182 VETERINARY DENTAL SURGERT. 



about the same results. The accumulation of food 

 between teeth that are placed wide apart, decomposes 

 after a time and gives rise to fetid compounds which 

 have an injurious action upon the parts with which 

 they come in contact. This may be regarded as a 

 predisposing cause. In some animals there seems to 

 be a strumous diathesis which must also, when it 

 exists, be considered as a predisposing cause. This 

 condition no doubt is present much more frequently 

 than is commonly supposed. We know that some 

 animals are predisposed to various bone diseases such 

 as ostitis, bone spavin, ring-bone, etc., and there is no 

 reason why the jaws with their alveolar processes 

 and cavities should not be similarly affected. 



The periosteum of a tooth having become the 

 seat of inflammation, all the phenomena attending the 

 inflammation of the periosteum of any other portion 

 of the osseous system will be present. There will 

 be effusion of lymph at the extremity or along the 

 side of the root. This takes the form of a sac or 

 cyst, which closely surrounds the root near its apex, 

 and as suppuration takes place pus is formed in its 

 center. During this time the inflammation gradually 

 extends to the gums and neighboring parts. They 

 swell and become painful. These swellings vary 

 much in size, owing to their situation and the resist- 

 ance which they encounter. As the pus accumulates 

 in the sac it distends and presses on the surrounding 



