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Diseases of the Teeth. 93
supposes, that tins is owing to the pressure of the illaferal sur-
faces of the teeth against each other, causing inflammation,
and consequently gangrene of the bone of the teeth, imme-
diately under the enamel. There may be something in this
hypothesis, but we apprehend that a crowded or an irregular
state of the teeth, is conducive to caries, by forming a nidus
for the lodgement and retention of foreign matter, and thus
favoring its'chemical action on the enamel till the hone of the
teeth is exposed and decays. This is the more probable, as
such teeth when kept clean, are not so liable to decay as those
that are neglected ; and as the enamel is first discolored on its
external surface.
In our opinion the cause of the effect, is the play of chemical
affinities, as on inorganic matter, till the enamel is destroyed,
when the progress of the disease will be governed by the laws
of the animal economy. The decay of the incisores, cuspidati
and bicuspides, under the circumstances we are treating of,
may be illustrated by the effect produced upon two pieces of
timber, placed in contact and exposed to the elements— they
decay on their contiguous sides , but place them a little asunder
and they do not decay.
TREATMENT OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CARIES.
The curative treatment of caries, is artificial exfoliation, or
the perfect exterpation of ths-disease, with instruments, and
plugging the cavity with gold.
Prognosis. In the first stage of the disease, or before the
internal membrane is exposed, the cure is certain. See the
subject "of plugging the teeth."
ODONTITIS.
Inflammation of the internal membrane. It may terminate
in resolution or suppuration. Odontitis is usually caused by
the exposure of the internal membrane, from earies, to vari
pus kinds of irritating matter. It also sometimes happens