease.

Description of the Disease.*


" The ulcer of which we speak, may begin in many parts
of the mouth. In by far the greater number of cases, how-
ever, it commences immediately at the edges of the gums, in
contact with the necks of the teeth, and, most generally, of
the two lower incisors. A separation is found here, which
exhibits a slight loss of substance at lite extreme edge of the
gums, and, as far as I have observed, a whitishness of the dis-
eased surface. In some cases, though not very frequently,
this is preceded by a slight swelling and redness. In this
state the disease may continue for a long time ; and I have
reason to believe, that patients have remained thus affected,
during the whole period of three months, for which I attend-
ed the Asylum. At one time when the disease was at its
height, threatening several patients with destruction, I found
upwards of seventy children, out of a population amounting
to about 240, more or less affected with these ulcerations.
No remarkable change is at this stage observable in the func-
tions of the little sufferer, except a general air of languor
and weakness. The appetite and the muscular activity con-
tinue, but are somewhat reduced, not sufficiently, however,
to disable the child from attending school, taking the air, or



'North American Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. II, pages 11 to 17.
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