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398 ACCIDENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF TEETH.

Excessive hemorrhage will sometimes occur from
very slight wounds ; death has been known to ensue
from simply scarifying the gums. Mr. C. desired
the removal of the first superior molar. The gum
was separated from the neck of the tooth with the
lancet, in the usual manner, when he refused to have
anything further done, and left the office, there being
a slight discharge of blood from the gum. After a
few hours, the hemorrhage increased so as to cause

alarm to the friends. The patient was some eight
miles from a dentist, and a physician of rather mode-
rate skill was called to the case. He probably acted
according to his best knowledge, but failed to arrest
the hemorrhage, and succeeded in convincing the
friends that no one else could do better. The flow
of blood continued three to four days, proving well-
nigh fatal, but at last abated, and the patient recov-
ered. In this case, a properly directed compress would
have checked the bleeding in a few minutes.

Another case : Mrs. T. had nine teeth removed.
The operation was not followed immediately by un-
usual hemorrhage ; but, within two or three hours,
the flow of blood had increased to an alarming extent,
so as to run from the mouth in a continuous stream.
7
The indications were that the patient w ould soon die.
She had become very weak. On examination, the
blood was found issuing only from the socket of one