Page 387 - My FlipBook

CONDITIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN EXTRACTION. 383

Pregnancy, and all uterine irritations.
A tendency to epilepsy.
In many cases, where there is great debility, so
painful an operation as the extraction of a tooth, will

cause extreme, and sometimes alarming prostration.
This, however, may be anticipated, by prior invigo-
rating treatment, continued till strength and tone are
obtained sufficient to endure the operation. This
treatment may occupy considerable time ; while an
urgent case may arise, in which the removal of the
offending tooth is immediately demanded ; in which
—
case, it is proper to administer stimulants -brandy or

wine, or such as the case may seem to require. By
such means the system may be so invigorated as to
withstand the shock of the operation with compara-
tive fortitude.
There is in some cases a highly irritable condition
of the nervous system, that almost absolutely forbids
the extraction of teeth, convulsions being sometimes
produced, in such cases, by a simple operation. This
remark does not of course apply to facial neuralgia
that may be either partially or wholly produced and

kept up by diseased teeth ; neither general nor local
neuralgia would be aggravated by an operation of
this kind. Accompanying general nervous irrita-
bility, there is usually excessive dread of an opera-
tion, such as to occasion rapid prostration—even