Page 272 - My FlipBook

270 DENTAL MEDICINE.

abscesses, for relief of facial and other forms of neuralgia, sciat-
ica, herpes zoster, erysipelas, etc. Dr. A. C. White states,
after experimenting with liquid air, " I first began the use of
liquid air in the local treatment of ulcers of the leg chiefly
varicose, many chaucroids and some specific ulcers. So many of
these cases have now been treated with liquid air that it can be
said with positiveness that we have nothing at our disposal to-
day which will so quickly, thoroughly, and with so little pain
clear up the edges and stimulate the surface of an ulcer to
granulations as liquid air does when properly applied. The ap-
plication should not be made so frequently as to break down the
new granulations as they form. After the first two applications
to an ulcer, one application a week is usually sufficient. All
ulcerations treated with liquid air seem to do better when fol-
lowed by a dry dressing, such as aristol, subgallate of bismuth,
or stearate of zinc instead of any unguent. An abscess, boil, or
carbuncle, in the early stage is aborted absolutely in one thorough
freezing. If it is more advanced, several applications at intervals
of twenty-four hours are necessary. Whenever pus has formed
in large quantity it is advisable to anaesthetize with liquid air,
incise and evacuate. In case of carbuncle and bubo well ad-
vanced, it is unnecessary to curette if the liquid air is applied
generously to the base of the abscess after incision. No slough-
ing follows except in the case of fairly well advanced carbuncles,
and in some of the abscesses, when the overlying skin has be-
come devitalized from tension and inflammation." In applying
liquid air it is better to apply it intermittently while the operator
is working than to try to freeze the part so that it will remain
senseless for any length of time. This intermittent use of the
spray would not be necessary when a simple incision was required
as in the case of opening an abscess. In all such cases it is ap-
plied in the form of spray.
Dental Uses.—As a local anaesthetic to relieve the pain of all
inflammatory and ulcerated conditions, such as periodontitis,
alveolar abscess, ulcers, pulpitis, etc. also to abort periodontitis,
;
and alveolar abscesses in their incipient stages ; also for opening
abscesses, and in the treatment of ulcers.