I think I abstractly described a thing that would work, but I gave the reader no clues on how to do that thing. Thank you for pointing out a work that actually does give practical tips!

Your comment made me smile. Thank you.

Somehow I was not traumatized by this?

... Why would you be traumatized by this?

I don't really know much more than this. It's been a while since I heard about this, so I chatted w/ Claude to see if I wasn't misremembering, and Claude said I was not. It linked to a few articles and papers on the topic, which support what I said. Here's one on tooth abscesses from the mayo clinic, another on undiagnosed fevers occasionally being due to dental infections, and one on oral biofilms which can cause chronic infection. I don't know how helpful this is to you, as it doesn't seem obviously related to your inflammation, but it's all I've got atm.

If you do read up on the history of homology, I'd be grateful if you'd tell me whether it helps. I'm curious if my advice was actually a good idea, or if it just sounds good. 

Have you looked at the historical development of homology? IME that's generally a good way to build intuitions on a topic, as it tends to make concepts appear natural.

If you were to transport me and Algon into the wonderful universe of Mother of Learning [...] I'd absolutely mog him. I haven't even read the book, but now I know for sure I'd mog him.

As I told Croissanthology privately after he wrote this reply, I never said I wouldn't co-operate with my clone/original. 

Fairly active Less wrong users? Probably not <10%, though I wouldn't be shocked, just surprised.

consequent shame afterwards

Speak for yourself.

The upshot is that, it seems to me, oxytocin is pretty antithetic to ambition. And not just ambition “at the grand scale”; also smaller-scale ambitions, relevant to the whole range of non-oxytocin-driven values. 

Or in other words, "Family, religion, friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."