Page 135 - My FlipBook

INFLAMMATIOxX. 133

part, reduces the excitement and irritability. The application
of the spray of absolute ether, or of rhigolene, will often prove
serviceable in the early stage of periodontitis. Cold, whenever
moderately applied, is tonic and invigorating, and besides evapo-
rating applications, ice may be employed ; but such local meas-
ures to maintain a low temperature must be renewed at short in-
tervals. Cold, when locally applied, causes the capillaries to
contract, thus diminishing the afflux of blood to the affected
tissue. The persistent application of cold, however, may cause
gangrene ; but the employment of the ether or rhigolene spray is
attended with less danger in this respect than that of ice applica-
tions. A granulating surface, on the other hand, develops better
in a warm temperature.
Heat and Jk[oisture.—llea.t is also under certain circumstances
a valuable antiphlogistic. Dry heat will mitigate pain, and heat
with moisture in the form of a poultice, is very commonly used
to relieve the pain and tensive heat of local inflammation by its
soothing and relaxing effect. While cold has an astringent, sedati\'e
effect, and constringes the capillaries of the inflamed tissue, thus
promoting healing by resolution, moist heat is relaxing and pro-
motes exudation, if not suppuration, leading to repair by "the
second intention." The use of cold is dispensed with in inflam-
matory conditions as soon as it is apparent that the termination
of the inflammation by resolution is impossible, when resort is
had to poultices or warm fomentations, such as flaxseed and
slippery-elm bark, to which vaseline, boracic acid, or a weak
solution of carbolic acid may be added to prevent fermentation
in the poultice, and putrefaction in the wound. To relieve pain,
tincture of opium may be applied to the surface of the poultice, a
water-dressing composed of cloth saturated with warm water, or
a medicated solution, such as boracic acid or biborate of sodium.
The local warm bath is also another method of applying heat
and moisture, as the granulations of a surface immersed in tepid
water develop favorably ; and an ulcerated surface which has
been subjected to a prolonged warm bath, made antiseptic by
carbolic acid, or the application of an eight per cent, solution of
chloride of zinc, is greatly benefited. Warmth and moisture are