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186 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.

§ 4. Guru Boils.
Although suppuration cannot easily take place within the
cavity of a Tooth, yet it often happens, that the inflamma-
tion, which is extended beyond it, is so great, as to produce
suppuration in the jaw at the bottom of the socket, where
the diseased Tooth is, forming there a small abscess, com-
monly called a Gum Boil.
This inflammation is often very considerable, especially
when the first suppuration takes place. It is often more
diffused than inflammations in other parts, and affects the
whole face, &c.
The matter, as in all other abscesses, makes its own way
outwards, and as it cannot be evacuted through the Tooth,
it destroys the alveolar processes, and tumifies the gum,
generally on the fore part, either pointing directly at the root
of the Tooth, or separating the gum from it ; and is evacuated
in one or other of these two ways, seldom on the inside of
the gum ; however, this sometimes happens.
Gum Boils seldom arise from other causes ; however, it
sometimes happens that they originate from a disease in the
socket or jaw, having no connection with the Tooth, and only
affecting it secondarily. Upon drawing such Teeth, they are
generally found diseased at or near the point, being there
very rough and irregular, similar to ulcerating bones. There
is no disease to appearance in the body of the Tooth. These
last described Gum Boils may arise wholly from such a cause,
the appearance on the fang of the Tooth being only an
effect.
These abscesses, whether arising from the Teeth or the
sockets, always destroy the alveolar processes on that side where

from one to the other ; but even if the formation of pus commenced
in the pulp, which is not at all certain, the same morbid process must
have extended itself to the interior of the dentine of the fang, and then
found an exit at the opening on its anterior surface.]