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2IO THE TREATMENT OF TEETH

gum by the temjoorary filling that is used to seal
up the dressing. This will (owing to the presence
of arsenic) irritate the gum. In some cases the
peridental membrane will become so irritated owing
to exudation of the paste or mixture at the gum
margin that extraction of the tooth has to be
resorted to, and cases may occur in which necrosis
of the alveolar process will be produced. It is
therefore advisable to place a very small quantity
of a stiff arsenical paste on the exposure with a
probe, and then to place on this a pellet of cotton-
wool saturated with such drugs as may be selected
to prevent pain. There is a great prejudice against
sealing up an arsenical dressing with cotton-wool
saturated with mastic or sandarach varnish. If
there is an intervening pellet of wool saturated with
medicaments, or only damped with water, between
the arsenic and the wool and mastic, there is not
much likelihood of the varnish flowing around the
arsenic and preventing its action ; nor is there much
probability of the wool and varnish being displaced in
a reasonable time in approximal cavities, for the next
tooth will help to keep it in place. If the adjacent
tooth is missing a silk ligature may be tied around
the tooth and varnished wool. The chance of the
arsenic being squeezed out of the cavity during
the insertion of the wool is remote, and pressure