Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-27

There are persons inimical to all po0-
dsrs or operations, as being injurious to
the teeth; and their reason is, that a
friend or relation has lost his, after
having had recourse to either. But
such must surely be ignorant Of the
fact, that the teeth Of different persons
are scarcely ever found to resemble
each other, either in point Of oonstifu-
ton, formation, or arrangement. Hence,
what would affect the one injuriously,
may prove beneficial and save the other
from destruction. Would it not be alb
surd, ask, tc exclude the practice Of
bloodletting, because one, or even Sc
veraI individuals had died shortly after
that operation had been performed? or
would it not be equally so, to depre-
ciate and avoid medicine recommend
ed for particular disease, because 1t
had failed in some cases to produce the
desired effect? 1t is well known that
the same medicine will, on different
constitutions, have opposite effects
that which has preserved the life OF one
man and raised him from the bed OF
sickness, would have been certain death
to another, perhaps laborlng under the
same disease. This apparent contra
diction, results from their different con-
situations and habits of life.
The same principle is applicable to
the operations performed on the teeth,
and the use of drugs for their preser-
vation.-If judiciously applied, either
will result bene6cially; and though
sometimes the teeth cannot be saved
by art, from the too great progress OF
disease, yet, on all occasions, their loss
can at least be retarded.
| have met with other individuals,
whom nature having provided with
good strong teeth, and which even ne
gIect and injurious stuffs had been un-
able to destroy, were still under the
firm conviction that they were indebt-
ed for their soundness to particular
application they habitually made use
of. This they, therefore, strongly re-
commend to their acquaintance, and
vouch for its efficacy in preserving the
teeth in a healthy sound state. The re-
suit is, that some injure their teeth by
applying drug offensive to their par
ticular situation; and greater number
are disappointed, by finding it has not,
in the least, arrested the progress Of
decay.
Again, l have known persons who
sincerely thought themselves indebted
to their ancestors for the soundness OF
their teeth, and who from the belief that
good teeth were their family right, not
only neglected their own, but even SUI
fered those of their children to grow
unattended. Strange and truly unfor-
tunate bigotry! as we'll might man
carelessly set himself down, and e1-
pect fortune or happiness, as family
prerogative, and make no exertion on
his own part to procure either: or ex-
pose himselfto dangers and difficulties,
because no accidents had occurred to
his family.
Nature is as tickle as fortune; and
the constitutions of our teeth or gene
raj system, mostly differ as widely as
our respective circumstances in life
Those who have been kindly provided
with good teeth, should show their gra-
titude by approaching and being care
full of them, in all casses care must, at
least, have the negative virtue of doing
no harm, if it does no good. But, un-
fortunately, the real value OF sound
teeth is only learned, when neglect, or
some other cause, has robbed us OF
them. PHlLANlHROPE.
The editor of the National Gazette
seems determined to retaliate upon the
London prints, for their impudent End
vulgar criticisms on our La Fayette fes-
tival.
After satirising in detail, much OF
their nonsensical parade, at the execu-
ton of the culpril Faunderoy, he con-
cludes his article with the following
remarks: