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430 THE TREATMENT AND FILLING OF ROOT CANALS.

it is not uncommon to find the tissues of the apical region affected in
some degree presumably by infection with the waste products of the
organisms, a transitory pericementitis occurring which ceases when the
dead pulp sloughs from its vital connection at the apex. The succeed-
ing stages of the infection are those of moist gangrene and putrefactive
decomposition of the pulp tissues, and later of the contents of the
tubules. Following upon these conditions are affections of the cemen-
tnm and the pericementum in the apical region, resulting in an inflam-
matory process in these parts.
All of these stages of infection and decomposition may be found in
the pulp at one time, the suppurative process preceding that of putre-
faction. Cultures made from a gangrenous pulp (see Fig. 397)^ showed

Fig. 397.

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Micro-organisms found in cultures from a gangrenous pulp.
the smaller cocci and diplococci (5) nearest the apex of the root (c, Fig.
397, 1) where suppuration was in progress ; the larger forms and more
varieties were found in the necrosed and decomposing portions of the
' Miller, Dental Cosmos, July, 1894.