Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-04-15
Correspondence.
For the Gallipolis Journal.
Do I Know Myself.
fcoNcLuDEpl

ri In the last Few centnries-ves. we
! may say, in the last half century. the
human mind has made tremendous
strides. Light has poured in upon
from innumerable sources. 1t may
be further observed that this progress
has been entirely in the direction Of
physical science, and has been due,
= not to any superiority in modern in
tellect, hut to revolution of the pro-
cess hy which truth has been sought
after.
The new method rejected abstract
speculation and based itself upon
ascertainment by actual expert
ment of nndoubted facts. The
facts being made certain, the exis-
tence of natural laws followed
as a sequence of inexorable logic.
Here, then, is the basis of the
experimental or indnctive science.
If in any case there are no facts,
there can he no science. If there he
any hypothesis resting simply on the
imagination thai is without facts, it
is not the subject Of scientific investi-
cation.
We have, therefore, with this OBJ
ject in view tried to answer In these
brief letters, in = general sense, the
"thOusand and one questions" so fire.
quently asked the dentists of "the
cause of my teeth decaying7 or being
thus and so diseased. Aud he who
takes any one of these causes alone
without an eye to many of them
combined, is narrow in his judgment.
One other prevailing cause of dis
eased teeth and lack of bony element
in the system, we must not fail TO no.
tice, as it is so common, and when |
commenced, is so hard 10 overcome |
by the dentist or surgeon-that is,
the use of muria.ic and other acids
taken into the system in the form of
medicines, tooth-washes or other
wise--not only by its coming in con-
tact with the teeth, but when taken
into the system for any length of
time, it destroys the bony element
while yet in the blood, and no ex-
perienced dentist but what can detect
an excess of the use of some acids of
the white, brittle and chalky appear
ance of the enamel of the teeth, al
though the patient may in every other
respect be entitled to good healthy
state of these organs, and just so
certain as any one tooth becomes dis
eased from any one or many of these
causes combined, and is not timely
attended to and the disease checked,
it will sooner or later involve the
whole number of the teeth with the
malady.
No part Of our system seems to be
so little cared for or attention paid to
for cleanliness and protection as does
the mouth and teeth by so many
people, and yet, it is the very oriel
of our life and subsistance-thec chief
mark of beauty and elegance in all
ages, both in Pagan and Christian
lands-the expression and propoun-
der of love, joy and sorrow-the
source of the statesman's and ora
tors power-the attractive lOvliness
of female beauty-the heartfelt sane 1;
toner Of lovers and friends in holy :
kiss. But OH loathsOme neglect 4
that has stolen so much of our female
charms and elegance of y
and speech--that emits q
noxious vapOrs to the greetings of i
our loved ones, that bows us to its y
torturing rack. Is there no escape \
from your rayages of disease, pain .
and deformity? Let ms consult few a
more facts. Now, five had as mu h
disease on our external system q, is
truly in a few diseased teeth, or in
,he gums or jaw bone where we could
occasionally see it, and perceive its a
slow bnt sure development, who is b
here that would not spend time and t
money, 90 far and near, and call on y
The best surgeons and medical men, 4
Dut what they would arrest its rava- q
yes? Which ifnot done would event $
lally ruin our health and cause us TO a
ill a premature grave--surely we c
would not be wise to neglect 81 i'm y
Dortant duty to ourselves. Why, b
,hen, are there SO many who are so 5
:areless of still sC0rse disease in the il
mouth? We look at it in no other l:
light than because it seems to he out a
1f our sight, and in eating and drink "
ing we rub and work the corruption g
off and swallow the poisonous matter n
that is constantly oozing from and 1
lbout the teeth, and really think it is d
not so bad after all. Horrible mi1tare a
If food and disease taken into the a
stomach to strengthen and beautify h
Is! Yes, more horrible than we dare Il
express to the modesty of our modern Ii
And who will we blame? d
Will we rest unalarmed and say we a
ire "providentially affiicted?' 40, a
what a jeweln' The r.
eeth and gums are by no means the j:
,nly part OF the system that this ab- s.
normal and deficient bony element is n
developed, for the surgeon and ply a
'ician often have their most obstin- n
tie diseases TO treat from deficiency N
,r diseased state Of this bony sub a
'tance. A severecase of which re- u
,ently fell under the writer's obserra- ca
ion, where the bone of the leg broke IS
,tr BY its own weight in the act OF bl
.aising the foot to a chair. u
Now, my friends, what will we do? I'll
8 there no remedy to offer? A few h
more facts will here be in place. In q
III important pursuits in life we n
,triye to qualify and have qualified G
,ersons to fill position where health s.
n the public welfare is at stake or al
interested, that much any al
low, of our modern civilization is SO
most gloriously worthy; and as Amer W
cans are noted for their quick per m
option, they. are likewise noted al
the civilized world as the hi