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294 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.
of these facts Arkovj assumed that a pulpitis due to septical
causes is not ouly possible but actually occurs, and that the name
pulpitis acuta septica is appropriately applied.
I regard it as liighly probable that bacteria from the decaying
dentine may pass through the tubules of a thin layer of sound
dentine and encroach upon the pulp ; that they, however, pass
through thicker layers, unless in very exceptional cases, seems to
me doubtful ; that they may pass through the entire thickness of
the solid dentine is quite out of the question.
Any doubts which might still be entertained concerning the
infectious nature of the germs contained in putrid pulps have
been completely removed by a series of culture and infection ex-
periments which I made during
the year 1888, and which prove
Fig. 118.
be^'ond doubt that purulent and
gangrenous tooth-pulps repre-
sent a very fertile source of in-
fection.
Small particles of such pulps
brought under the skin of mice,
occasioned after twenty-four
hours in the majority of cases
inflammation and swelling sur-
rounding the point of infection.
At the end of the second or
Infection of the pulp with micrococci in
pulpitis acuta septica. (After Arkbvy.) third day a small abscess was
generally found, which, when
opened, discharged a drop or two of pus.
In all, fifty-eight subcutaneous infections were made in this
manner. In 36.8 per cent, the infections were accompanied by
severe symptoms, in 7 per cent, the disease resulted fatally, in
47.4 per cent, the infection was insignificant, and in 15.8 per
cent, no reaction was discernible.
As a rule, the reaction is not so violent following such inocu-
lations as when a human being is infected by forcing particles of
gangrenous pulps through the foramen apicale, for the reason
that in the latter case the point of infection is more deeply seated,
and at the same time surrounded by unyielding tissue. In