90 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



tides undergoing fermentation through the agency of felt-like masses 

 of microorganisms and resulting in the formation of lactic acid. 

 The formation of the acid is dependent on the splitting-up of sugar, 

 the organized or digestive ferment of these microorganisms acting 

 upon cane-sugar in a manner identical with that exhibited by the un- 

 organized ferment of the yeast plant, by converting it into levulose 

 and dextrose and producing the acid as a waste-product. The rela- 

 tive immunity of the dog to this disease may be attributed to the 

 well known inactivity of his parotid saliva and the feeble capacity of 

 the submaxillary. It will be remembered that in the human mouth 

 the ptyalin of the saliva is very active in the conversion of starch 

 into fermentable sugar, thus producing an ample supply of the 

 pabulum necessary to sustain the fermentative potentiality of the 

 microorganisms. But as these conditions do not exist in the dog's 

 mouth the amount of fermentable sugars present is infinitesimal, and 

 in the absence of sugars the microorganism is powerless to effect a 

 decaying influence. Miller found that the particular microorganism 

 is capable of growing in bouillon free from the presence of sugar, 

 but without the production of acid. This experiment was confirmed 

 by Sewill, who found, while making certain experiments in the arti- 

 ficial production of caries, that sound teeth immersed in a mixture 

 of meat and saliva remained alkaline, and even if small quantities 

 of acid were added, rapidly returned to alkalinity. Albumen as 

 white of egg or other form, was acted upon in the same manner. 



Caries does sometimes result from a bountiful diet of sweet- 

 meats. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. This disease gives rise to sharp pain 

 manifested by cries, depression of the head towards the affected 

 side, and indisposition to eat. The characteristic cavity should then 

 be sought for by careful examination of every tooth. 



Treatment Ordinarily, carious teeth are extracted, but there 

 Is no reason why the disease process should not be arrested by the 

 methods in vogue in human dentistry, when the owner so desires. 

 In this event the services of a competent dentist should be secured, 

 the animal being controlled with anesthetics by the attending veter- 

 inarian during the operation. 



SCALING. 



Removal of tartar is effected with the spring-tempered scaling 



