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IODOFORM. 431

equal parts of oil of cloves and oil of eucalyptus, which forms a
substance of a soft cheesy consistence, a portion of which can be
introduced to the inflamed part, on the point of a small broach.
Iodoform is also a very serviceable application in alveolar pyor-
rhoea. A saturated solution in eucalyptus oil is also serviceable
as an external application in neuralgia. Iodoform is also em-
ployed as an anodyne, for the relief of the pain following the ex-
traction of teeth affected with periodontitis, and alveolar abscess
;
also as an injection in diseases of the antrum, and as a packing
for the pus pockets in alveolar pyrrhoea, for which purpose it is
often combined with oil of eucalyptus, or oil of cinnamon. Also
for filling the canals of pulpless teeth, for which purpose a paste
of iodoform and carbolic acid is used, and allowed to remain for
a few days, and, if no soreness follows, a permanent root-filling
can then be introduced. When iodoform is used alone, a pellet
of cotton or a strand of floss-silk may be dipped into glycerine,
and the iodoform be thus taken up. Dr. Francis Peabody rec-
ommended the application of the vapor of crystals of non-agglu-
tinized iodoform for treating pulpless and diseased teeth, blind
abscesses, etc. The cylinder of a hot-air syringe is partly filled
with the crystals, and heated over an alcohol flame or gas jet un-
til the crystals are fused. The syringe point is then placed in
the root and the bulb compressed, forcing the vapor of iodoform
into the canal, every part of which it permeates, the tubili being
filled throughout, and a precipitate deposited, forming a solid, in-
soluble filling. The vapor penetrates the apical foramen and
comes in contact with the peridental membrane subduing irrita-
tion and inflammation, gradually restoring the tooth, and if loose,
rendering it firm in its aveolus. To disguise the unpleasant odor
of iodoform, it may be incorporated with a little oil of rose, as
one drop of the oil will remove the odor of half a drachm of
iodoform ; the odor is also disguised by balsam of Peru, oil of
cinnamon, oil of lavender, or oil of sassafras. Three grains of
cumurin (a derivative of the Tonka bean) will disguise the odor
of one drachm of iodoform; or the addition of attar of rose, one
minim to the drachm ; or of essence of rose geranium, three or four
minims to the drachm. Creolin is also a very good deodorizer of