The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-02-20

the mortality from this cause would have
been over $1,000. And this was far
from being all, as regards Philadelphia
All over the country fatal cases OF
typhoid fever, and 9th diseases nearly
allied to it, were attributable to the Cen
tennial visitation-the neglected drain
age, criminal insuficiency of water
closets, and bad plumbing. These con-
ditions, so prominently manifest at the
Centennial, and apparently to an extra
ordinary degree in Philadelphia even
yet, as judged by the prevalence OF
typhoid fever, are, of all causes OF NOR
tally, the most criminal, because the
most easily preventable. Universal ex-
perience attests that water-closets mad
equately provided with means for speedy
and complete cleansing and aeration are
prolific sources Of typhoid fever and
kindred affections in all temperate lati-
tudes, and, with prevailing high tenn
perature and moisture, of the still more
deadly disease, yellow fever. And all
the more dangerous are these conditions
because they are not infrequently the
means of spreading that disease to dis
tant places. The existence of typhoid
fever or allied diseases in any place is
prima facie evidence of filthy surround
ings.-Sdnitarian.
G. A. Mills gives in Dental Cosmos some
sensible advice about cleaning the teeth.
While there is, he says, a general use of
tooth-brushes by the people, there is, al
so, not uncommonly an abuse of them
for want of proper instruction. 1t is
getting to be better understood by both
dentists and patients now than formerly
that a crosswise brushing is not wise,
but that the upper teeth should be
brushed downward, and the lower teeth
upward. 1t is common mistake not to
brush thoroughly the cheek and pos
terror surfaces of the third mOlars and
the lingual surfaces of the lower front
teeth. 81 am sure" says Mr.. Mills,
/" that nothing like an adequate amount
of care is given to this service. 1t can
not be too strongly impressed on the
minds of the guardians of children that
the practice of brushing the teeth thor
oughly should be begun as early as pos
sible. Straight brushes are utterly inn
practicable on the surfaces to which 1
have referred as the ones most neglect
ed. Curved brushes with a tuft end,
or convex, are the best.
There are several efficient forms.' The
faithful use of floss silk between the
teeth oughtto be earnestlyrecommended;
also the quill toothpick. The wood
toothpicks so generally furnished at
public eating places are source of much
evil to the soft tissues between the
teeth. All kinds of metallic toothpicks
are Objectionable, though it is the
practice of some dentists to commend
them to their patients. The value of
decided polished surface of the tooth
becomes very apparent to those who
have had the operation performed; the
facility with which such teeth can be
kept clean is evident; and although this
condition may have been secured at
expense, yet it is an invest
ment that will pay good rate of inter-
est. Few dentists have much idea of
the beautiful polish that a human tooth
will take. Many teeth are capable Of
great improvement in this direction
which are now a decided detriment to
what might otherwise be apleasing face.
The general idea among the people is
that interfering with the surfaces of the
teeth destroys the enamel, but this is a