_Of Promiscuous Disorders._
Having thus treated on the most material ailments that want immediate
assistance, I shall in this section consider promiscuous disorders, that
have no relation to each other; but set them down as they occur to my
memory.
_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.
_Of sore Eyes_.
Bad weather sometimes will effect the eyes, whence they will become raw
and blood shot; which ought to be remedied in time, in order to prevent
further inflammation. In this case make the following eye water.