BACTERIAL INOCULATION 293 



of cases and when remote secondary joint involve- 

 ments arise and anaemias supervene, autogenous bac- 

 terial inoculations assisting effective oral treatment 

 are of great value. It will be remembered, however, 

 that reinfections are prone to occur, also that unless 

 the patient is willing to submit to dental cooperation 

 and prolonged treatment, inoculations of bacterins 

 will prove of little or no value. In advanced disease, 

 when the gums are spongy and necrosed, the teeth 

 loose and the alveolar tissue in a carious state, benefit 

 may accrue, but cure, in its strict sense, is no longer 

 possible.* 



Acute tonsillitis furnishes no particular oppor- 

 tunity for bacterin therapy. The importance of the 

 tonsils as atria of infection in certain synovial arthritic 

 and other affections must not be overlooked. Con- 

 sequently in subacute and chronic disease, in peri- 

 tonsillitis or in aborting attacks of quinsy autogenous 

 bacterins may render signal service ( Fig. 45 ) . Sur- 

 gery, however, is indicated in many instances, in 

 preference to bacterins. 



Enterocolitis, — Exclusive of typhoid fever, dys- 

 entery and cholera, the bacteria demonstrable in this 

 condition, and more particularly mucous colitis, are 

 the colon group, the Streptococcus^ the Pneumococcus, 



* Recent evidence points to Entamoeba buccalis as an etiological 

 factor in many cases of pyorrhcea alveolaris. In these cases the local and 

 hypodermic use of emetin hydrochloride has a markedly beneficial effect. 



