Tartar, or salivary calculus, is a deposit of earthy material on the teeth at the margins of the gums. The deposit is separated from the saliva, and is mixed with remains of food. It is found in greatest abundance on the front teeth of the lower jaw and the grinding-teeth of the upper jaw, because they are nearest the openings of the ducts from the salivary glands. It is an irritating substance, produces conges tion and softening of the gums, which may lead to ulceration, separation of the gums from the teeth, and loosening of the latter in their sockets. If tartar has accumulated, it should be removed by a sharp instrument if necessary; but if proper care is taken of the teeth it will not be permitted to accumulate, and its evils will thus be avoided.
The Care of the Teeth and has been seen that the common cause of decaying teeth and toothache is the product of particles of fooa permiccea to remain and decompose in the recesses of the teeth. The best preventive of toothache is, therefore, cleanliness. The teeth ought to be brushed regularly once each day with a tooth-brush and tooth-powder. One of the best of powders is the camphorated chalk, to be obtained from any chemist. It ought not to contain any gritty material that could scratch the tooth and injure the enamel, and should be very fine and soft. For the same reason the brush should be soft, and the hairs not too closely set. The habit of using a tooth-brush ought to be begun early, and regularly persisted in. To remove food from between the teeth after meals a quill toothpick should be employed, and never a pin or other similar instrument, which is likely to injure the enamel. For the benefit of the gums and other parts of the mouth, a mouth-wash ought also to be con stantly in use. One of the best is made by taking I ounce of pure carbolic acid, the same quantity of the compound tincture of myrrh and borax, 1 ounce of glycerine, and 3 ounces of water. This is to be well mixed and kept in a bottle. When required, half a small tea spoonful is diluted with half a tumbler of water, with which the mouth is well cleansed and the throat gargled. Among other things this wash is very useful for removing the bad smell of the breath, whether it arises from bad teeth, spongy ulcerated gums, or from smok ing, &c.
Inflammation of the Salivary Glands (Parotitis, Humps, (Scotch) Branks).—The sali vary glands, and especially the parotid gland which lies in front of the ear (p. 197), are liable to an inflammatory affection, which, in this country, is popularly called the mumps.
The symptoms of the disease are that the gland swells, becomes hot, red, and painful. The swelling extends down towards the jaw and round the neck, so that the face becomes disfigured owing to its increased breadth by the swelling. One side is generally affected after the other. The swelling causes some pain, and difficulty in chewing and swallowing. Accompanying the disease are fever, white tongue, and headache, and perhaps pains in the limbs. The swelling goes on increasing for three or four days. In about a week, at the most, it begins to subside, and the tender ness to diminish, until, usually at the end of ten days or a fortnight, it has almost if not . .
quite disappeared. A remarkable thing con nected with the disease is that in the female it is often accompanied by swelling of the breast, and in the male of the testicle, which, besides swelling, becomes painful, and con tinues so for a few days.
The disease occurs epidemically, and is very infectious. It almost never happens that the same person is attacked twice. After the per son has become infected, the disease takes nearly three weeks to show itself. It is spe cially a disease of childhood; and if it appears in a school or a family, several are liable, to be attacked, either together or one after the other.
The treatment is very simple. The child is to be confined to one room and kept quiet. Gentle opening medicine—castor-oil, syrup of senna, or such simple medicine should be given at the outset. The pain will be completely relieved by a few doses of the following powder :- Bromide of potassium, 5 grains.
Antipyrin, 4 „ Phonacetin, 2 „ Citrate of Caffein, grain.
This powder should be thoroughly mixed in a wine-glassful of water. To a child of eight to ten years a second might be given in four hours, and a third six hours after the second, but a grown-up person could take one every half-hour till four had been taken, and there after every two hours till the pain had gone. If this powder is not obtainable, hot applica tions to the inflamed glands are very soothing, hot cloths, bags of warm bran, or ordinary poultices. Light food only is to be allowed- milk, bread and milk, &c. Chewing should be entirely avoided till all swelling has disap peared. If the breast swells, hot applications must be used, and the same to the testicle, combined with a suspensory bandage to sup port the part.