The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-09-14
Written for the Ottawa Free Trader.
The Teeth.
No I'LL


The pain termed the toothachc is
described by Galcn as "the most cru
ell of mortal palms," and yet how
small is its cause in its commence
ment. A simple spot of dark or red
dish brown, in its first stages easily
removed, and seeming unworthy
even that trouble, causes, if not ar
rested in its progress, unutterable
agony.
The toothachc proper, then, arises
from swelling of the nerve within
the bony substance of the tooth. This
is caused by the irritation Of decay,
or by an inflammation, swelling, and
previous pressure of inaamed vessels
upon the nervous pulp, which occu:
pies the central portion of the tooth.
We're the tooth split so as to afford
room for the expansion Of the pulp,
the pain would cease.
Another cause is found in the in
hammation of the vascular membrane
at the roots ofthe teeth. By the ex-
traordinary sympathy between the
stomach and the teeth, an infamma-
ton, and extraordinary stimulus of
over distcnsion, caused by improper
eating and drinking, infccts the YES
sells of the teeth and gums, and is
sometimes known by the feeling that
the tooth is larger than ordinary.
Gumboils and ulcers at the roots of
the teeth are an extension Of this
complaint. In this respect the tooth
ache resembles the headache, which
is the result either of Inflammation
of the membranes, or Of an INSULT.
cient flow Of blood in the vessels, and
is to be cured either by stimulants
on the stomach, or cold applications
to the head, as the cause may be Ell
Their the one or the other. The tooth
ache being very often sympathetic
malady, may be a result of some
cause external to the organ where
the pain seems to be. Sometimes
the diseased tooth is at distance
from the apparent seat Of the pain,
and a sound tooth has often been en-
tracted in order to remove sympa-
thetic pain, and that totally without
success. A depoSite Of bone on the
root often causes pain.
The means ofremedying the tooth
ache are various. Its prevention is
to be effected by an avoidance of
all those transgressions of the physi-
cal laws which bring about the vari-
Gus diseases of the teeth, and also
neuralgia pains. Also by use of
the dentists skill in rcmedying I'M
soundness in it's early stages. These
two methods, together with regard
to cleanliness, will usually prove
sufficient.
In Hare on the stomach we find :
"No species of animal matter, in a
state of decay, is so offensive to the
vitality ofthe surrounding substance,
whether nerve, muscle, or mem
brane, or any portion Of the bony bo-
dy, as dccaycd bone. How very
small part Of dccayed bone in a
tooth is capable not only of causing
the most agonizing pain, but also o!
communicating fGtor to the breath,
is incon ceivablc by those who have
not pursued the inquiry with minute
ness and the offensive matter, when
it has an opportunity Of acting, com.
municates through the medium of the
nerves, sympathetic pain to the
teeth which are perfectly round"
The remedies for pain in the teeth
should be directed to the first cause
of disease. When it is occasionet
by the first dentition, we should en-
deavor to facilitate the operation
When by the oeoond dentition, We
ro~ remove those teeth which stant
in the way.
wv -, l.. "uu,s, IS IS produced 0y
Inflammation of the pulp, varicu.
means are used. Often little cot.
ton, saturated with essential oil