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PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. 239

affection chronic, the exciting cause highly irritating,
and the general diathesis inflammatory, nature, un-
aided will not affect a cure. In such circumstances,
therapeutic treatment is indicated. The agents em-
ployed in topical treatment may be divided into two
classes : first, resolvents, or those which have for
their object an entire restoration to health of the
part affected; and second, escharotics, or those which
have for their object the death of a portion or all of
the diseased part. The former class of agents is of
course preferable, when the object can be promptly

accomplished by their use, and especially preferable
to those agents which endanger the vitality of the
whole tooth. In very many cases in which topical
applications are indicated, constitutional treatment is
also required ; and this should be of an antiphlogistic
character. The immediately adjacent parts, too, as
the gums, the mucous membrane, etc., should be

carefully regarded. Indeed, treatment of the gums
by counter-irritation, depletion, and various prepara-
tions, such as the conditions may indicate, will often
be found pre-requisite to a successful treatment of
sensitive dentine by topical applications.
There are very few agents used simply as resolv-
ents. The properties characteristic of this class of
agents are tonic, stimulant, sedative, and astringent.
Tincture of capsicum may fitly represent the stimu-