Page 258 - My FlipBook

242 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
OF DENTITION.
Teeth, at their first formation, and for some time while
growing, are completely inclosed within the Sockets and
Gums,* and in their growth they act upon the inclosing
parts in some degree as extraneous bodies ; for while the
operation of growth is going on in them, another operation
is produced, which is a decay of that part of the Gum and
Socket that covers the Tooth, and which becomes the cause
of the very disagreeable, and even dangerous symptoms,
which attend this process. As the Teeth advance in size, they
are in the same proportion pressing against these Sockets or
Gums, from whence inflammation and ulceration are pro-
duced.
That ulceration which takes place in Dentition, is one of
the species which seldom or never produces suppuration.
However in some few cases I have found the Gums ulcerated,
and the body of the Tooth surrounded with matter ; but I
believe this seldom happens till the Tooth is near cutting the
skin of the Gums.
As this is a disease of an early age, and indeed almost
begins with life, its symptoms are more diffused, more gene-
ral, and more uncertain at snch an early period, than those
of any disorder of full grown people, putting on the appear-
ance of a great variety of maladies ; but these symptoms
become less various and less hazardous, as the child advances
in years ; so that the double Teeth of the child, and still more
so the second set of Teeth, or those of the adult, are usually
cut without producing much disturbance.
These symptoms are so various in different children, and
often in the same child, that it is difficult to conceive them
to be from the same origin ; and the varieties are such as
seem to be beyond our knowledge.
Tiny produce both local and constitutional complaints,
with local sympathy.

* Vide Natural History, page 115.