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POiyTS OF ATTACK IX SOFT TISSUES OF THE MOUTH. 329

immediately forms. In most oases I obtained but one kind, or
one kind so predominated that the rest could be left out of
account. In cases 8 and 13, the bacteria cultivated were found
to be identical ; also in cases 16 and 17. In all the rest they
were different ; that is to say, twenty-seven cases yielded twenty-
two dilferent kinds of bacteria.
From these experiments we might conclude that if there is a
specific bacterium of pyorrhoea alveolaris it does not readily
grow on gelatine, a result which is of value in so far as it indi-
cates that in further experiments on this subject media should be
employed which admit of being kept at the temperature of the
mouth. At the same time the thought suggests itself that possi-
bly the bacterium of pyorrhcpa alveolaris, like so many mouth-
bacteria, is cultivable on none of the artificial nutrient media,
which would of course render all experimenting useless.
The few experiments which were made on animals resulted
negatively. The gums of healthy dogs (these animals often
suffer from pyorrhcea alveolaris) were slightly detached from the
neck of the tooth and inoculated with pus, as well as with the
deposit on teeth attacked l)y the disease. Slight inflammation
invariably ensued, in one case also a little suppuration, but inside
of a week all cases were completely healed. Further experiments
are necessary to deterniine whether positive results maybe gained
in the case of old or emaciated and sick dogs.
I next made a series of culture-experiments on agar-agar, at
blood temperature. Twelve cases of pyorrhoea in human iK-ings
and six in dogs were examined. 1 isolated twenty difierent
bacteria from hunu^n beings, and nine from dogs. Among the
twenty kinds. Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus was found twice,
Staphylococcus pyogenes albus once. Streptococcus pyogenes
once. Of the oiher sixteen, nine subcutaneously injected pro-
duced no particular reaction, four a slight, three a severe sup-
puration in the sul)Cutaneous connective tissue. One of these
is more fully described on page 270.
Among the nine species in dogs, Staphylococcus pyogenes
albus occurred once. Of the other eight, two subcutaneously in-
jected caused no reaction, five but a slight, and one very profuse
suppuration, by which large portions of skin were thrown otl.