Page 157 - My FlipBook

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The reader will recollect with what assiduity, I have be-
fore endeavored to defend the doctrine of sensibility in the
bony structure of the teeth we now see how beautifully on
;
those principles, the process and causes of caries are exposed
and explained. In the remarks of Messrs. Fox and Koeck-
er, I fully coincide, and am certain that caries of the teeth, is
the result of inflammation in their bony structure, termina-
ting in mortification. This is the pivot upon which all turns.
To this all other causes are subordinate. The secretions of
the mouth when in a vitiated state, are the grand and promi-
nent causes of caries. They chemically dissolve and re-
move the enamel of the teeth, inflame the bony part which
consequently mortifies in most cases, and is then dissolved
by the same vitiated liquor. In some cases the dead part is
not dissolved, and then the caries remains stationary, and
does not progress with much rapidity, and in this state has
been denominated by nearly all the old French writers,*
" carie seche," and has been called by the vulgar among the
English "Dry Rot." In many cases the mortified part
is readily dissolved, or allows the vitiated juices to penetrate
its texture, so as to keep up a constant irritation and inflam-
tion of the bony structure, and thereby the progress of the
disease is greatly accelerated. The foregoing remarks lead
us to the following conclusions upon this subject. First, any
thing which prevents a perfect organization of the teeth in
their growth, will render them much more susceptible of the
exciting causes of caries, than if perfectly developed and
perfectly organized ; and hence we learn, why in many sub-
jects, a crowded state of the teeth is often followed by ca-
ries. Secondly, any thing that weakens the vital powers of
the teeth, renders them much more susceptible to the ex-

* See Fauchard, vol. i. page 146.