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i(i Of Abceffes in the Sockets or Gums. An abcefs in the sockets or gums, originates from a hollow or decayed tooth ; the cavity of the Fang, or root being open and expofed to the influence of air, and the reception of acrid and faline particles of food &c. which irritates and inflames the periofteum and tender parts of the focket — forms a pulpy fub ftance, which adheres very firmly to the point of the root — frequently produces violent pain ; and at length fuppurates and difcharges a quantity of pus. This difeafe is particularly dangerous, when it attacks the fockets of the lower jaw : for if pus once forms, it muft either be difcharged, or taken into the mafs again by abforption. Nature generally makes an effort to throw it off; and if (he is unequal to the talk one way, fhe will affuredly effecl itanother. Fluids cannot acl contrary to their gravity ; they will defcend. Pus being a fluid, and pent up in a focket of the lower jaw, muft and will make its way out. It cannot af- cend to the furface or edge of the gum ; it muft therefore take another direction ; and without early profeffional affiftance, penetrates the alveoli, gum, and integuments of the face ; perforates the cheek, and leaves a wound and hole on the outfide of the face; from whence flows a watery ichor that continues until the caufe is removed : which, if not fpeedily effected by extracting the tooth, it will become deftructive to the contiguous bony fubftance ; and oftentimes to the adjoining teeth and gums. An abcefs in the fockets of the upper jaw, is very rarely attended with the unpleafant confeqaences the lower jaw is fubjecl to. The pus, when formed there, generally difchar ges either from the edge of the gum, or through the focket and in the direction of the of the gum, point root ; and from the immutable principle beforemen- tioned, can feldom or never produce the effects fi; often experienced from an abcefs in the under jaw.