THE TEETH. 101 



most instances without removing the tooth. Few, very few, 

 aching teeth will resist the application of aconite judiciously 

 used; and though aconite be a poison, and the treatment 

 sounds poisonous, yet in any but the most careless hands it 

 may be used to stop toothache with impunity. The best mode 

 of application is this : having immersed some cotton-wool in 

 tincture of aconite poured into a dish and set in a warm 

 place, wait until the tincture has evaporated and left the cot- 

 ton-wool impregnated with aconite paste. This paste-mixture 

 of cotton and aconite is what the tooth is to be filled with. 

 Pain usually departs in about ten minutes. It is not intended 

 that the patient shall swallow any part of this aconite paste or 

 its products ; but even if deglutition do occur, no poisoning 

 will ensue, the quantity of the active principle of aconite thus 

 capable of finding its way to the stomach being insufficient to 

 develop any bad consequences. There is an incorporation of 

 arsenic and morphia slightly more efficacious than aconite for 

 alleviating toothache; but it is altogether too dangerous for 

 domestic or private use. 



