The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-21
Promises Better Teeth
and Better Health
DR.. J. w. Brandcis Tells Of New Medical Discovery That
Masters Pyorrhea Alveolaris, a Disease With
Which 80 Per Cent. of Adults Are Affected.

| endamea Is responsible for the dread
array Of s%ysternbic diseases that have
been referred to; It n enough that
the endameba Is the c~ausative factor
for pyorrhea because IN that caas It's
presence makes the pockets about the
teeth sockets an acceptable habitat for
the numerouB other bacteria which
find access TO the mouth and are
thereby enabled to carry on their ne
farious practices from this retreat. II
Is merely logic TO state that inasmuch
az the pyorrhea can be cured by dis
posing OF the ameba, then the ameba
must stand indicted for all that goes
under its protection
The treatment Is simplicity ,.rrlf
While one could not say rightly that
It is like taking candy from a baby.
II Is. strictly speaking. taking medi-
cine from one. for the remedy in cues
ton Ia ipecao; tho Same ipecac no well
known to every mother as of signal
benefit In the treatment Of croun and,
IL one were humorously inclined. Il
might be pointed out az an immediate
recommendation OF the treatment that
no infant thur treated for Group has
yer bfeen reported to suffer with
pyorrhea e~lveolar1s.
The clue for the treatment wal
picked UP as the result OF the success
attained in tho ure Of another form
OF amebic Infection called "amehic
dvsentery." After determining the
causative relation OF the endameba TO
pyorrhea the next and quite natural
step was 70 try TO put an approved
~anebacide N dealing with II
Smith and Barrett began by inject
ing a solution of ipecac into the
pockets about tho roots OF tho teeth.
Improvement was noted at once and
the discharge of pus decreased, IN
gums looked healthier and bled less
readily. and the teeth acquired a
greater firmness in the jaw. But this
method proved painful. tedious and
unsatisfactory owing &c the ~d!ficulty
OF reaching every spot affected.
To overcome these objections c. c.
Bass and F. NJ. Johns OF New Orleans
began experiments with emet!n hydro
chlorid. a d~erivative OF tpecao, by
means OF n~ypodermic injections into
any acceptable region Of the body. de-
pending upon reaching the endameba
through the blood instead OF ny means
of local contact. The time has a.
ready arrived when ther .nvest.ea-
tors have heen able 20 report IN the
Journal Of the American Mvdtcdi A.
soctntion n series Of three hundred
patients treated with uniformly good
results.
Obviously me trial Of the remedy
has been too shor: 70 allow OF too
positive statements concerning perms-
nent cure. but Z has been lone enough
70 permit a tentative plan o, treat
nrent 10 be outlined. This consists
Of a short series o. hypodermic in
jections 81 emetin given daily, assoc
c!ated with tho use Of a mouth wash
OF a solution Of ipecao. Absolutely no
danger attaches to the use OF the
remedy in this ann and I have
not heard from any patient any com
plant even regarding nausea For
The tlmid ones who might reo.l
against The slight discomfort Of the
injections there II st!ll hope, as the
treatment can be administers IN the
form Of ipecsc by mouth continued
over a slightly longer period.
To insure permanence OF recruit Il
II recommended that the same series
ot injections b. repeated at tho end
~ a limited period, say six weeks.
Meantime the dentist continues the
local care and treatmen, Of the al
.ected teeth.
II u not be expected ina. this
treatment, even II It lives up TO tn.
promise which Il at present holds out,
Will be able TO ave TO the Jaw teeth
which as the result of q disease OF
years standing have had their founda-
tion completely undermined, OF let us
say. moro accurately, eaten away.
Th- tooth. az previously mentioned. u
surrounded in the socket by a peri
dental membrane which IL quito as
necessary to ITS welfare as r. the sol
to tho plant growing in It " This
IL entirely destroyed or evcn too badly
damaged II = too late for eme..n AZ
regards that particular tooth. But
how about the fellow new to him;
isn't he worth while saving?