Page 400 - My FlipBook

396 ACCIDENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OE TEETH.

tightly over the gum, and draw its margin down
closely upon the compress. This pressure on the
bleeding edges of the gum, checks the flow of blood
there. The plate must be held down by the means
already described. It is sometimes difficult to obtain
an accurate fit for the plate, so as entirely to prevent

the blood from continuing to ooze out. In such
cases, make the plate to conform as nearly as conve-
nient to the part; then fill up its concavity with
plaster of Paris, mixed to a proper consistence ; and
then place the whole upon the part, till the plaster
conforms exactly to it, and retain it there till the
plaster sets. This is then used for the compress.
Or the inside of the plate may be thickly coated with
softened gutta-percha, instead of plaster, and .pressed
upon the part in the manner already described, and
employed in the same way.
It will often require considerable discrimination to
determine the best method of obtaining compression.
Very great difficulty is occasionally experienced when

a portion of the process has been broken away, or the
soft parts have been lacerated.
Various preparations are used as hemostatics.
These agents serve to check hemorrhage in two
ways: first, by facilitating a coagulation of the blood;
and secondly, by producing a contraction of the ori-

fice of the ruptured vessels. It is proper in all cases