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322 DENTAL MEDICINE. —

Of the infusion
alcohol, Oij—the dose is Hlx to f 5j)- Infusum
Capsici (capsicum 5ss ; boiling water Oj)—the dose is f 5ss.
The infusion is also used as a gargle.
Dental Uses.—In dental practice the tincture of capsicum is
serviceable in the early stages of acute periodontitis; and also
where it is necessary to hasten suppuration as quickly as possible,
on account of the increasing severity of the attack—a solution
composed of gtt. xxv, in a glass of warm water, of which a
mouthful is to be retained for some minutes.
The tincture of capsicum is also useful in chronic dental
periodontitis, to resolve the inflammatory products. It is also
used to stimulate the gums and mucous membrane of the mouth
in chronic inflammation and ulceration, and for looseness of the
teeth as a result of salivation ; also in cases of turgidity and
puffiness of the gums. It is often serviceable in chronic alveolar
abscess as an injection, after the sac has been destroyed, also in
recession of the gums from the necks of the teeth, for the pur-
pose of stimulating them. A few drops added to a solution of
aromatic sulphuric acid will prove serviceable in caries of the
maxillary bones, and in disease of the antrum. An efficacious
stimulant gargle may be made of the tincture of capsicum 5ss.
to rose water oviij. Dr. Kirk recommends capsicum as a local
stimulant and counter-irritant in the initial stages of pericemental
inflammation before the formation of pus has taken place ; in
cases of soreness about roots of pulpless teeth, due to external
violence, cold, etc., and not to septic irritation ; for relief of
severe neuralgias following the extraction of lower molar teeth,
in the form of a cataplasm applied to the affected side of the
face, or by moistening a piece of heavy blotting paper and apply-
ing this to the side of face. Dr. F. Flagg recommends the
J.
use of capsicum for pericemental inflammation in the form of
the powder sewed in small linen bags to be placed in the mouth
over root of affected tooth. Dr. Leffmann recommends small
oval disks cut from capsicum plaster (Seabury & Johnson's), the
surface of which has been lightly anointed with the ethereal ex-
tract, or oleoresin of capsicum, which can be nicely adapted to
the eum.