Of the Tooth-Ach.
Those who have experienced the tooth-ach, best know how much they have wished for ease. No man can preserve attention to his affairs, who has bodily pain; and a severe tooth-ach is enough to disturb both body and mind.—But what is to be done?
Tooth-achs are of two kinds;—It may either proceed from cold, or from a decayed tooth, or from both. If the tooth is decayed, the sooner you have it out the better; but if your tooth is sound, then it is as unreasonable to draw it, as it would be to sling you over board, because you feel the pain. In regard to drawing the tooth, take this direction.
To draw a Tooth.
Observe first, what tooth it is; and shift the hook on the key instrument accordingly. Ordinarily the hook is to be inside, and the comb outside. When this is adjusted, wrap a little rag on the comb of the key, so that it may bear a little softly on the gums.—Then seat the patient steady on a chair or chest, (and if he is a coward, let somebody hold his hands, but a man of spirit will not want this officiousness) place yourself right before him—then fix the instrument on the tooth, the hook inwards, and the comb outwards; the hook on the tooth close to the gum, pushed a little towards the jaw bone, and be careful that you have hold but of one tooth, and the right one.
When your instrument is fixed as gentle as possible, without giving pain, (for if you fumble too long, and give pain, you intimidate the patient) I say then, when you have fixed your instrument properly on all sides, so that you have the condemned tooth, and no more; then shift your hand so, that you may have a good and firm hold, allowing for the turning of your hand.—Thus being ready, give your hand a gradual, and steadfast turn, and wrench the tooth out of its socket. In this you must be calmly resolute, neither spare your strength if requisite, nor let an untimely compassion get the better of your duty; but keep your hold till you have performed the operation. When the tooth is out of its socket, it will sometimes hang a little by the gum; introduce your fingers, and they may nimbly perform the rest if requisite.—It will sometimes happen, especially by the grinders, that a little of the jaw bone follows, sticking to the tooth;—let this not frighten you, it is sometimes impossible to avoid it; but not to frighten the patient with it, pick it off before he perceives it.
The moment the tooth is out, introduce your thumb and fore finger, and compress the socket of the drawn tooth; by which you replace every thing in order again; and after which, one dram of good old stingo, for washing the mouth, and another for comforting the heart, will make the patient forget all the pain he felt in the operation.
This method is certainly the most substantial for the tooth-ach. But sometimes this is not practicable, either because that the stump is so rotted as not to suffer a hold; or that none on board are intrepid or capable enough to perform the operation; in this case a Palliative will be very acceptable.—Turlington’s Balsam (W), upon a little lint put into the hollow tooth will frequently give ease, a little Spirits of Wine and Camphor (A), or if very raging, a little Liquid Laudanum (T). But as I have said, they are only palliatives; and neither spirits, or any thing else can be depended upon for a certainty. Sometimes stopping up the hollow tooth with wax, with lead, or sometimes putting in a little saltpetre will give ease—each method may do, and each method may fail: so that sometimes if the tooth is not extracted, all powerful Patience at last must step in and prove the best doctor, till nature recovers, and comforts the patient with the balm of Ease.
Very frequently a cold occasions this troublesome pain; in which case the head should be well muffled up, in order to bring on a perspiration, and a blister behind the ear also of singular service—rubbing the face also with some spirits of wine and camphor is of great benefit, and attention should be had, if there be any fever in the system.