Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/448

4 i6] GUM nutritions fluid designed for the new buds,, which are usually form- ed in die summer. He proposes to obviate iis exudation, by fastening a thin plate of lend on the part af- fix ted. which is previously made smo-ith with a knife, so that no ra:n or dew can penetrate : a piece of sponge, soft leather, or India rubber, might be bound on the tree beneath the lead, till the wound is healed. — The Doctor suggests ano- ther method of closing the wound ; namely, to cut out a piece of bark from a tree of inferior value, but similar nature ; to adapt it to the wounded part, after its edges are nicelv smoothed, and to tie it on with list, flannel, or other bandage ; in order that its elasticity may se- cure a continual pressure, without injuring the bark. 2vl r. Bucks-all, who has made some ingenious observations on the formation of gum, in the 12th vol. of the " Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts" &c. disapproves of smearing the diseas- fd tree with tar, or any other sub- stance that may impede the proper circulation and perspiration of the juices, as it must necessarily hurt the tree. The best remedy, in his opinion, is the medication (see vol.i. p. 432) ; for, being applied simply like a plaster, and not being extended farther than is required by the bare wood or torn bark where the gum oozes forth, it is not attended with those unfavourable effects. He farther assures the Society, that in -, "■ the medica- tion becomes supremely salutary," on account of its drying qualities ; for the wounds heal in one half of the time they would close, when exposed to heat, cold, moisture, and Vermin. GUM-BOIL, Parulis, is an af- G UM fedtion of the gums, commencing with inflammation, and generally terminating in an abscess. Gam-boils usually arise from vio- lent pains in the teeth. They are to be treated with discutients, like other inflammatory tumors ; but, if these fail, or the disorder be ne- glected, it is<apt to produce a fis- tula. A gargle prepared of an in- fusion of sage, chamomile, and el- der-flowers boiled in milk and wa- ter, may with advantage be fre- quently held in the mouth, and the remaining herbs sewed up in a bag, and applied to the cheek ; or, a half-roasted fig held within the mouth to the part affected, some- times affords great relief. When the softness of the tumor evinces that the matter is properly suppu- rated, it should without delay be opened by the lancet, to prevent the matter from lodging there, eroding the bone, and causing a fistula, or caries". After this ope- ration is performed, the matter should be gently pressed out with the fingers, and the mouth fre- quently washed with lukewarm Port-wine and water. But, when the ulcer has pene- trated to a considerable depth, it will be necessary to inject the last- mentioned mixture with a syringe, and compress the pari affected by a proper external bandage. If the fion assume a fistulous ap- pearance, and have callous edges, it may even then be cured, by inject- ing the compound tincture of aloes, and ( onunuing it for some time. Should, however, all th >:-e reme- dies prove ineffectual, the fistula must be laid open by incision, and the caries removed by me- dicines, caustics, or the actual cau- tery. GUMS, in anatomy, arc hard fleshy