Page 17 - My FlipBook

CAUSES AND RELIEF OF DENTAL PAIN. 9

Ptyalism is especially marked in mercurial poisoning.
—
General treatment. Constitutional: Remove the cause
if possible, as in the case of mercury and phosphorus

poisoning.
Treat general condition if gouty, rheumatic, tuber-
culous, or syphilitic.
Local.—Render the mouth as aseptic as possible by the

use of mouth washes, of which sanitas combined with
chlorate of potash lotion (gr. x to the ounce) is one of
the best.
In cases in which one or more teeth are involved,

counter-irritation applied by first drying a large area of
the gums near the affected teeth and then painting it
with iodine
Formula.

$1 Liquor iodi fortis 1
Lin.aconiti | equal parts.

This should not be applied more than twice or three
times daily, as it tends to make the mucous membrane so
sore that further applications become impossible.

The application of a capsicum plaster, which is a sort
of diminutive mustard leaf, to the previously dried gum
also gives great relief ; it should be held over the root of
the affected tooth with the finger until it adheres, and

then allowed to remain until it falls off.
—
Chronic localised must he treated in the same way as the above, by
general constitutional treatment and hy the application

of the iodine and aconite paint night and morning, or
if more convenient by the application of capsicum
plasters.
—
Chronic suppurative dental periostitis pyorrhoea alveo-

laris.— The pathology of this condition Is very obscure
;
it is apparently due to a pyogenic infection.