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172 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
posure of the cavity of a tooth does not in all cases give pain.
Some Teeth shall moulder wholly away, without ever having
any sensation. (/)
In many cases, there will be very acute pain upon the cavity
being exposed, which will subside, and recur again, without
producing any other effect ; but it more frequently happens,
that this pain is the first symptom of inflammation, and is in
most cases very considerable ; more so than that arising from
such an inflammation in other places. The surrounding parts
sympathize commonly to a considerable extent, viz. the Gums,
Jaw bones, and integuments covering them ; they inflame and
swell so much as to affect the whole of that side of the face,
where the affected Tooth is situated. The mouth can hardly be
opened ; the glands of that side of the neck often swell ; there
is an increase of the saliva, and the eye is almost closed ; the
Tooth not giving way to the swelling of the soft parts within
it : and for this reason the local effects of the Inflammation
cannot be so visible as in the soft parts.
This inflammation of the Tooth often lasts a considerable
time, and then gradually subsides. We may suppose, according
to the general law of inflammation, that it is first of the
adhesive kind, and accordingly we sometimes find the Teeth
swelled at their ends, which is a character of the adhesive stage
of inflammation ; and sometimes two fangs are grown together.
That we seldom find adhesions between the Teeth and surround-
ing parts may be reasonably imputed to their less aptitude for
such connections. The suppurative inflammation succeeds
but as a Tooth has not that power of suppuration which leads
(/) [The occurrence of pain would appear to depend very much
upon the rapidity with which the disease advances. When caries runs
a very rapid course, pain speedily ensues, but where its progress is slow
the crown of the tooth may be destroyed without any violent attack of
pain. This arises from time being given for the pulp to form new den-
tine which gradually fills up the cavity of the tooth as the caries
advances towards the centre.]
172 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
posure of the cavity of a tooth does not in all cases give pain.
Some Teeth shall moulder wholly away, without ever having
any sensation. (/)
In many cases, there will be very acute pain upon the cavity
being exposed, which will subside, and recur again, without
producing any other effect ; but it more frequently happens,
that this pain is the first symptom of inflammation, and is in
most cases very considerable ; more so than that arising from
such an inflammation in other places. The surrounding parts
sympathize commonly to a considerable extent, viz. the Gums,
Jaw bones, and integuments covering them ; they inflame and
swell so much as to affect the whole of that side of the face,
where the affected Tooth is situated. The mouth can hardly be
opened ; the glands of that side of the neck often swell ; there
is an increase of the saliva, and the eye is almost closed ; the
Tooth not giving way to the swelling of the soft parts within
it : and for this reason the local effects of the Inflammation
cannot be so visible as in the soft parts.
This inflammation of the Tooth often lasts a considerable
time, and then gradually subsides. We may suppose, according
to the general law of inflammation, that it is first of the
adhesive kind, and accordingly we sometimes find the Teeth
swelled at their ends, which is a character of the adhesive stage
of inflammation ; and sometimes two fangs are grown together.
That we seldom find adhesions between the Teeth and surround-
ing parts may be reasonably imputed to their less aptitude for
such connections. The suppurative inflammation succeeds
but as a Tooth has not that power of suppuration which leads
(/) [The occurrence of pain would appear to depend very much
upon the rapidity with which the disease advances. When caries runs
a very rapid course, pain speedily ensues, but where its progress is slow
the crown of the tooth may be destroyed without any violent attack of
pain. This arises from time being given for the pulp to form new den-
tine which gradually fills up the cavity of the tooth as the caries
advances towards the centre.]
