Milford chronicle., 1920-01-30
TEETH AND HEALTH
By r. ALLEN GRIFFITH. D. D. s.
HOW THEY PROVE 1T
SERVICES

The idea that infections about the
teeth cause disease is not new.
For years this relation has been sus-
pected, but experiments proving that
these fOci are responsible for diseases
are comparatively new.
DR.. E. c. RosenOw of the Mayo foun-
datiOn has spent several years in the
intensive study of the streptOcoccus-
pneumOccOccus group of micro-organ-
isms. This led to a study of the cause
of diseases from localized infections
about the teeth, tOnsils and sinuses
He proved that these fOci are respon-
sible for more insidiOus diseases than
had ever been thought possible to be
related to them.
These experiments were made by
taking germs from the teeth and ton
sils and growing them on various cul-
ture media in incubators and then in
jecting them in dogs guinea pigs and
rabbits.
As this column deals with the mouth
only, those cultures taken from the
teeth and tonsils will be mentioned
and all technical terms and proceed
ures left out. All the cases mentioned
are actual cases treated at the Mayo
hospitals.
Case 205-Acute appendicitis in a
man % years old. There was no sore
throat ut may be assumed, there
fore. that there was no acute infec-
tion.) November 25, 1914 fifty hours
after the attack began. a markedly
hyperaemec appendix was removed.
1t contained a small amount of bloody
odOrless pus. GrOwths from the pus
showed colon bacilli and streptOcOcci
November 2S cultures which were
made (NOvember 27) from pus ex-
pressed from pockets in the tOnsils
and from the Redeemed, infected gums
around a badly decayed loose tooth
yielded numerous colonies of strep-
tocOccus.
In the animal experiments cultures .
of streptOccoccus from the tooth. ton I
sils and appendix and streptoccOccus .
and colon bacillus from the appendix
were injected into the veins of rabbits.
The injections produced hemor-
rhages in the appendix in all but one
of seven rabbits. The color bacillus
produced hemOrrhages in the intes-
tine but not in the appendix.
Case 52-Ulcer of the stomach and
the first part of the small intestine in
woman 60 years of age. The patient
had suffered from a previous attack
of stomach trouble and other diseases,
but had made good recoveries under
medical treatment At this time mark
ed tartar deposit was found about the
teeth and inflammation of the gums
which was especially marked at the
outer aspect of the second right lower
mOlar.
The patient was advised to have. her
teeth put in order. but this was not
done. August 10. 1914. several weeks
after an attack of grippe, she vomited
large quantities of blood
Three days later the temperature
rose. Although there were no indica-
tiOns of pneumonia or other demon
strable cause, high fever continued un-
til death occurred.
The pOstmOrtem showed chronic
heart trouble, serum in the lung cells.
but no pneumonia; ulcers of the
stomach and just beyond both open
ings of the stomach. and there was
no infections in other organs
August 81, cultures from the gum
gave a pure culture of streptocOccus.
Dog l20 was injected September
1914, with streptOcOccus from the
teeth. September 3 the dog seemed
well. 1t was chlOrofOrmed and the
mucus membrane at the upper open c
ing of the stomach was found studded
with small hemorrhages There were
larger hemOrrhages and four ulcers
in the lower part of the stomach
From the second culture. from the
uiUer, twelve animals were injected; :
eight developed tissue changes in the
and four developed tissue
changes in the gall bladder.
Case 227-An ulcer of the stomach
in physician of middle age. There
was a history of severe recurring at
lacks of tOnsilitis for years.
April 2l, 1914, during an attack of
acute Inflammation OF the nose and Y
acute indigestion resembling ulcer, @
pure culture of strepococcus was made Il
from the discharge from the nose Z
This was injected into fve animals.
Two developed ulcer Of the stomach,
Dne hemorrhage Of the stomach and i
TWO inflammation of the gall bladder. I
December 19 the symptoms of ulcer S
lf the stomach were typical. The ton f
;ils showed marked infection and were v
The symptoms were reduc- a
I'd, but returned and persisted in spite Il
IF strict medical management.
February II. 1915, cultures from o
1yorrhea pockets were injected into u
me dog and produced hemorrhage and d
ilcer Of the stomach. n
On the basis of these findings the &
eeth we're extracted August Is, 1915,
he symptoms of ulcer having persist Il
d during the interval. a
The patient was then placed on 81
trict medical treatment for ulcer. r.
He has since been free from symp- eu
oms and has regained his former
7eight 81
These are only three cases taken
rom "Pathogenesis of Focal Infec- fc
Ion," by DR.. E, G.. Rosenow. Before 81
ne is one list of injections In S32 ami
lals. The results are typical all the H
ray through. If anyone Is skeptical ST
a the subject Of germs from the h,
louth causing diseaise, let him take a be
shot In the arm" OF a culture from of
ne bugs taken from the mouth of "A
1meone suffering from some insid-
'us disease. The experience would NJ
2 interesting and beneficial to N
'ience. th