Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-14

y
mond, | was enabled to report it,
in the interest Of dental pathology
after / became a medical observer.
1t was published in the journal of
"Dental Science,n work issued
from Baltimore by tue late DIR.
Harris, and which was about the
first publication of any importance
on the comparatively new science
of dentistry, issued in the United
States. | traced the inflammation
of the mem branes of the brain,
which was at the bottom of the
phreHzy, to the inflamed auditory
passages, and their condition as
one depending on nervous SYM
pathy, back to that of his decayed
teeth These had been neglected
because dentistry was but little in
use, at that early day, in the rural
districts-that is, beyond the bar
barous tooth-pullings of the ply
sicians, not unfrequently super
coded by the nearest blacksmith
with the old-fashioned "pullikins"
or perhaps pincers as substitutes
for the more modern forcepS. Such
a fatal result of neglected teeth, ]
felt, ought to be made a warning
against Indifference as to mere
toothache, and hence my report Of
the case at DIR. Harris's req uest.
With dentists everywhere, and
the safe appliance Of the nitrous
oxide gas, TO say nothing Of the
more risky chloroform, and the
better understanding of nervous
distribution, connection and influ-
ence,in disease, now which obtains,
no one would be excusable for per-
uniting so terrible a death as tina
of my father from such q cause
The death Of my father, with
disposition such as mine, which
was perhaps ever too impatient of
restraint, and therefore very lit
tie profited by the guidance
of my mother during the four adj
ditional years she was spared to
me, left me practically to the
chances of an uninterrupted self
control at a comparative early Pc
riod of my life. One Of the conse-
quences of this assists to sadden
the recollections stimulated by the
recurrence of my birthday. TAX
ing the position and relation of ga
man among men" at an inordin-
ately early period, and certainly
before / came to have more than
my legitimate share of cotempor--
cries, whether in public or private
life. Hence / am called, with cor
responding frequency, to the sad
contemplation of my associates
dropping one by one into the
grave, by my side, in the battle of
life, thus rendering all the heavier
a growing sense of loneliness.
A word of philosophy here, such
as the readers of this series will, l
think, give me credit for indulg-
ing very sparingly. 1t is this:-
Whether precocious entrance
upon the field of manly and re-
sponsible action is not q misfor-
tune in more senses than the SEN
timental one which / have just
named in the sadness Of my birth
day mood? My precociousness
was more physical than mental
Socially, and politically, the evil
consequences in the former direc-
ton are not so regretful, as in the
latter, perhaps. But to the victim
of it, personally, its consequences
are as bad.
The natural law of growth
and decay makes early physica,
development the inevitable pre-
cursor of premature decline cfthe
vital forces. OF this result of the
working of the great law of COM
pensation / am painfully conscious
as write. In my own case the
result has been all the more mark
ed by reason of the intensely ex-
citing and consequently exhaust
ing experiences OF a career having
reference to the happily "past is
sues--a career often misrepresent-
ed because misunderstood by cher
ished friends, counter to whose
opinions and purposes my own
have happened TO run say chap
pened," because no man would
self-impose the exhausting and
impoverishing pressure of any un-
popular cause, however willing he
might be to endure it, when put
upon him by circumstances un-
sought.
And now as / look back, today,
over the field of a life which attacks
of frequent illness admonish me is
drawing near its end in advance of
the three score and ten test, / con-
fess that l would gladly say word,
if could, to restrain growing
tendency Of the age. / allude to
the disposition, too often noticca-
BILE in young people, to voluntari-
ly assume responsibility which had