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POINTS OF ATTACK IN SOFT TISSUES OF THE MOUTH. 325
Malassez and Galippe have made very careful investigations
concerning the etiology of pvorrhcea alveolaris. Galippe con-
siders the disease as undoubtedly of a parasitical nature, " which
m.iy be proved by an examination of stained sections, by culti-
vation and isolation of the parasites contained in the dentinal
tulmles, by the contagion spreading from tooth to tooth, as
well as from individual to individual, as we have observed more
than once in persons of difterent sex, who stand in intimate
relations to each other."
Galippe ^^^ found in the tubules of a tooth attacked by infectious
arthro-dental gingivitis a " parasite temporarily designated by the
letter 35/, which shows the form of a very delicate double bubble
(Doppelblaschen), and is changed by cultivation into a bacillus,
the gelatine melting, and a characteristic rod appearing in the
tube of the gelatinous bubble.
'' Subcutaneously injected into guinea-pigs it produced, after
fifteen days, in the joints of all the paws a series of abscesses,
which made all motion impossible ; the movements proceeding
fr(mi tlie pelvis were extremely painful. Some of the abscesses
opened spontaneously, the others were lanced with the necessary
precautions. The parasite r^ could again be isolated from the pus.
After several months the guinea-pig recovered from the infection,
but the awkwardness and stiffness in the joints remained.
" This parasite showed a preference for the osseous system in
a rabbit, into whose abdomen a pure culture of it was injected.
After fifteen days the emaciated rabbit manifested a sluggishness
of locomotion, and we discovered a considerable abscess in the
plane of the left thigh.
" This abscess was lanced ; from the pus treated in the usual
manner the parasite y] was again obtained in pure culture.
After a few days the abscess reappeared, and it was observed at
the same time that the animal breathed with difficulty. Emacia-
tion and depression increased, and the animal was killed about
a month after inoculation. The examination of the heart and
lungs revealed nothing particular; the kidneys were sound.
The injection had caused no inflammation, either in the diges-
tive organs or on the diaphragm. An enormous abscess occupied
the entire posterior surface of the liver. The lower portion of