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324 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.
Taft holds that pyorrhoea arises in consequence of a general
disorder of health, and that local treatment is useless unless the
general state of health be improved. Others, again, regard it
as a disease brought out by some local irritation, but for whose
causation a general bodily disorder (predisposition) is necessary.
Without both of these factors the disease seldom, perhaps never,
appears.
Reeve ^°^ accuses the use of spirituous liquors, which cause ao
increased secretion of uric acid. The coiicrements in pyorrhoea
alveolaris, according to him, consist almost exclusively of uric
acids.
Patterson ^** examined twenty-four cases, and determined in all
the presence of catarrh of the mucous membrane of the nose or
pharynx ; in many cases l)oth affections. For the most part the
patients had the habit of breathing only through the mouth.
Patterson is of the opinion that pyorrhoea alveolaris and catarrh
are identical, a view^ to which F. J. Bennett ^'^ assents.
According to Witzel, pyorrhoea alveolaris is " a marginal
necrosis of the alveolus, caused by a septical irritation of the
bone-marrow," a view which Arkovy^" seems to share, since he
terms the disease " caries alveolaris specifica." He regards the
alveolar margins as the seat of the primary disturbance. " The
nature of the disease is a suppurative inflammation, w^hich
spreads to all parts lying between the gums and the dentine of
the root."
Magitot, referring to the studies of Malassez and Galiy)pe,
mentioned below% does not doubt the parasitical nature of the
disease ; he concludes his remarks with the following proposi-
tions :
1. The affection characterized by alveolar suppuration and by
the loosening and falling out of the teeth should be designated
as a true symptomatic alveolar arthritis, septical and contagious.
2. It generally arises under the influence of certain unfavor-
able conditions of health and diathesis, also in exanthematic
fevers, etc., where it manifests itself either as a complication or
as a consequence.
3. The therapeutics should consist chiefly in the application
of antiseptics, local alteratives, astringents, or caustics.