Page 222 - My FlipBook

206 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
bleeding which takes place; especially as I have found
from experience, that simply scarifying the gums has
answered the same purpose. Where there are reasons
for supposing it to arise from a peculiarity in the con-
stitution, the treatment should be such as will remove this
peculiarity.
If the constitution is scorbutic, it must be treated with
a view to the original disease. If scrofulous, local treat-
ment, by wounding the parts, may do harm ; but sea-
bathing, and washing the mouth frequently with sea-water
are the most powerful means of cure that I know, (if)

§ 2. Callous Thickenings of the Gums.

The Gums are also subject to other diseases, abstracted
from their connection with the Alveoli and Teeth ; which do
not wholly belong to our present subject.
A very common one is the thickening of the Gum in some
particular place, of a hard callous nature, similar to an
excrescence. Many of these have a cancerous appearance,
which deters the Surgeon from meddling with them ; but in
general without reason.
They may be often removed by the knife, but not always.
The bleeding, which follows, is generally so considerable that
it is frequently necessary to apply the actual cautery.
They sometimes grow again, which subjects the patient to
the same operation. I have known them extracted six times
;
but, in such cases, I suspect that they really have a cancerous
disposition ; at least it has been so in two cases, which have
fallen under my observation.

(y) [True scurvy is now seldom seen except in sailors. Cases of this
kind which have occurred on board the Dreadnought Hospital Ship at
Greenwich, have received the greatest benefit from the use of the
chlorate of potash.]