CHAPTER VIII. 



THE PATHOLOGY (DISEASES) OF THE TEETH. 



Importance of the subject. Caries caused by Acids, Inflamed Pulps, 

 Blows, Virus, Morbid Diathesis, &e. The Germ Theory. 

 Supernumerary Teetli and other Derangements. Trephining 

 Sinuses Filling the Teeth. Cleaning the Teeth. A diseased 

 Fossil Tooth. 



THE importance of the study of the pathology of 

 the teeth is self-evident, for they not only bear im- 

 portant relations to the general system, but, like all 

 other parts of it, are subject to disease and disorder. 

 It is probably not too much to say that, to the suc- 

 cessful surgeon, knowledge of both the diseases and 

 derangements of the teeth is indispensable. 



The great question is, What causes caries (rotten- 

 ness) of the teeth ? As a rule, it is caused by acids ; 

 not by any particular acid, but by almost any acid 

 or combination of acids. This theory is discussed 

 with great ability and unanswerable logic by Frank 

 Abbott, M. D., on pages 298 to 303 of this work. 



The germ theory of decay is an interesting study ; 

 but it should not be forgotten that bacteria of one 

 kind or another are inseparable from all dead or de- 

 caying matter. Wounds are often infested with 

 magots ; but no one claims that magots are the cause 

 of wounds. It is true that the bacteria mites, about 

 3oVo^h of an inch in diameter, are of various shapes 

 round, oval, oblong, straight, twisted, cylindrical, 

 screw-shaped, &c., and that they swim about, turn, 

 twist, go backward and forward, &c., but the same, 

 or practically the same, is true of the mites in a 



