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128 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH. ;

liole in any tissue cajtable of inflammation (bunc) and pound it
full of gold.
3. The liquefaction of the basis-substance, the melting together
of the tubules, the production of caverns, etc., characteristic of
decay, cannot be found when bacteria are not present.
4. Pulpless teeth and dead teeth worn on [)lates or as pivot
teeth are subject to decay in the same degree as teeth with living
pulps: thej' show also the same microscopical changes in the
structure.
5. It is possilde to produce artiflcial changes of the dentine,
or, in other words, artificial decay, which under tlie microsco[)e
cannot be distinguished from natural decay.
These facts are not here brought to notice for the first time,
and are probably well known to the advocates of the inflamma-
tory theory ; they ignore them, however, com[tletely, and thereby
admit their inability to answer them.

Worm Theory of Caries.

For many centuries worms were regarded as an essential factor
in the origin of caries, and all sorts of remedies were employed
to drive them out. Thus, (V/., Scribonius"^ used fumigations
against them; Ebn-Sina recommended for this purpose seeds of
henbane, leek, and onions. Musitanus"^ (m^), Kriintermann™
(1732), Ringelmann (1824), Kremler, and many others took simi-
lar measures to get rid of the worms. Even to this day the worm
theory is not entirely abandoned. Among the lower classes in
many countries the belief prevails that worms are the source
of toothache, and Chinese dentists especially are said to under-
stand how to make superstition pay. When a patient with the
toothache presents himself, they are in the habit of making an
incision into the gums "to let the worms out." For this purpose
they employ an instrument which has a hollow handle fllled witli
artificial worms. When the incision is made, the operator, by a
dextraus turn of the instrument, drops the worms into the mouth
the excitement of the patient and tlie loss of blood cause at least a
temporary relief. The worms are collected, dried, and are tlitn
ready to be taken out of the next patient's gums. The Ja[»anese