Page 221 - My FlipBook

THE SCURVY IN THE GUMS. 205
When the Gums first begin to have a tenderness, we may
observe it first on their edges : the common smooth skin of
the Gum is not continued to its very edge, but becomes at the
edge a little rough like a border, and somewhat thickened,
part of the Gum, between two Teeth, swells, and often
pushes out like luxuriant flesh, which is frequently very
tender.
The inflammation is often carried so far as to make the
Gums ulcerate ; so that the Gums in many cases have a
common ulcer upon them ; by which process, a part of the
Teeth are denuded. This is often on one part only, often
only on one jaw ; while in some cases it is on the whole Gums
on both jaws.
In this case it often happens, that the Alveolar Process
disappears, after the manner before described (see page 199)
by taking part in the inflammation, either from the same cause
or from sympathy. In such cases there is always a very
considerable discharge of matter from the inside of the Gum,
and Alveolar Process, which always takes the course of the
Tooth for its exit.
In many of these cases we find that while the Gums are
ulcerating in one part, they are swelling and becoming
spongy in another, and hanging loose upon the Teeth ; and
this often takes place, where there is no ulceration in any
part.
The treatment, proper in this disease, where the Gums
become luxuriant, from a kind of tumefaction, is generally to
cut away all the redundant swellings of the Gum. I have seen
several instances, where this has succeeded ; but still I am
inclined to think, that this is not the best practice ; for it is
not that an adventitious substance is thus removed, as in the
case of luxuriant granulations, from a sore, but a part of the
Gum itself is destroyed, in like manner as a part enlarged by
inflammation may be reduced by the knife to its natural size,
which would certainly be bad practice. I should suspect
that the good arising from such practice, is owing to the
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