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CLASSIFICATION. 921

some of tlie avenues by which this nutrient material may reach it will
not materially impede its continued nutrition, and therefore will not
materially lower its standard of health. This agrees substantially with
what is seen in daily clinical experience. Teeth that have lost their
pulps go on decade after decade continuing in the most perfect health.
The sense of touch remains perfect ; the connection of the tooth with
the neighboring parts shows no signs of disturbance.

Diseases of the Peridental Membrane.
One of the first things that the student should recognize in the study
of the pathology of the peridental membrane is the fact that it is sub-
ject to various forms of disease. Among these there are several dis-
tinct varieties of inflammation, which arise from distinct causes and
require different treatment for their cure. No classification can at pres-
ent be made that will be free from objections ; yet a classification, even
if not perfect, will assist in the comprehension of the details of the
subject.
Classification.— 1st. Traumatic pericementitis, or inflammation of the
peridental membrane resulting from injuries.
2d. Absorption of the roots of the permanent teeth : (o) In diseased
conditions of the peridental membrane; (6) After injuries and trans-
plantations, replantations, etc.
3d. Pericementitis, or inflammation of the peridental membrane, hav-
ing its seat in the apical space and following the death of the pulp of
the tooth. This is the only inflammation of this membrane to which
this term should be applied without the use of a descriptive adjective,
and even here I think it is better to use the term apical j)ericeme7ititis.
4th. Alveolar abscess. This abscess always has its seat in the apical
space, and is a result of apical pericementitis following the death of the
pulp of the tooth.
5th. Gingivitis, inflammation of the gingival border of the gum and
lower border of the peridental membrane, occurring mostly from con-
stitutional causes, including salivation from mercury, iodide of potassi-
um, etc.
6th. Calcic inflammation of the gums and peridental membrane, a
diseased condition dependent upon deposits of calculus, salivary or
serumal, on the necks of the teeth.
7th. Phagedenic pericementitis, a specific, infectious inflammation
having its beginnings in the gingivte and accompanied with destruc-
tion of the peridental membranes and alveolar walls.
It will be noted that in this classification we have two distinct groups
of pathological manifestations, the one having its beginnings in the apical
space, and the other having its begimiings in the gingivae.
Those conditions resulting from injuries to the roots of the teeth, and
from replantations, transplantations, etc., will be treated in another
article, to which the reader is referred. I will only treat of the pathol-
ogy of absorption of the roots of the permanent teeth in those cases in
which no previous injury has been observed.
On this point it may be stated as an axiom that such absorption never