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therefore no uncommon cause of premature loss of the teeth,
by inducing absorption of the alveolar processes : this injuri-
ous consequence, arising from the use of this remedy, is now
greatly obviated by the improvment adopted in its exhibition,
namely, by keeping up a longer but slighter action of it upon
the system, rather than that violent one which accompanied
the old practice of salivation.
Where the use of mercury is carried very far, the teeth,
even during its exhibition, often become so loose as to drop
out : in other constitutions, still greater mischief is experi-
enced ; there is a considerable inflammation of all the parts
of the mouth, attended with great swelling and ulceration.
This sometimes extends even to mortification of parts of the
jaw-bones. It would not be difficult to collect cases of ex-
tensive mischief following an injudicious use of this valuable
medicine ; several striking examples of which have been
presented to me by various surgeons of my acquaintance.
In Plate V, fig. 2, is the representation of a large piece of
the anterior part of the under jaw, containing the incisors
1
and cuspidati, which exfoliated in consequence of a long-
continued salivation.
Fig. 3, represents nearly the whole of the under jaw, which
mortified and exfoliated ; this person also lost almost every
tooth of the upper jaw, which became loose and dropped
out.
A very similar case occurred to a patient in Guy's Hospi-
tal, who applied for advice on account of great disease in
his mouth, as the consequence of a late salivation. He had
an exfoliation nearly similar to the last case, and it was sur-
prising to observe how small a deformity attended the loss
of so great a part of the jaw. During the progress of the
exfoliation, so large a deposit of new bone took place around
the dead portion, that it became, as it were, enclosed in a