. bce GUMS. 
is obferved in the hooping cough, fpafms of particular parts, 
either by intervals or continued, an increafed fecretion of 
urine, and fometimes a diminution of that fecretion, a dif- 
charge of matter from the penis, with difficulty and pain in 
‘making water, imitating exadtly a violent gonorrhea. 
The lymphatic glands of the neck are apt to {well ; and 
when the child has a tendency to f{crofula, the irritation will 
promote the origin of this laft diftemper, 
With regard to the cure of thé difeafes arifing from den- 
titien, it can only be temporary and local, even when direéted 
to the real feat of the diforder; and certainly, fays 
Hunter, every method of cure which is not fo direé&ted, muft 
Ng 
Sometimes the ftomach and inteftines fympathize fo much 
_ asalmoft to threaten death, the {mall quantity of nourifh- 
ment which the ftomach is capable of receiving being hur- 
tied off by the bowels. 
As faras Mr, Hunter’s experience taught him, cutting the 
gum down to the teeth appears to be the only method of 
cure. It acts either by taking off the tenfion upon the gum, 
wing from the growth of the tooth, or by preventing the - 
ceration, which muft otherwife take place. - 
Tt often happens, particularly when the operation is per- 
_ formed early, that the gum will unite over the teeth, in which 
cafe the fame fymptoms will be produced, and they muft be 
Temoved by the fame method. . 
. Mr. Hunter informs us, that he had performed the opera- 
a ten times upon the fame teeth, where the difeafe 
recurred as often, and every time with the abfolute re- 
Moval of the fymptoms. 
He notices the affertion that to cut the gum once will be 
uflicient, not only to remove the prefent, but to prevent any 
Spb d fymptoms from the fame caufe. This hg main- 
the 18 contradictory to experiment and the known laws of 
kisi economy ; for frequently the gum, from its thick- 
eis Over the tooth, or other caufes, muft neceffarily heal up 
ie 
a” and the relapfe is as unavoidable as the original dif- 
: t 
i the gam is lanced fo early as t mit of. re-union, the. 
Y chat part will be harder than the original gum ; and, 
i ore, the teeth will find more difficulty in pafling, and 
. ang pain. He affirms that this is contrary to fats ; 
eons. d that all parts which have been the feat either of 
fure. ot’ are.always more ready to give way to pref- 
ff = 5 any other difeafe, which attacks either the part it- 
ak. ot Conltitution. Therefore each operation tends to 
of the teeth more eafy. - 
may be at firft obferved not upon the edge 
gun, but upon the fore-part, making rifings there, 
*ppear whiter,than the ether parts, and the gums feem 
‘Tmade prett _At this period incifions muft be 
therwif. ln oo P> till the tooth be felt with the inftrument, 
this is the os re be produced by the operation ; and 
con in all cafes, rule with refpeét to the depth of the in- 
. ee RVI. : 
.,. He adverts to the vulgar obje€tion to the practice, tha 
y o ad 
hake the 
__ The 5 § 
which 
edge, and 
- ftrument, fuch as a common 
When the grinders fhoot into the gum they flatten its 
make it broad. They are more eafily hit than the 
ore-teeth. 
The operation fhould not be done with a fine-pointed in- 
lancet, becaufe, moft probak 
bly, the point will be broken off againit the tooth, A com- 
mon lancet with its point rounded, is a ve i 
rument ; but an inftrument like a fleam would be the moft 
convenient. 
There is no need of any great delicacy in the operation, 
the gums being very infenfible parts ; and to cut through the 
te & gum down to the teeth, with certainty, when they are 
pretty deep, requires fome force. 
he gums will bleed a little, which may be of fervice in 
taking off theinflammation. Mr. Hunter never faw a cafe 
in which the bleeding proved either inconvenient or danger- 
ous. If it fhould ever be troublefome, there would be no 
great difficulty in flopping it. No application to the cut is 
neceflary. See Hunter on the Teeth, p. 233—243. 
Scurvy of the Gums.—The name of this very common dif. 
eafe is derived from its being attended with appearances fimi- 
lar to thofe which accompany the fea-fcurvy.. The g 
{weil, become extremely tender, and bleed upon every occa- 
fion; they are redder than natural, and their veffels are ex- 
ceedingly turgid. : : 
very tender. 
Mr. Hunter alfo acquaints us that the inflammation is 
often carried fo far as to make the gums ulcerate, fo that 
in many cafes they have a co’ n them, and 
f 
fhould 
