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ACUTE ABSCESS 237

Systemic Treatment.— i. Administer Alteratives to aid
nature in readjusting the parts to a normal condition.

I^x. Potassii iodidi, 5ss
Syrupi sarsaparillae compositi, 5iii
Sig. Teaspoonful every 2 hr. until three or four doses,
then three times a day.

2. Saline cathartics, such as Epsom salts, Seidlitz powders,
or Citrate of Magnesia are useful to lower the force of the

circulation, withdraw blood from the affected area, and enable
the system to throw off the toxines that are being absorbed
into the circulation.
3. Relieve pain and reduce fever by the use of trigemin,
*
acentanilid, phenacentin or, as a last resort, opium or its

derivatives.

I^x. Pulveris Acetanilidi compositi, gr. xxv
Ft. Capsulae No.
5,
Sig. Take one every 2 hr.

4. A hot mustard foot hath to draw the blood away from the
affected area to the lower extremities is of value.
The prognosis of acute alveolar abscess is usually good,
as far as preservation of the tooth is concerned, especially

if treatment be applied early. In cases of extreme boggy
swelling, great involvement of the tissues of the face, and
evidences of extreme septicemic infection, extraction is
sometim.es the only alternative. In these cases it is frequently
a matter of nice judgment to determine whether to extract

at once or to use measures to hasten suppuration and pointing,
deferring the operation until subsidence of the acute symptoms.
Occasionally it will be wise to defer the operation, rather than
run the risk of stimulating an increase of the constitutional
manifestations and systemic infection, as a result of the

operation. In many instances, however, where the indica-
tions point to a very grave termination, due to marked