<370 



THE TEETH. 



another part toward the decalcified basis-substance gives an appearance iden- 

 tical with that of the surrounding liquefied basis-substance. The result of 

 this process is a transformation of the tissue of the cement into medullary 

 or inflammatory elements. These remain in connection with each other by 

 delicate threads of living matter, but at last become disintegrated, and give, 

 together with micrococci and leptothrix threads, a decayed mass, just as well 

 as enamel and dentine. 



Results. I can sum up the results of my researches in the following 

 aphorisms : 



(1) In enamel, caries in its earliest stage is a chemical process. After the lime- 

 salts are dissolved out, and the basis-substance liquefied, the bioplasson reappears, 

 and breaks apart into small, irregularly shaped so-called medullary or embryonal 

 bodies. 



(2) Caries of dentine consists in a decalcification, and in turn a dissolution, 



FIG. 295. CEMENTITIS DUE TO CARIES. 



C, unchanged cement-corpuscle ; I, space filled with medullary corpuscles; P, cement- 

 corpuscle, partly unchanged, partly transformed into medullary corpuscles ; M, the cemen- 

 tum wholly transformed into medullary corpuscles. Magnified 1000 diameters. 



of the glue-yielding basis-substance, around the canaliculi as well as between 

 them. The living matter contained in the canaliculi is transformed into nucleated 

 bioplasson bodies, which, together with bodies originating from the living matter 

 in the basis-substance, form the so-called indifferent or inflammatory tissue. 



(3) Cement, if attacked by caries, exhibits first all phenomena known to be 

 present in the early stages of inflammation of bone. The cement-corpuscles, as 

 well as the basis-substance after its decalcification and liquefaction, produce 

 indifferent or inflammatory elements. 



