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178 HUNTEE ON THE TEETH.
is often applied with success, and laudanum ought likewise to
be taken internally, to procure an interval of some ease.
Blisters are of service in most inflammations of these parts,
whether they arise from a diseased Tooth or not. They cannot
be applied to the part, but they divert the pain, and draw this
stimulus to another part ; they may be conveniently placed
either behind the ear, or in the nape of the neck. These last-
mentioned methods can only be considered as temporary means
of relief, and such as only affect the inflammation. Therefore the
Tooth is still exposed to future attacks of the same disease. (/).

STOPPING OF THE TEETH.
If the destruction of the life of the Tooth, either by drawing
and restoring it again, or by the actual or potenial cauteries, has
not been effected, and only the cure of the inflammation has
been attempted, another method of preventing inflammation is
to be followed, which is to allow as little stimulus to take place
as possible. The cavity of the Tooth not being capable of
taking the alarm like most other cavities in the body, and of
course not suppurating, as has been already observed, often no
more is necessary, either to prevent the inflammation from
taking place altogether, or extending farther, than to exclude all
extraneous irritating matter ; therefore, the stopping up the
cavity becomes, in many cases, the means of preventing future

(j) [The only justifiable method of applying the actual cautery is
by means of the galvanic battery, and even this is seldom resorted to,
most practitioners preferring the use of chemical agents. The stronger
acids are objectionable on account of the injury they cause to the
dentine, and the impossibility of limiting their action. Chloride of
zinc, arsenic, and creasote, are the substances most frequentty employed.
The remedies mentioned are none of them such as should be used.
It must be a very exceptional case in which general blood-letting
should be resorted to, and in no instance where the tooth could be
extracted. Local bleeding by leeches is often useful when the perios-
teum is affected. Diluted acids would injure the teeth, and it is
difficult to understand how the salts of lead could give relief.]