VII. 



THE AMOEBA OF THE MOUTH. 



SEVERAL observers have noted the occurrence of 

 amoebae in the mouth, the parasites being found in 

 the tartar around the roots of the teeth, or in ma- 

 terial from the cavities of carious teeth. As long 

 ago as 1862, Steinberg described an amoeba in the 

 tartar removed from teeth, to which the name Amoeba 

 buccalis has been given, and it is more than probable 

 that this species is identical with the one described 

 very fully by Prowazek, who placed it in the genus 

 Entamceba. 



In 1904 Prowazek investigated the amoeba? occur- 

 ring in the human mouth and decided that they be- 

 long to a distinct species. He gave a detailed de- 

 scription of this parasite and named it Entamceba 

 buccalis. He found it present in carious teeth, and 

 considers that all amoebae which have been described 

 as occurring in the mouth belong to this species. 



The GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION of this species 

 is world-wide. I have observed it in the mouth of 

 patients in the United States and the Philippines, 

 and it is probable that a careful examination will 

 demonstrate that it occurs in almost every locality. 



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