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148 DENTAL MEDICINE. — ;
affection is overcome, the local symptoms disappear as a conse-
quence, or become very amenable to local remedies.

IMPORTANT POINTS IN DIAGNOSING AFFECTIONS OF THE
MOUTH, WITH A SYNOPSIS OF TREATMENT.

The Irritation of Teething is indicated by a hot, swollen and
tender condition of the gums, fretfulness, irritable temper, refusal
of nourishment, fever and thirst, and, if not relieved, diarrhoea
with offensive motions, sometimes a troublesome cough, convul-
sions, and other serious results.
An Abnormal Dentition is indicated by a hot, drv mouth,
swollen gums, tense, tender and shining, fever, disordered bowels,
fretfulness, eruption on skin, diarrhoea, convulsions.
Convulsions of Dentition are indicated by such premonitory
symptoms as irritable temper, unusual brightness of eyes, indis-
position to eat or sleep, slight involuntary movements of muscles
of face, or extremities, grinding of teeth. The paroxysm is in-
dicated by rigidity of body, utterance of a cry, face turning red
or purple, veins of neck turgid, suspension of respiration, loss
of consciousness, irregular and intermittent contractions of
muscles, protrusion of tongue, frothing at lips, distortion of face,
rolling of eyeballs, contracted and rapid pulse.
Treatment.—For the relief of the premonitory symptoms of
dentition, bromide of potassium in doses of gr. iij to v, accord-
ing to age, every ten minutes. Demulcent and soothing lotions
to the gums. An aperient if no diarrhoea is present. For more
decided symptoms, scarification or lancing of the gums. An
enema of soap and water to relieve the digestive canal of irrita-
ting substances, or the use of the following combination to abate
the fever and allay the irritability of stomach and bowels :

R . Potass, bromidi pulv gr- xv
Potass, nit. pulv gr- xij
Zinci oxidi gr. ij M.
Divide in chart. No. vi.
SiG.—One powder every four hours, until bedtime.
For the diarrhoea : change the diet, adopt hygienic measures