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290 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.
inflammation of the brain proceeding from a dental abscess.
'"^
Eitter also observed a case of septical blood-poisoning due to
a decayed tooth, which resulted fatally.
Coopman '''* noticed a fatal case of blood-poisoning in a boy
eight years old, caused by a delay in the extraction of an abscessed
tooth. An extensive periostitis accompanied by suppuration
supervened. In spite of the extraction of the tooth, which had
become quite loose, a metastatic abscess formed at the lower
margin of the orbital cavity. The condition of the child grew
worse from day to day, and death followed five days after the
extraction.
Marshall ^"^ describes a case of emphysematous gangrene pro-
ceeding from an abscessed lower wnsdom-tooth, which ended
fatally in twelve days after a severe illness characterized by pro-
fuse suppuration, swelling, and throwing oif of large necrotic
masses.
Ed. Pietrzikowski ^'^ observed in the clinic of Gussenbauer
a case of acute osteomyelitis accompanied by necrosis of the
articular process of the right lower jaw. The trouble originated
in an alveolar abscess.
^'"
Harrison Allen reports the following case :
"A young man, in whom the roots of a lower wisdom-tooth
had been prematurely tilled, was attacked with acute periodon-
titis, ostitis, and maxillary periostitis, as above described. This
was sufHciently severe to excite inflammation in the loose con-
nective tissue between the mylo-hyoid muscle and the jaw. An
abscess followed here, and the pus gravitated to foi-m a collection
ab(Hit the hyoid bone, and from that point passed upward upon
the face, along the line of the facial artery. The abscess, in addi-
tion, pressed directly upward against the floor of the mouth, and
caused unilateral glossitis, from the mechanical eftects of which
upon the organs of respiration the patient died. The duration
of the extra-maxillary complication was but four days."
M. Robert also relates a case in which necrosis supervened
in an abscess connected with a lower wisdom-tooth; what is
described as " purulent infiltration" of the side of the neck fol-
lowed, and the patient rapidly sank. (Tomes.)
A reference to a case of necrosis of the lower jaw in a boy