The henna-tincture is obtained by macerating 17½ ozs. of henna-root in 4 quarts of alcohol.
Esprit de menthe.—Alcohol of best quality 5 quarts, peppermint oil 4¼ ozs.
Arnica tooth-tincture.—Alcohol of best quality and arnica-tincture each 1 quart, Peruvian bark-tincture 1 pint, glycerin of 28° B. 5¼ ozs., cochineal tincture, as coloring matter, 1¾ ozs.
Myrrh tooth-tincture.—Alcohol of best quality 1 quart, myrrh tincture 2 quarts, guaiacum-tincture 8¾ ozs.
A few remarks may here be made regarding the use of tooth tinctures. The tinctures should not be used undiluted, they being apt to make tender gums sore, cause pain, and may even produce inflammation. It is best to dilute the tinctures somewhat with water whereby they become milder and more agreeable to the gums. An excellent article for rinsing out the mouth is obtained by pouring a teaspoonful of the tincture into a tumbler of water.
Tooth-Pastes and Tooth-Powders. Tooth-paste or odontine, No. 1.—Carbonate of magnesium 6 lbs., sugar of milk 2 lbs., precipitated carbonate of calcium 4 lbs., alizarin, to color, 1¾ ozs., best soap-powder 7 ozs., powdered gum-arabic 5¼ ozs., sugar 17½ ozs. dissolved in distilled water 2½ quarts, chemically pure glycerin of 28° B. 17½ ozs., peppermint oil 8¾ ozs., clove oil 8¼ drachms.
Pass the magnesia, sugar of milk, carbonate of calcium, alizarin, soap-powder and gum-arabic through a fine sieve and mix intimately; dissolve the sugar in the distilled water and add the glycerin to the solution. Bring the sifted powders into a mortar or other convenient vessel, gradually add the fluid and thoroughly mix with the hands. Then add the perfume, and convert the whole into a solid paste with a wooden pestle. Instead of mixing and working the mass in a mortar, the operation is much more rapidly performed by passing the mixture through the rolls of a soap mill, which must, of course, be thoroughly cleansed for the purpose by washing with water.
Tooth-paste or odontine, No. 2.—Carbonate of magnesium and sugar of milk each 2 lbs., precipitated carbonate of calcium 4 lbs., prepared chalk 10 lbs., sugar 4 lbs. dissolved in water 5 quarts, best soap-powder 2 lbs., alizarin, as coloring matter, 7 ozs., peppermint oil 10½ ozs., clove oil 8¾ ozs.
This paste is prepared in the same manner as No. 1, only the proportion of water has to be taken into consideration. To prevent the mass from becoming too soft, the water should be very gradually added.
Thymol tooth-paste.—Carbonate of magnesium 4 lbs., sugar of milk 2 lbs., pulverized gum-arabic and soap powder each 3½ ozs., carmine nacarat, as coloring matter, 2¾ drachms, and alizarin, as coloring matter, 6¾ drachms, sugar 10½ ozs., dissolved in distilled water 1¾ quarts, peppermint oil 1¼ ozs., white thyme oil 2½ ozs., crystallized thymol 1¼ ozs., arnica tincture 7 ozs. The thyme oil, peppermint oil and arnica tincture are brought into a bottle and the thymol is dissolved in the mixture. By previously converting the thymol to a coarse powder solution takes place quite rapidly. The further manipulation is the same as given for tooth-paste No. 1.