THE MOUTH, AND ITS TREATMENT. 291 



named causes, constitutional stomatitis appears to 

 commence in the mucous membrane of either the 

 bronchial tubes or of the stomach, and to extend 

 to the mouth. 



Treatment, — The treatment of simple stomatitis 

 appears to consist in first removing all manifest 

 causes of irritation, such as diseased teeth and 

 roots, bathing the mouth with cooling and demul- 

 cent lotions, and, if the patient be plethoric, 

 temperance in living, calomel, and saline purges ; 

 if the inflammation be of an asthenic character, 

 astringent or stimulating washes, the active prin- 

 ciple of which may be tannin, pellitory, nitrate of 

 silver, or iodine. As an internal remedy, chlorate 

 of potash. 



Another variety of stomatitis, a case illustrative 

 of which has recently been under my care, is found 

 to follow exhausting discharges. Nursing- women 

 are frequently the victims of it. It occurs only 

 among the debilitated. The • mucous membrane 

 of the tongue is most commonly the situation of 

 this attack. 



The swelling which follows is sufficient to cause 

 the tongue to be indented along its edges by the 

 teeth ; the edges are exceedingly tender and red, 

 the redness continuing to the under surface of the 

 tongue, and along the floor of the mouth ; the 

 soft palate and the tonsils are generally more or 

 less affected. This variety is of importance, inas- 

 much as the patient will avoid eating to escape 



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