Page 81 - An essay on the diseasesof the jaws, and their treatment

DISEASES OP THE JAWS. 59 patient called on me, and stated that it was tlie request of that gentleman, that I would do every thing the case might require. March 9 th. Five teeth were extracted, and the patient directed to wash his gums with an astringent lotion eight or ten times a day. March 13 th. Two teeth were removed, and the use of the lotion requested to be continued. March 16th. Four teeth were extracted, and the removal of three teeth more was particularly urged, but the patient would not submit to the operation. March 21st. The teeth were scaled, and the use of a proper powder and brush directed. March 27th. The scaling of the teeth was repeated, and minute directions given for preserving a perfect cleanliness of the mouth. I again very particularly explained the necessity for the removal of the three remaining injurious teeth, which were the lateral incisor and cuspidatus ofthe left side of the upperjaw, and cuspidatus ofthe right side of the lower jaw, but nothing would induce the patient to submit to the supposed disadvantageous loss of them. Having already so much recovered his general health from the former operations, and the local disease seeming to him also to be very rapidly improving, he hoped that the extraction of these three teeth might prove ultimately unnecessary, and he insisted at all events upon giving this a sufficient trial, before submitting to their removal. After returning home to the country, the local disease continued to improve, but did not perfectly subside. Some inflammation remained, and a return of the tumour being apprehended, the patient again visited London, and on consulting Mr. Lawrence, that gentleman now positively insisted on the extraction of the three teeth I had pointed out as the cause of the irritation kept up in the affected parts. May loth. The three teeth in question were extracted. May 15th. The teeth were again scaled and all the tartar per- fectly removed. After this complete removal of the local exciting causes the inflammation and pain in the nose almost immediately subsided,