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Show HEALTH BV UNCLE SAM, M. D. Health Questions Will Bs Answered An-swered if Sent to Information Bureau, U. S. Public Health Serv Ice. Washington. D. C. O -' PYORRHEA Pyorrhea ls an Infection of tho gumsj or toolh-aocketa it begins beneath, tho edges of the gums that have been Injured and especially where there has been an accumulation of tartar or; lime dcporlt. As the infection pro gresses and destroys the membranes that attach the root of the tooth around the root, and the tooth becomes be-comes looscnud It is said that this disease Is responsible for far more loss of teeth than ls decay. But this Is not the only evil. In the pocket pus continually Is being formed and discharged into I ho mouth and swallowed. Also, as the teeth rise mm fall In their diseased sockets In , ordinary chewing, bacteria are forced into the circulation and may be carried to distant parts, where they work harm according to their nature, select-Ing select-Ing tissues for their operation In which they can best thrive. it was formerly supposed that the HI effects from such conditions as dental abcess and other Pus fo 1 were wholly due to tho toxins or poisonous products thrown into the blood-stream the bacteria at the focus. It ls known, however that the bacteria mi-grate mi-grate into outside tissues through the. blood and lymph-streams. In joint af-fectlonn, af-fectlonn, thej clog and obstruct the small blood-vessels, Interfering with the nutrition of the Joint tissues, causing caus-ing deformity and enlargement, as In arthritis deformans as well as in acute inflammation such as rheumatic fever. Indeed this condition of subinfectlon or "focal infection," is coming to be recognized as a far more important cause of disease than the time-honored auto-lntoxlcatlon, a term which has been greatly abused and misused. |