276 INFLAMMATION IN THE TISSUES OF 



hours, all tend to this. In addition to these 

 symptoms, which are characteristic of periostitis 

 in every part of the body, we have when this 

 affection assails the dental organs others, peculiar 

 to these parts ; we find the affected tooth raised 

 above the level of its fellows, and slightly loose. 

 In the earliest stage the pain is scarcely at all 

 increased by pressing the tooth firmly into its 

 socket, but in a more advanced stage the pain 

 which follows such an attempt is excessive. When 

 several teeth and sockets are involved in the 

 attack, we find the pulse indicating constitutional 

 irritation, the tongue is covered with a brown fur, 

 the flow of saliva, at first increased, becomes 

 diminished, and much constitutional fever super- 

 venes. In chronic cases the pain greatly 

 diminishes, pus becomes secreted, if not in such 

 quantities as to be visible at all times, yet in such 

 quantities as to be producible at any time upon 

 applying gentle pressure to the gums. 



The treatment of periostitis will vary with the 

 cause and the stage in which we find it. We seldom 

 have the chance of seeing it in its earliest stage, 

 when probably a saline purge would alone suffice 

 to check it. In the acute form energetic treat- 

 ment must be adopted ; four or five leeches to the 

 part, great diminution of food, entire omission of 

 stimulants, saline purgatives, with fomentations, 

 hot or cold, as the case may indicate, will gene- 

 rally be found beneficial. These attacks are, as 



