The Detroit times., 1917-07-25
Focal Infection
nv ~. ADDINGroN BHUCH
ANthqp 90 The Riddle ~ Person
sIttN/ Psychology and
Pareufhiod." etc.

The term focal Infection" h
much used IN medical circles nova
days. by V Is meant diseased
condition due 20 the presence of
germs which are eNerting their
mai'sh influence from some central
point in the body.
\ common region for focal infec-
ton Is IN the mouth and its ylcin.
iiN Assessed teeth are prime OF
Tenders In This respect.
Indeed focal infection so fire.
queuuy occurs from teeth which
have become decayed and ahsccssod
that many people mistakenly ns
sume that teeth are the only po.-
sible seats of focal Infection IN the
ncighborhood OF the mouth
Consequently II a person *
thought 90 Bee the victim OF a focal
infection. and ~ an Xray examina
ton shows his tocth 20 be free from
assesses. the tendency is 10 make
NO further examination In or around
his mouth Yer such an examination
might reveal AN uumisfakable focus
OF infection
Thus. citing n case recently 70.
"a
man suffered for more than two
Years from symptoms which baffled
treatment Focal Infection being
suspected, AN his upper teeth were
extracted In the hope that this
would give him relief
His symptoms continuing. n was
thought that perhaps root had
been left from one OF the extracted
teeth Xray pictures were now
taken. and those showed that his
mouth contained neither root
stump nor an ahscess on any OF his
remaining teeth
II was then decided 20 make an
Y ray nomination OF his entire face
When this Nas done an Infection
was definitely located In an antrum
Or cavity above tho teeth
An operation immediately FOL
lowed. much pus and Eranulated tls.
sac being found IN tho antrUm This
having been cleaned ont and cura-
tive treatment given he lonc
standing symptoms promptly came
20 an end.
Obviously. more 'han Two years
~ suffering would have Boen avoid
80 and tho victims upper teeth
saved had an X-ray examination
been made ~ he outset. 90 include
other parts % his mouth and face
besides The teeth.
FotM Infection may also he local.
tied IN the 'onsils thc middle ear.
and the slnuses. or cavities IN the
bones % the face thar communicate
With The nose From these as from
the teeth and fhe anfrums disease
germs may emanafe 20 cause the
most varied malaties
Here s list az some diseases,
cases ~ which. according 20 the
health authorities ~ the life FIX
tension institute, have been either
cured or greatly helped by tho do
tctlon and elimination ot ccnters ~
Infection
Acute rheumatism. chronic rheu-
mauen. arthrttis Geformans, eN-
opithalm goltr-. Ulcer ~ he stom
ach. duodsnal ulcer. functional and
organic heart disease. acute and
chronic kidney g .eoa-e diabetes and
diseases ~ fhe pancreas. anaemia
glandalar disease. and neuritis
Of course focal infection may oc
cur In other center- than the teeth
tansNs middle ear antrIms and
siuuses ~ fhp face BG' these seem
20 DE- IS cen'ers OF chief occur
renee
n ls well 20 knoY this. and 20
know also that whenever focal In
lection Is suspected thoro Xray eX
animation should g. made Begin
with the teeth. bur Go not hastily
take j. for granted rhar focal .niec
zion viii not o. present elsewhere
ifthe teCrh are found IN good condi
ton