Page 247 - My FlipBook
P. 247
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245
the exciting cause of the inflammation in the gums, &c. is
the same in these children as we find it to be in instances of
almost every day's notice, among the children of the better
sort of citizens, which, however, seldom becomes malignant,
from the healthy constitutions, &c. of these children, to wit
acrimonious and foreign matter deposited under the gum and
resting on the necks of the teeth, and passing, in some instan-
ces, to the alveolus. This foreign matter we have found
uniformly to be the cause of inflammation in the gums as
fully detailed in the chapter on scurvy, in this work, and by
Mr. Koecker. In proof of this assertion, I will notice a few
facts in the history and treatment of this disease.
Firstly, We have noticed that it always commences around
the necks of the teeth.
Secondly, That the early extraction of the teeth, around
which the gums were affected, was absolutely necessary in
nearly all cases treated by Dr. Coates.
Thirdly, That cleaning the teeth with a tooth powder and
brush, used as a prophylactic remedy has almost eradicated
the disease from the house.
Fourthly, That the second dentition has completely arrested
the disease and predisposition to it, by ejecting the deciduous
teeth with the acrid matter on them, and the replacement of
new and clean teeth, with a consequent healthy state of the
gums, &c.
Dr. Coates suggests that the disease is not in its com-
mencement of an inflammatory nature in all cases, although
he admits .it in many. The present medical attendants of
the house all admit that in every case it does commence with
inflammation. I believe at this time the idea of gangrene
supervening without inflammation, except from mechanical
obstruction of the circulation is nearly exploded.
245
the exciting cause of the inflammation in the gums, &c. is
the same in these children as we find it to be in instances of
almost every day's notice, among the children of the better
sort of citizens, which, however, seldom becomes malignant,
from the healthy constitutions, &c. of these children, to wit
acrimonious and foreign matter deposited under the gum and
resting on the necks of the teeth, and passing, in some instan-
ces, to the alveolus. This foreign matter we have found
uniformly to be the cause of inflammation in the gums as
fully detailed in the chapter on scurvy, in this work, and by
Mr. Koecker. In proof of this assertion, I will notice a few
facts in the history and treatment of this disease.
Firstly, We have noticed that it always commences around
the necks of the teeth.
Secondly, That the early extraction of the teeth, around
which the gums were affected, was absolutely necessary in
nearly all cases treated by Dr. Coates.
Thirdly, That cleaning the teeth with a tooth powder and
brush, used as a prophylactic remedy has almost eradicated
the disease from the house.
Fourthly, That the second dentition has completely arrested
the disease and predisposition to it, by ejecting the deciduous
teeth with the acrid matter on them, and the replacement of
new and clean teeth, with a consequent healthy state of the
gums, &c.
Dr. Coates suggests that the disease is not in its com-
mencement of an inflammatory nature in all cases, although
he admits .it in many. The present medical attendants of
the house all admit that in every case it does commence with
inflammation. I believe at this time the idea of gangrene
supervening without inflammation, except from mechanical
obstruction of the circulation is nearly exploded.
