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GUM BOILS. 191
vent these accumulations from taking place ever after. The
end of the fang will indeed be hereby exposed ; but under
such circumstances it will not be in a worse situation than
when soaked in matter.
One method of doing this is to open the Gum Boils by a
crucial incision, the full width of the abcess, and fill it well
with lint, which should be dipped in lime water, or a
diluted solution of lunar caustic ; made by dissolving one
drachm of the caustic in two ounces of distilled water ; and
the wound should be dressed very frequently, as it is with
difficulty that the dressing can be kept in. If this is not
sufficient to keep the wound open, it may be touched with
the lunar caustic, so as to produce a slough ; and this may
be repeated, if it should be found necessary.
One considerable disadvantage occurs in this practice,
which is the difficulty of keeping on the dressings ; but
constant attention will make up for the inconvenience of
situation.
If the surface of the abcess be touched with the lapis
septicus,* and the lip kept from coming in contact with
the part for one minute, it answers better than any other
method ; for this, within that space of time, will penetrate
to the bottom.
The surface of the boil should be first wiped dry, as much
as the nature of the part will allow, to prevent as much as
possible the spreading of the caustic ; which by care can be
prevented, as the operator will watch it the whole time.
To extract the Tooth, then to file off any diseased part of
it, and immediately to replace it, has been practised, but
often without the desired success ; for it has often happened,
that a Tooth has been introduced into a diseased jaw. This
practice, however, now and then, has succeeded.
When a Gum Boil is formed on a back Tooth, or Molares,

* Potassa l'usa.