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192 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
sucli very nice treatment is not necessary, as when it
happens to the fore Teeth ; because, appearances are there
of less consequence ; therefore, the gum may be slit down
upon the fang through its whole length, from the opening of
the Gum Boil to its edge, which will prevent any future
union ; and the whole cavity of the abcess, skinning over,
will prevent any future collection of matter. The wound
appears afterwards like the hare lip, and therefore this
practice is not advisable where it would be much in view
;
as when the disease is in the fore Teeth. In these cases,
where the granulations push out through the small opening'
they may be cured by the method above mentioned ; but, if
it is not complied with, they may be very safely cut off with
a knife or lancet. However, this does not effect a cure
;
for they commonly rise again. To slit the gum, in his case
has been common, but it is a bad method, whenever the
defect is in sight, (s)

(s) [Alveolar abscess is the usual termination of acute inflammation
of the dental periosteum. The progress of the inflammation and the
prospect of effecting a cure depends first upon the nature of the
exciting cause, and secondly upon the constitution of the patient.
The most frequent cause is caries which having affected the pulp of the
tooth the irritation extends to the membrane covering the fang, and
sets up inflammation which terminates in the formation of pus. If seen
at the commencement of the attack the object should be to arrest the
inflammation before it has proceeded to the formation of pus, tliis may
sometimes be accomplished by the application of a leech to the gum,
and the employment of antiphlogistic treatment. When pus has formed,
the most certain remedy is to extract the tooth, and the next best to
make a free opening for the exit of the pus. Even when the abscess
has been cured for the time it is very apt to form again and to be a
perpetual source of trouble to the patient, nor can there be any prospect
of a permanent cure in these cases until the caries has been first treated
so as to prevent it from being a source of irritation for the future.
It has been proposed of late years to freely open the alveolar abscess,
and then to remove the secreting sac by the point of a bistoury. This
it is said will sometimes effect a cure, but in other cases it is neces-