100 THE GERM THEORY OF DISEASE. 



sorption fails, partially or entirely. The tissue which should 

 perform this function is thrown into a pathological state, and 

 the secretion of the soluble ferment does not take place in the 

 normal manner. If, however, the abscess does not occur, or 

 if such abscess be cured, and the tissue in immediate proximity 

 to such devitalized root be perfectly healthy, it is found that 

 the resorption of the root goes on in a normal manner. The 

 mere death of the root does not interfere with resorption, 

 provided a physiological condition is maintained in the imme- 

 diately surrounding cells, which are the active agents in the 

 work. The soluble ferment does not depend for its action 

 upon the life of the tissue to be acted upon. The roots of the 

 teeth are simply digested, and enter the blood streams by 

 osmosis, as any other digested material. Nothing more, nor 

 less. 



DIGESTION OF BLOOD CLOT. 



What happens when an injury occurs, and a blood clot is 

 formed within the tissues? Is such a blood clot a living sub- 

 stance? Certainly that cannot be maintained. But it becomes 

 organized. How? Certainly the blood clot, as such, does 

 not itself become living tissue. 



The process occurring here, by which the clot is removed, 

 is similar in kind to that of digestion is digestion. All 

 around it, the connective tissue cells begin to throw out a 

 soluble ferment, by which the substance of the clot is dis- 

 solved and begins to pass into the blood streams by osmosis. 

 Young cells wander out into the liquefying clot in all direc- 

 tions, grow, and furnish their quota of fresh increment of 

 ferment substance to liquefy the clot. The question as to 

 whether any of the blood cells (white blood corpuscles) be- 

 come connective tissue cells under these conditions, need not 

 be argued pro nor con here, for it does not affect our present 

 purpose. Certain it is that cells are found growing out into 



