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466 DENTAL MEDICINE. ;

For endermic application, gr. ^ to j of morphine may be
sprinkled on a surface (which has been blistered to remove the
cuticle), over the seat of pain ; but the hypodermic method is the
most effectual.
Dental Uses.— For dental use the acetate of morphine and the
muriate of morphine are preferable to the sulphate, on account
of their greater solubility and greater chemical affinity with the
tissues on which they are to act. The acetate of morphine is
also preferred to the other salts as an ingredient of nerve paste
for destroying the vitality of the pulps of teeth, on account of its
chemical and mechanical compatibility with the pulp tissue, giv-
ing relief as an anodyne when the sulphate would irritate. Con-
cerning the action of morphine when combined with arsenious
acid, its effect is anodyne, modifying the irritant action of the
arsenic, and preventing to a considerable degree the intense pain
which follows its application to vitalized structures. Besides its
use in devitalizing mixtures and as an obtunder of sensitive
dentine, morphine is employed for the temporary relief of odon-
talgia, for such a purpose being combined with carbolic acid,
sweet spirits of nitre, oil of cloves and other anodyne agents.
A paste made of acetate of morphine and creasote (or carbolic
acid) is much used for obtunding the sensitiveness of dentine. A
thin paste, made of acetate of morphine rubbed up with oil of
cloves, is an excellent application for exposed pulps ; also a
mixture of acetate of morphine, grs. v ; oil of cajeput, foj
applied on a pledget of cotton. The latter is also effective for
the pain following tooth extraction ; it is applied on cotton in the
alveolar cavity.
For internal administration in facial and other neuralgias, mor-
phine is combined with atropine in the proportion of atropine,
gr. ^i^ to -1^ , morphine, gr. i to i ; hypodermically injected.
Morphine in combination with carbolic acid is also employed to
relieve the pain of an exposed and painful pulp.