146 AMEB^ 



is usually sufficient to kill recently implanted amebic infections. 

 A thorough mouth rinse with a drop or two of emetin in half a 

 glass of water is an excellent protective measure but even with 

 the use of these means of prevention some apparently cured 

 cases of pyorrhea get reinfections within a few months. 



The form of emetin known as " alcresta ipecac," in tablet form, 

 is often useful. Two of these tablets taken three times a day for 

 from four to six days is fairly certain to destroy amebse and has 

 the advantage of being easily taken without the aid of a physi- 

 cian. It sometimes causes a little abdominal discomfort and 

 looseness of the bowels, but usually has no marked bad effects. 



As intimated before, the prevention of infection with En- 

 damoeba gingivalis is largely a matter of ordinary mouth hygiene. 

 Infection can be avoided to a large extent by care in eating and 

 drinking. One should never eat or drink with the same articles 

 that have been used by other people. The practice of promis- 

 cuous kissing is, of course, a ready means of transmission for 

 these parasites as for many others. 



Occasional infection with the parasites of pyorrhea is, however, 

 almost inevitable. If the mouth is kept scrupulously clean and 

 in as near perfect condition as possible, the amebse may find no 

 congenial place to settle down, but in the vast majority of mouths 

 there is an abundance of fertile ground for them. Once they are 

 established in a pocket or crevice the injection of emetin, or the 

 taking of ipecac tablets, is the only safe method of getting rid 

 of them. 



The mouth wash described above, consisting of a drop or two 

 of extract of ipecac in half a glass of water every evening is a 

 fairly safe means of prevention. Tooth pastes containing emetin 

 are now upon the market, but few physicians place much con- 

 fidence in them. 



