Page 312 - My FlipBook

284 THE MICRO-OROANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.

Micro-organisms possiblj^ adhering to the forceps, which might
be pressed^against the gums or into the wound in performing the
extraction, are washed away bj the flowing blood; moreover,
the gums are not especially liable to infections (wounds made
by tiles employed in operating upon decayed roots ; Miller's and
Galippe's inoculation experiments)."
Parreidt opposes the treatment of the wound with so-called
antiseptic bandages, regarding them as more injurious than
beneficial. Only in case the wound should give pain a day after
extraction should an examination be made to determine whether
the thrombus in the alveolus is firm or possibly septical. The
latter will sometimes be found to be the case after diflicult ex-
tractions, or in cases where osteo-periostitis alveolaris or maxil-
laris was present before the operation. The examination is made
by directing a stream of sublimate or carbolic acid solution upon
the thrombus, by which means it is readily washed out.
In cases where the protecting thrombus in the alveolus is
wanting, the latter should be syringed daily with an antiseptic
solution, at first morning and evening, later only once a day, in
order to prevent infectious matter from having too long or too
intense an action.
Parreidt recommends keeping the instruments as free as pos-
sible from germs by first thoroughly cleansing and drying them,
: 2) and permitting them
then dipping them into carbolic oil (1
to remain moistened with this solution until the next operation.
Immediately before using the forceps they should be carefully
wiped, and then dipped into a five per cent, watery solution of
carbolic acid. Busch ^^^ recommends that the extraction itself be
performed under antiseptic precautions, but regards an antiseptic
after-treatment as unnecessary. Cold, clean water is best suited
for syringing the mouth until the bleeding stops; the addition
of antiseptics is not requisite, and only causes unnecessary com-
plication and expense.
Von Mosetig-Moorhof ^''^ most energetically demands a strictly
antiseptic proceeding in bloody operations in the mouth. " Op-
erative dentistry in its bloody interferences (Eingriffen) is a
specialty of surgery ; those who practice it must consequently
be acquainted with at least the fundamental principles upon