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POINTS OF ATTACK IN SOFT TISSUES OF THE MOUTH. 335

/'. Stomacace.
Stomacace is a disease of the oral cavity or gums, which is
usually of a purely local nature. Some authors consider it as
an infectious disease, especially since it is often epidemic, and
Bersreron was al)le to communicate it to himself bv means of
inoculation.
As far as I know, no culture-experiments have been made,
nor do we possess any information whatever concerning the
supposed bacterium of stomacace.

g. StomatltU phlegmonosa, ulcerosa, etc.
In all these severe aiFections of the mouth, accompanied by
suppuration, abscess-formation, gangrenous decomposition,
sloughing, etc., we designate as chief etiological factors: im-
proper nourishment, unhealthy quarters, severe diseases impair-
ing and weakening the composition of the blood, scorbutus,
scrofula, rhachitis, typhus, scarlet fever, etc. At the same time
there can be no doul)t that parasitical influences must largely
aflect the aforesaid diseases, if indeed they do not stand in direct
causal relation to them. Xext to a nutritious diet, antiseptics
and disinfectants form the chief remedies in their treatment.
It is not improbable that, under predisposing conditions, the
masses of bacteria in an unclean mouth perform the part of a
direct etiological factor in these affections.
There are, however, neither clinical observations nor culture-
experiments which permit us definitely to conclude what bac-
teria we have to deal with in connection with these different
diseases, or whether possibly each form owes its specific char-
acter to the action of a certain bacterium. It is highly probable
that various species, pathogenic and non-pathogenic, are i>resent
in the later stages of these affections and contribute considerably
to the terrible devastations which are frerpiently conse pient upon
them.
Diseases of tha various tissues of the mouth which are to be
classed under this category are very common in domesticated
animals; more particularly in sheep. A disease known as scor-
butus (Spinola), stomatitis perniciosa (Gips), etc., lrc(piently