This affection of the gums and teeth arises from the irritation of the stumps of rotten or worn-down teeth, and eventually leads to extensive inflammation of the adjacent parts.

Symptoms

The gum is at first red, swollen, tender, and prone to bleed; a somewhat painful swelling forms on the jaw; the enlargement suppurates and discharges matter, either pure or mixed with blood. At this stage the smell is intolerably offensive. Subsequently, fungoid granulations, which easily bleed, sprout up and profuse haemorrhage ensues. The dog, suffering great pain, and unable from the state of the mouth to masticate solid food, and barely able to lap up fluid nutriment, gradually becomes thinner and weaker; the local disease increases in severity, and, finally, the animal dies worn out from exhaustion, or succumbs under an attack of acute intercurrent disease.

* See Appendix.

Treatment

The treatment should comprise the extraction of stumps and loose teeth, and, in some cases, of even the healthy teeth in the diseased jaw; the removal of necrosed bone; the excision of the tumour, provided the constitution be not already implicated; and the administration of nourishing food. The best internal remedies are Kali chlori-cum and Arsenicum - the former in 10-drop doses of the first decimal dilution three times a-day for two or three weeks; and the latter, subsequently, in from 2 to 5 drop doses, night and morning.