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PYORRHCEA ALVEOLARIS. cealed tartar is of a coffee-brown color, when it is particularly tenacious and unaccommodating, and its removal is accom- plished with great labor, persistence and patience. Often after the first sitting for removal of hidden calculus, on return of the patient, the shrinkage of gum is so great as to expose a number of brownish particles adhering to the root, which the operator readily removes. PROGRESS OF PYORRHCEA ALVEOLARIS. As a result of continued periostitis, the wall of the socket is gradually destroyed along the axis with attendant deepen- ing of the "pocket," affording space for greater acummulation of pus and rubbish. In time, the periostitis tends to spread laterally, all the while occasioning removal of more and more of the alveolus wall, until finally the loss or unstableness of support results in looseness of the root, a condition that seriously compromises prospects for recovery of usefulness of the tooth, but does not prevent eradication of the disease in that socket. Instances are frequently noted where the resorbing j)rocess, due to continued periostitis has completely girdled roots that were held in place by a sort of ligament of hypertrophied j)er- icementum, permitting motion in all directions within the funnel-shaped socket. In such cases (most frequently of in- ferior incisors), the disease has literally run itself out, and the wide-open socket is merely a receptacle for refuse matter that may chance to get into it. These are hopeless cases.