=  # #&»‘sorame ‘PHYSICIAN. 
skin, especially. if swollen with pain. When this is burnt off, a very 
audible snap is usually heard. The pain of the operation is nothing 
compared to the extraction of teeth, as the nerve lies in the skin it 
requires only a trifling burn. The instrument I use is.simply a rod _ 
of iron of the size of a large goose quill, and about nine inches in 
_ length, flattened at one end to a very blunt edge, nearly halfan inch 
wide, which should be notched in the middle, so that it will sit across 
the ridge in the ear. This edge is to be heated almost to a red heat, 
and applied to each ear, F 
_ Thus I have made public an art, which has heretofore, in this 
country, been confined to myself, as far as I can learn, with perhaps 
one or two exceptions ; and I do it, knowing that if the operation is 
rightly performed, it will save an immense- amount of suffering to. 
an family, from this most intractable and aggravating dis- 
. 
: knowledge potshleseccret has brought me a large sum 
addition to this means, I give the patient the zanthoxylum, or 
: wach bark, to chew. A piece as large as the finger nail is suffi- 
_ eient. It is very hot and stimulating, and causes an acrid water to 
run from the mouth almost in a stream. ‘This should be repeated 
tll the cause is removed and the pain relieved. This is peculiarly 
beneficial when the pain proceeds from a cold. 
order. Pecuniary or selfish views certainly have not induced me to — 
po th = - 
If the gums are swelled, and ulceration appears to be taking place, is 
the gums should be scarified with a lancet, so as to bleed freely. If 
the ulcer is formed, and can be reached, it should be opened, as that 
me 
e 
must be done before relief can be obtained, 
If there is a hole in the tooth, and the marrow is exposed, causing 
wopenessit should be plugged, to protect it from injury, from exter- : 
es, or air. 
When. there appears to be a flux of humors to the head, together 
with pain in the head, the anodyne wash may be freely applied to the 
head, and an emetic or purgative given, to draw the humors down- 
ward. Ifthere appears to be a suppuration taking place in the gums, 
it may be assisted by holding a toasted fig between it and the gums, 
If the pain in the upper jaw and face be severe, a plaster of a table — 
spoonful of ground pepper, mixed with rye flour and vinegar, may — 
be laid on the cheek ; or, if this is not sufficient, a poultice of fresh 
‘Pepieenironnted and mashed, and Jaid on, will seldom fail to give re- 
ief, in the most obstinate cases. 2 
_ Many other things are recommended as excellent, particularly the 
seeds of stramonium, pulverized and smoked in a pipe; or tobacco 
smoke; or a pill made of opium, camphor, oil of cloves, and oil of 
pepper put in the tooth. The blue-flag root, held to the tooth, will 
often cure. lege eb 
Blistering plasters between the shoulders, have an excellent effect 
in stubborn cases. Electricity often relieves it. = 
If the tooth is very much decayed, as it can never again be made 
a sound tooth, it may be drawn, at the option of the patient. The 
tooth-ach may often be prevented by a purge. 
Keeping the teeth clean has no doubt a tendency to prevent th 
tooth-ach. The best method of doing this is, to wash them with limes 
og 
