Page 210 - My FlipBook

194 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
In general they are easily extracted with a knife, or what-
ever cutting instrument can be best applied ; but this will
vary according to their situations, and the extent of their
base.
They will often rise in a day or two after the operation as
high as ever ; but this newly-generated matter generally dies
soon, and the disease terminates well. They have often so
much of a cancerous appearance, as to deter surgeons from
meddling with them ; but where they arise at once from the
Gum, and appear to be the only diseased part, I believe they
have no malignant disposition.
However, I have seen them with very broad bases, and
where the whole could not be removed, and yet no bad
consequences have attended their removal. These often rise
again in a few years, by which means they become very
troublesome.
After the extirpation of them, it is often necessary to
apply the actual cautery to stop the bleeding ; for arteries
going to increased parts are themselves increased, and also
become diseased ; and have not the contractile power of a
sound artery (t).

§ 6. Deeply-Seated Abcesses in the Jaws.
Sometimes deeper Abcesses occur than those commonly
called Gum Boils. They are often of very serious conse-
quences, producing carious bones, &c. These commonly
arise from a disease in the Tooth, and more especially in the
cuspidati ; those Teeth passing farther into the jaw than the
others. Their depth in the jaw being beyond the attach-
ment of the lip to the gum, if an abcess forms at their

(t) [If the vascular excrescence depends upon the presence of a dis-
eased tooth or the stump of a tooth, it will generally subside upon its
removal ; while every attempt at cure will fail, so long as the diseased
tooth is allowed to remain. 1