VE TERINAR Y DENTAL S URGER Y. 91 



This particular case seems to have been the result 

 of hereditary transmission, and adds weight to the 

 theory of original defectiveness as the cause of 

 denuding of the teeth. 



CAUSES. 



I am unable to positively assign the cause or 

 causes which produce denudation of the teeth. 

 There are influences which do exist and might be 

 brought to bear upon the teeth in such a manner as 

 to bring about the condition described, but whether 

 they are the true cause or not I am unable to say. 

 Mechanical abrasion, friction of the lips, presence 

 of acid in the saliva and original defectiveness of the 

 enamel, as the seat of the disease, may all have more 

 or less influence in the production of this patholog- 

 ical condition. 



The latter (original defectiveness), I believe to be 

 the true cause, though this is only a hypothesis 

 which has not yet been definitely proven. It appears 

 less objectionable than any of the other conditions 

 enumerated. We do know that one or more teeth 

 in a mouth may be defective without there being a 

 corresponding defectiveness in the other teeth. Did 

 the lower teeth as well as the upper become affected, 

 the acid theory would seem very plausible. The 

 buccal secretion contains an acid which in the back 

 part of the mouth is mixed with saliva, which dilutes 

 the acid to such a degree as to possibly render it 



