THE MOUTH, AND ITS TREATMENT. 285 



they were almost entirely free from pain. Pus 

 could be readily produced by pressure. I still 

 postponed the removal of the tartar, contenting 

 myself with the continued use of the iodide of 

 sodium. On my next visit to the hopital, two 

 days later, the man pronounced himself quite well. 

 On examination I found, however, that the teeth, 

 though firmer, were not quite firm, nor had the 

 pus entirely disappeared. I now ordered the 

 tartar to be removed, and a tannin wash to be 

 used, the iodide to be continued as before. In 

 two more days the local symptoms had greatly 

 abated : the man could not ba induced to come 

 again, as he said it was a waste of time, as he was 

 quite cured. In this extreme case, immediate 

 relief and continued improvement was secured by 

 the use of the iodide of sodium, unaided by any 

 local treatment. 



I have nothing further to say on the constitu- 

 tional treatment of these cases as they come under 

 the care of the dentist. I have given great pro- 

 minence to the employment of iodine, simply 

 because I have found it of such signal service in 

 this most troublesome and intractable afiection. 

 Other remedies doubtless will often be found use- 

 ful, suggested by the constitutional tendencies of 

 the patient ; but as in most cases in which perio- 

 stitis occurs the constitutional taint favours the 

 exhibition of iodine, it will be well to give it a 

 trial ; but after the most skilful treatment, we shall 



