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THE SALIVA. 137
stated. The deposit is insoluble in the saliva of the person in
whose mouth it is found, but is readily soluble in the saliva of
persons in whose mouths such deposit is not found. From recent
examinations, I have been led to strongly suspect that this may
favor the beginning of caries or actually furnish one of the neces-
sary elements, by affording coverings that will shield micro-
organisms and their acid products from washings by the saliva
but, as yet, this is by no means assured. This condition seems
to be much less constant in the mouth of an individual than ropy
saliva.
The conditions in which solid deposits from the saliva occur,
as salivary calculus, are, of course, well known from observation
of results. As a rule, this condition belongs to immune persons
or those who would have become immune if caries had been kept
under control. It used to be a saying that diseases of the gums
from deposits of calculus destroyed the best dentures, that is,
teeth that did not decay. In these later days we are often finding
dentures destroyed from this cause after caries had been con-
trolled with much difficulty up to the time when immunity to
decay had given relief. Some cases of extensive deposits of
calculus occur, however, coincidently with rapidly progressive
decay of the teeth.
There is to-day no more promising field of useful discovery
than in qualitative examinations of the saliva recorded with
intelligently observed conditions of the mouth and teeth. All
the aids that scientific instruments can give should be brought
to bear to bring out the details of its chemical constituents.
SIGNS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY AND IMMUNITY TO DENTAL CARIES.
In the meantime, the recognition of the conditions of sus-
ceptibility and of immunity, and the more prominent symptoms
by which these may be known, becomes important. As yet, no
language expression regarding this has taken such form that
the conditions may be readily conveyed in words. I suppose that
most dentists at present wait for the disappearance of superficial
beginnings of decay before announcing the coming of immunity
to caries, but those who are accustomed to looking for signs of
the coming of immunity to the beginnings of decay depend more
upon other conditions that may be seen earlier ; which point out
the approach of the condition of immunity, or a condition in
which the predisposition to caries is abating. These signs are
practically the same as formerly relied upon for determining the
condition of hard teeth as distinguished from soft teeth. While
THE SALIVA. 137
stated. The deposit is insoluble in the saliva of the person in
whose mouth it is found, but is readily soluble in the saliva of
persons in whose mouths such deposit is not found. From recent
examinations, I have been led to strongly suspect that this may
favor the beginning of caries or actually furnish one of the neces-
sary elements, by affording coverings that will shield micro-
organisms and their acid products from washings by the saliva
but, as yet, this is by no means assured. This condition seems
to be much less constant in the mouth of an individual than ropy
saliva.
The conditions in which solid deposits from the saliva occur,
as salivary calculus, are, of course, well known from observation
of results. As a rule, this condition belongs to immune persons
or those who would have become immune if caries had been kept
under control. It used to be a saying that diseases of the gums
from deposits of calculus destroyed the best dentures, that is,
teeth that did not decay. In these later days we are often finding
dentures destroyed from this cause after caries had been con-
trolled with much difficulty up to the time when immunity to
decay had given relief. Some cases of extensive deposits of
calculus occur, however, coincidently with rapidly progressive
decay of the teeth.
There is to-day no more promising field of useful discovery
than in qualitative examinations of the saliva recorded with
intelligently observed conditions of the mouth and teeth. All
the aids that scientific instruments can give should be brought
to bear to bring out the details of its chemical constituents.
SIGNS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY AND IMMUNITY TO DENTAL CARIES.
In the meantime, the recognition of the conditions of sus-
ceptibility and of immunity, and the more prominent symptoms
by which these may be known, becomes important. As yet, no
language expression regarding this has taken such form that
the conditions may be readily conveyed in words. I suppose that
most dentists at present wait for the disappearance of superficial
beginnings of decay before announcing the coming of immunity
to caries, but those who are accustomed to looking for signs of
the coming of immunity to the beginnings of decay depend more
upon other conditions that may be seen earlier ; which point out
the approach of the condition of immunity, or a condition in
which the predisposition to caries is abating. These signs are
practically the same as formerly relied upon for determining the
condition of hard teeth as distinguished from soft teeth. While
