OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 115 



used object, contaminated by an infected person 

 and on which the amoebae had not been killed by 

 complete drying, may be a factor in its spread. The 

 immersion of such objects in water at o5-60°C. or 

 above for a few minutes would render them amoeba 

 free. 



Of mouth washes, that of emetine would seem 

 necessarily ineffective. Those desiring such a solu- 

 tion of apparently amoebicidal properties should try 

 stovarsol or such of the dyes used by Koch as may be 

 conveniently used in such a manner. Anyone who 

 expects to eliminate an established infection by means 

 of mouth washes will be disappointed. 



As to any further specific treatment of pyorrhoea, 

 the writer hesitates to make such a recommendation 

 except as an experimental measure. In the heyday 

 of treatment with emetine, suppurative disease of 

 the gums with small pocket formation was seen to 

 improve to the point where there was no pus to be 

 found, without the use of any dental instrumentation 

 or other adjuvant except careful cleaning of the 

 gums and pockets. In the early stages of such a 

 condition one half grain of emetin hydrochloride was 

 given daily by hypodermic injection until after the 

 pus and amoebae had disappeared. In w^hat was 

 called the early stages of chronic pyorrhoea, with 

 chronic catarrah of the gum margins, with contrac- 

 tion, soreness and tendency to bleed, and the forma- 

 tion of pus pockets beneath, it was recommended 

 that the emetine treatment be combined with careful 

 regular dental instrumentation until not only the 



