Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-17
WHY THE TEETH DECAY

WHY THE TEETH DECAY.
The causes Of the decay Of teeth have
hitherto been matter Of doubt, but the
investigation of Leber and Rottenstein
throw considerable light on the problem.
They recognise constitutional difference
in teeth, rendering some more sensitive
than others to tho influences that favor
decay. Thsse influences are not so much
internal or vital, % external and chem
ical. Decay begins at the surface, and
there it must 10 checked, if checked at
oil. It is chiefly caused by acids. and by
: certain fungus, the Lepttthrir 6uccalis,
found abundantly in the mouth. Under
the microscope the fungus appears rs
gray, finely.granular mass or matrix,
With filaments delicate, and stiff, which
erect themselves above the surface of this
granular substance, so as to resemble An
uneven turf The fungus attains its
greatest size in the interstices Of the
teeth. All acids, both mineral and vege.
table, act promptly on the teeth.
Various acids are taken with food, Or in
medicines, or are formed in the mouth it.
self by some abnormality in our secre.
tions, which should be alkaline, or by an
acid fermentation of particles of food.
But acids alone will not account for all
the phenomena Of cavities in the teeth.
They play = primary and principal part,
making the teeth porous and soft. In
this state the tissues having lost their
normal consistency, fungi penetrate both
the canaliculi of the enamel and Of the
dentine, and by their growth produce
softening and destructive effects much
more rapid than the action of acids alone
accomplish. Bowditch, in examining
forty persons Of different professions, and
living different kinds Of life, found in al
most oil Of them vegetable and animal
parasites. The parasites were abundant
in proportion to the neglect of cleanliness.
The means ordinarily employed to clean
the teeth had no effect on the parasites,
while soapy water appeared to destroy
them.
We may remark that it is several
years since attention was first called to
this fungus of the mouth and its possible
influence in causing the teeth to decay,
but the Investigations of Leber and Rot.
tehstein appear to have settled the ques.
ton beyond doubt. The ''moral'' is,
that if We would preserve our teeth We
must keep them scrupulously clean, and
We must use soap as IN Ingredient in our
dentifrices or in addition to them. 1t is
not necessary to employ any of the so.
called ''dental soaps" We have found ly
experience that the imported white cas-.
tile soap, which is probably the purcst
soap made in the worid-a fact worth re.
mem hering in other connections--isq quite
tastelcss, or at least has no unpleasant
taste. Rub tho vet tooth brush over =
4 piece Of tbs soap before dipping it in.
to tho dentifrice you use, and you have
the most perfect combination for thor.
ough cleansing Of the teeth and destroy.
ing the obnoxious fungus. We assume,
Of course, that the dentifrice itself is not
one that Injuries the teeth.
AN ANECD0TE OF DEJAZET.
Says Paris correspondent: OF Vir.
ginie Dejazct-as usual after the death of
: celebrated hitherto unpub-
lished anecdotes are told on every side.
One, narrated by herself, and repeated
to me by one Of her own triends,gives it IS
nearly ~ possible in her own words.
One evening, said Dejazet, I was on my
way to the theatre, passing along the
Rue des Pyramides. when at the corner
Of Rue st. Honore heard mems voices
proceeding from IN estresol or = wine
shop singing-if such aiscordsnt sounds
30 called singing-and oh, horror! the
song was "my' Lisette!'' I glanced rap
idly into the interior Of the shop, discov.
cred wretched corkscrew staircase, drap.
ed With red cotton. which in half min.
ute had climbed, and found myself in .
low, han.lighted room, where the work
men, in shirt sleeves, were drinking rather
too much wine, and singing, As I said, my
darling ''Lisette.''
"Oh, mes enfants," exclaimed, show
cac you thus murder Beranger's
i One Of tho men less tipsy than the
others came close up to me, looked earn.
estly in my face, and cried:
bah! it's Dejazet -
"Yes, mes snfants,''I replied; ''Deja-
yet, who intreats you not to tear her best
beloved song to pieces in this brutal man.
ner. Of course You can't do better, be.
; cause you don't know better but will
sing It for you, and after that you must
respect it, ~. ... <...
. 'tOh, how gentiAe Of you!'' said the
men drawing near With the greatest re.
spect and attention.
"sit down and keep quiet I replied
and taking ny SEQ: scat: opposite my five
With the exception Of In irrepressible
''cre nom" which escaped from the lips
. of one man and was silenced by IN 81.
bow.thrust by another, every now and
again, not sound. not , movement in.
. A a