Radical and Heroic Treatment of Alveolar Abscess by Amputation of Roots of Teeth. [Volume: 26, Issue: 2, February, 1884, pp. 79-81]

RADICAL AND HEROIC TREATMENT OF ALVEOLAR ABSCESS. 79

pulp-chamber it was found to be filled with highly offensive pus.
The cavity and pulp-chamber were then washed with warm water and
the roots explored with a fine probe, which could be passed upwards
through both buccal roots fully an inch and three quarters. With
the syringe water could be thrown into the antrum of Highmore
through the roots of the tooth, the fluid escaping into the nose.
The offending tooth was extracted, and immediately a considerable
quantity of offensive pug escaped into the mouth through the alveoli.
The ends of the buccal roots were found to be somewhat rough, and
a portion had been removed by absorption. The alveoli and antrum
were syringed with carbolized tepid water, and the opening into the
mouth lightly plugged with a carbolized-cotton tent. This treatment was followed each day for a month, and at the end of that
time (February 10) the discharge had entirely disappeared from the
nasal passages. The perforation in the antrum was kept open for a
number of weeks afterwards, and finally allowed to close, as no
further trouble occurred.
Heath, in his work on " Diseases and Injuries of the Jaws," mentions a case of alveolar abscess of a second bicuspid, in a gentleman
54 years of age, that opened into the antrum and caused a purulent
discharge from the nasal passages. Garretson mentions a case
occurring in the practice of Dr. J. D. White, of a young man, 20
years of age, suffering from a fetid discharge from the right nostril
dependent on antral abscess caused by a diseased second molar.
Oral examinations should always be made in all cases of purulent
discharge from the nasal passages. I am convinced that if such examinations were made by specially qualified persons, with the same
degree of thoroughness and care as is usually given to the examination of the nasal passages, many otherwise obscure cases would be
found to have their origin in alveolar abscess discharging into the
maxillary sinus or nasal passages direct.
RADIOAL AND HEROIC TREATMENT OF ALVEOLAR ABSCESS
BY AMPUTATION OF ROOTS OF TEETH.
BY J. N. FARRAR, M.D.,.DD.S., NEW YORK CITY.
As the present paper is intended to follow and be a part of a series
of papers already published, such as may desire to read those are
referred to the issues of November, 1876; July, August, September,
and October, 1878; July, 1880, of the DENTAL COSMOS, and the issues
of April, M'ay, June, July, August, September, and October, 1879,
and October, 1880, of the Missouri Dental Journal; where not only
is the radical and heroic practice advocated as being the most scientific, but the comparative and relative values of acid and creasotic