Page 232 - My FlipBook

204 THE MICRO-OROANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.

more, in case the experiments of Cohn should be eonfirmed, be
unable to account for the smooth, shining surface and the in-
creased percentage of lime-salts in the repaired dentine. If we,
on the other hand, accept the recalcification theory, we have to
choose between two possibilities, — (1) the possibility of a recalci-
fication of the dentine ; more or less complete restoration of the
lime-salts of the decayed dentine through the medium of the
pulp (a virtual restitutio ad integrum), which would not be in
accordance with the conception of Hoppe-Seyler (page 149)
; (2)
the possibility that new dentine may be formed at the expense
of the fibrils in the manner described under transparency of the
dentine. Without pronouncing niy adherence to the vitalistic
theory, I think I may say that I am not quite satisfied with the
deliydration theory. We have here another subject for experi-
ment.