Chap. 4. Of bleeding at the Gums.
SOmtimes abundance of blood flows from the Gums, either Critically, or Symptomatically, al∣though the former be very seldom, yet it is somtimes; so we may see by Experience, and by reading. So saith Dodonaeus, Obs. 14. A certain Quarrier having the smal Pox, had a flux of blood from his Gums, and being stopt, it made the Urine bloody, which being stopt it returned again to the Gums, and there continued till he recovered of the smal Pox. Amatus Lucitanus, Curat. 5. Centur. 5. saies that some have had benefit by bleeding at the Gums, and have been worse when it was stopped. Also Zacutus Lucitanus, obs. 86. lib. 1. Praxis admir. speaks of a Goldsmith who when he fell into a Feaver by laboring at the Furnace, being of a strong constitution, lost much blood by opening a Vein and amended, so that the seventh day (having had an itching of his Gums, and a pain in the lower Lip) the blood gushed from the Veins of his lower Gums for three daies in such a quantity that he lost above five pints more, and the more he bled, the more his Feaver abated, and when it was gone the blood stopped.
The Gums bleed Symptomatically when the blood is sharp, and the Liver or Spleen distempered: So that in the Scurvy this flux is ordinary.
Somtimes after a Tooth is drawn, there is so great a flux of blood by reason the Artery is torn, which is the root of the Tooth, that somtimes men have died thereof.
The Cure of a Symptomatical flux, is by bleeding and purging, and other Remedies for the bowels. As also by Topicks astringing, made into Gargarisms, Pouders, Liniments, or Opiates.
If it come from a Tooth drawn, you must first let blood and Cup to make revulsion, and apply a∣stringents to the part, as a Cataplasm, of Bole-Armenick, Terra Sigillata, Sanguis Draconis, and the like astringents made up with the white of an Egg. Also Time alone with the white of an Egg is good. But if they do not suffice, you must lay the Patients finger upon the part, and let him hold it there till the blood congeal above the orifice of the Artery. If it cannot be stopt with sleight things use stronger. Valeriola, obs. 3. lib. 5. reports that an old woman who had a Tooth taken forth with the singers only, had a violent bleeding upon it, from the Artery under the Gum; which he stopt with burnt Vitriol when other things failed; which is excellent both for astringency and burning. Zacutus Lucitanus, obs. 84. lib. 1. Prax. Med. admir. relates a History of one who having a grievous Tooth that ached, drew it violently forth▪ and after had a great flux of blood from the Artery torn, which when it could not be stopped by Blood-letting, Cupping, and Astringents, nor by laying on the finger, nor by burnt Vitriol, at last by his advice the place was filled with Gum Arabick, which stopt it in three hours space, for it hath power to stop, cool, glutinate, and dry. The same Zacutus Obs. 85. of the same Book, reports of a certain strong Soldier, who after great pain drew a Tooth violently, and bled much from the Artery under the Tooth, for two daies: the best Physitians use