A system of dental surgery / by the late Sir John Tomes.

  • Tomes, John, 1815-1895.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of dental surgery / by the late Sir John Tomes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/764 (page 23)
    patients appeared to be very slight, and the occurrence of effusion in the sac would merit little attention, but that it offers a probable explanation as to the source of cysts which sometimes arises in connection with the evolution of teeth—a subject which will be considered in a future page. Hunter, after stating that the teeth, in their advance towards the surface of the gum, exert pressure upon the superimposed parts, thereby causing inflammation and ulcer- ation, goes on to say, “ that ulceration which takes place in dentition is one of the species which seldom or never produces suppurationhowever, in some few cases I have found the gums ulcerated, and the body of the tooth surrounded with matter; but I believe this seldom happens till the tooth is near cutting the skin of the gums.” The condition here described is probably subsequent to the infiltration of serous fluid within the capsule investing the enamel. The most common result of difficult dentition is a general febrile condition. Hunter says : “ The fever is sometimes slight, and sometimes violent. It is very remarkable both for its sudden rise and declension : so that in the first hour of this illness, the child shall be perfectly cool; in the second, flushed and burning hot; and in a third, temperate again.” Disorders of the nervous system frequently arise at this epoch, varying in intensity from slight muscular twitching to violent convulsions. The following case occurred in the family of a medical man :—A child, playing round the dining- room table, suddenly fell down in a state of insensibility. The father at the time was absent, and a neighbouring prac- titioner was called in, who, on examining the mouth, found that the gum was raised, and in a state of tension over a temporary molar. An incision was made down to the tooth, the child immediately recovered its sensibility, and in a few hours was perfectly well. Now, as no medicine was given, and as the insensibility was continued until the gum was divided, it would be too much to assume that the operation and the recovery had no further relation than mere coin- cidence, especially when it is remembered that the majority of those engaged in extensive general practice could furnish cases more or less similar to this. On the other hand, we