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THI: ROMANS 85

upon the diseased parr, and, besides, an emollient cerate- must In- appiit-d
upon it.
"Should suppuration show itseit, it will he neeessar\' to use- tlu- ah(»\(.-
mentioned steam tor a longer period; to keep in the mouth hot mulse,
in which some hgs have been cooked, and to lance the tumor hetore it
is perfectly ripe, so that the pus ma\' not, h\ remaining too long in tin
iliseased part, injure the bone. But if the tumor be of great size, it will
he more ad\isable to remove it entireh', so that the tooth remain free
on both sides. After the pus has been extracted, if the wound be a small
one, it is sufficient to keep hot water in the mouth, and to use externall\
fomentations of steam, as mentioned above; if it be large, it will be fitting
to use the decoction of lentils and the same remedies with w hich all other
ulcers of the mouth are cured.
"It also happens, sometimes, that from an ulcer ot the gums— whether
it follow a parulis or not—one ma\- have for a long period a discharge ot
pus, on account of a broken or rotten tooth, or else on account ot a
disease of the bone; in this case there very often exists a fistula. 1 hen
the latter must be opened, the tooth extracted, and if any bony fragment
exist, this should be removed; and if there be anything else diseased,
this should be scraped awaw Afterward, the same remedies which have
been indicated for the other ulcers of the mouth must be used.
"If the gums separate from the teeth, it will be useful, in this case also,
to employ those remedies called antherce. But it is also beneficial to chew
unripe pears and apples and to keep their juices in the mouth. Kqual
advantage can be derived from keeping vinegar in the mouth, provided
it be not too strong.
" Whenever ulcers of the mouth are attacked by gangrene, it is necessary
first to consider whether the whole bod\- be unhealth}-, and in that case,
to do what is necessary to strengthen it. When the gangrenous ulcer is
superficial, the use of antheur is sutficient; when it is somewhat deeper,
a mixture must be applied on it, of two parts of burnt paper' to one ot
orpiment;- when it is ver\- deep, three parts of burnt paper to a tourth
part of orpiment must be used; or else, e(|ual parts ot roasted salt and
roasted iris; or lastlv, equal parts of chalcites, lime, and orpiment. It
is, however, necessar\' to dip a small pledget of lint in oil ot roses, and put
it on the caustic medicinals, so that these may not injure the neighboring
health\ paFts. If the disease is in the gums, and some ot the teeth are
loose, it is necessar\- to pull them out, for they greatl\- hinder the cure.
When this latter, however, cannot be obtained by drugs, the ulcer must
be cauterized with a red-hot iron."

' Here is meant the paper made of papyrus and called in Latin cliarta
- Trisulphide of arsenic.