Page 293 - My FlipBook

291

cavity and bone, immediately suspected that the teeth were
the cause of it ; and desired that I should be consulted. On
examination T found that three large grinders on the side af-
fected, had been so completely carried away by decay, that
the parts of the roots remaining were entirely covered by the
gum?, which were greatly inflamed.
1819. October 8th.—These roots, six in number, were
extracted ; and so effectual was the relief obtained from this
operation, that in a very short time the patient perfectly re-
covered.
*Case XXVI. Mr. L. of Pittsburg, consulted me on the
17th of May 1818, on account of an abscess which he had
suffered for several years, in his left cheek, produced by the
dead fangs of the left first upper large grinder.
He was about thirty years of age ; had an excellent con-
stitution, and enjoyed good general health. He had never
suffered from any illness whatever. All his gums and teeth
I found, to my great surprise, perfectly sound, although the
dead roots above mentioned had excited considerable suppu-
ration in the alveoli at their upper extremity and the maxillary
cavity, and had forced an opening through the muscles of the
cheek to the external surface. The discharge was so great
that, during the time that the patient explained his case, two
table-spoonsful at least of purulent matter ran out over the
cheek. On examination, I found that nature had been so
actively engaged in endeavouring to rid herself of the cause
of this disagreeable malady, that the roots were quite loose
and hanging on the outside of their respective sockets, mere-
ly attached to the gums. The removal of these roots, and
the usual surgical treatment of the fistulous opening in the

Koecker, pages, 265, 266.