Page 321 - My FlipBook

CAMPHOR. 319

employed to allay the pain arising from the near exposure of the
pulps of teeth ; also the pain of sensitive dentine, and that follow-
ing the extraction of teeth affected with periodontitis ; also to ar-
rest the hemorrhage and allay the pain of wounded pulps of teeth.
It forms an efficient anodyne when in the form of a strong solu-
tion of camphor in chloroform. Camphor has also been employed
in the treatment of putrescent pulps of teeth.
Combined with creasote or carbolic acid, camphor is thought to
have the power of modifying the escharotic action of these agents.
For such a purpose, 20 grains of camphor are combined with i
ounce of the creasote on carbolic acid.
The Oil of Camphor.— Oleum Camphone is preferred by
some to answer such indications. Camphor also forms one of
the ingredients of the celluloid base of artificial teeth, which is
composed of pyroxylin lOO parts, camphor 40 parts, oxide of zinc
2 parts, and vermilion 0.6 part. With ether, camphor is also
used as a local anaesthetic. A cataplasm of camphor, morphia and
flaxseed, applied to the cheek, has been used for the relief of
odontalgia.
Phenol-Camphor is made by mixing together i part of carbolic
acid and 3 parts of camphor. After 24 hours this becomes a
liquid, having a specific gravity of 990. It is used with oil as an
antiseptic, and in the form of spray may be applied to the skin as
a local anaesthetic. It is also employed to disinfect or sterilize
surgical and dental instruments, and on wool and gauze for dress-
ing wounds. It is soluble in ether, alcohol and oils, but insolu-
ble in water or glycerin. Menthol, cocaine, salicylic acid, iodo-
form, chloral hydrate and mercuric chloride are soluble in phenol-
camphor. (See Campho-Phenique.)
Camphoid is composed of camphor 20 parts, alcohol 20 parts,
and pyroxylin i part.
Carbolated Camphor is composed of carbolic acid (crystal) 49^
parts and gum camphor 503^ parts.
Nausea from Impression Taking.—Dr. A. W. McCandless rec-
ommends a gargle of camphor water. Should this fail, a four per
cent, solution of cocaine painted over surface of the tongue and
palate will produce the desired result except in very obstinate