Page 168 - My FlipBook

will become less and less in thickness ; the disintegration of the
organic matrix follows closer the solution of the lime salts, and
the whole of the mass is inclined to become darker, and finally
in quite a good many instances it becomes entirely dark colored
through its whole thickness, and the micro-organismjs of caries
are dead ; the decay has ceased spontaneously. There are a
good many cases of this kind occurring. I have had some
cases under observation for twenty-five years—open cavities in
which there has been no progress of decay during that time.
I have seen the progress renewed in a good many instances.
So that while the rule is that caries progresses to the destruc-
tion of the crown of the tooth, unless stopped by artificial
means, there are a good many cases of immunity that is so
pronounced that decay of the dentin ceases spontaneously with-
out artificial means.
My next lecture will be mostly a show of pictures with
the lantern.

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