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Diseases of the Teeth. 87

A FEBRILE STATE OE THE SYSTEM.
A febrile state of the system, is a prolific cause of caries-
Very often after severe attacks of illness, the patient will per-
ceive that holes are coming in teeth which he previously
thought perfectly sound, and that they are rapidly decaying.
This he ascribes to the effects of powerful medicines adminis-
tered to him. We have seen many cases in confirmation of
this fact.
Persons laboring under dyspeptic affections, often have bad
teeth. It is a well known fact, that during pregnancy, the
teeth of women are much more liable to decay, and decay fas-
ter, than at other times.
There are many exceptions to all these, which circumstance
has induced some to reject them altogether, but the man of
observation will perceive facts enough to convince him of their
truth, as a general rule.

The profuse administration of mercury, is recorded by most
dental authors, as a grand cause of caries; It probably con-
duces to internal caries, by inducing inflammotory action in
the bony structure of the teeth, or by making them more sus-
ceptible of inflammation. In external caries, in addition to
the above, it will vitiate the saliva. That the above opinions
are correct, is made probable by the fact, that those persons to
whom mercurial medicines have been freely and frequently
administered, have generally wretched mouths.
EXTERNAL CARIES.
Symptoms—This species of decay is most apt to attack the
teeth of persons having a sickly constitution, or derange-
ment of the digestive organs ; also, the teeth of those who neglect
them, the disease making its appearance on their opposing
surfaces, or on their external surfaces near the gum,