In _too rapid healing of the orifice of the socket_, the freshly healed surface must be separated, the socket syringed out, and a small tent of lint allowed to remain in the orifice for about twelve hours. An antiseptic mouth wash should also be prescribed. In those cases _where the pus is putrid_ and there is reason to suspect infection, the socket should be thoroughly syringed with some antiseptic such as hyd. perchlor. 1 in 1,000, carbolic acid 1 in 40; following this the parts should be carefully dried with cotton-wool. A small piece of chloride of zinc should then be introduced and allowed to dissolve in the socket, which must be subsequently kept aseptic by constant irrigation with some antiseptic solution. Suppuration is most frequently seen after extraction of the lower teeth owing to the fact that drainage is less easily effected than in the upper, owing to the dependent position of the socket. In many cases it will be found necessary to plug the socket tightly with non-absorbent cotton-wool dipped in an antiseptic solution; this prevents the accumulation of _débris_ which would act as an irritant. In cases of _suppuration occurring in patients of diminished vitality_ a tonic form of treatment should be prescribed;[19] the dressing in the socket should be removed two or three times a day and the socket syringed. Care must be exercised in applying escharotics to sockets to which the nerve may be in close proximity; this is especially necessary in dealing with impacted lower third molars. Two cases illustrating this point have come under my notice. In the first a second lower bicuspid with a long standing chronic abscess had been removed. The patient complained of pain, the socket was syringed out and a small piece of chloride of zinc inserted. Intense agonizing pain followed which all local anodynes failed to relieve. In the second case an impacted right lower third molar had been removed. The socket suppurated, and the pain although severe was not intense. Treatment similar to that used in the first case was adopted with similar results. Since then in all cases where it is possible that the trunk of the nerve may be in close proximity to the socket, I have used non-irritating antiseptic injections and plugged the socket with cotton-wool dipped in tincture of opium with much more satisfactory results. It is advisable to inform the patient of the possibility of pain following the extraction of a tooth, especially after periodontitis, and in all cases where a large number of teeth have been extracted a mouth-wash[20] should be prescribed; for, even if there is no pain, it will prevent the discharge from the sockets of the teeth undergoing putrefactive changes.