The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-23
HUMAN TEETH FAILING.
A Marked Change for the Worse
in tho Past Century.
The Modern Degeneracy Of the Teeth
tho Result of Neglect to Properly
Conserve the Nervous
Energies.

A comparative examination Of the
skulls of savage and civilized races
shows that the increased brain develop
ment of the latter is always accom-
panied by a marked modification in the
form and size of the jaws and teeth.
This modification Is usually spoken OF
as degenerate condition. While 1t Is
quite true that decay of the teeth is
much more prevalent among highly
civilized than among savage peoples. it
is open TO question whether IL be an in
evitable concomitant condition. The
Greeks had. apparently, nearly solved
this problem at the height of their civ
ilization. for it is not until the COM
mencement of the period OF their de-
cadence that we find any marked de-
cay of their teeth The modern do
generacy of the teeth. therefore, is not
to be regarded as directly due TO modi-
fications produced by changes In tho
contour of the face and skull conse-
ouent on increased brain development,
as some scientific men have contendcd,
but rather as the result OF neglect 10
properly conserve the nervous energies
necessary for maintaining that balance
of physique upon which health or
Wilderness is primarily dependent A
weakened or diseased condition OF any
part of the human organism, excepting.
of course. such as is produced by me
chanical injuries, is always q local ex-
precision of greater or less general de-
cline of systemic vitality. Tha. there
has been q steady and rapid deteriora-
ton in the quality of human teeth
among nearly all the great civilized
nations Of the earth during the past
century. deterioration especially
marked during the past thirty or forty
years, no one can deny.
Are we, then, TO consider this de2en-
eracy Of the teeth As local indication
of general decline Of racial vitality?
asks a writer In the New Review. i
can see no possibility Of avoiding An
affirmative answer 20 snch . question,
but there Are, a. the same time, Is we
shall see, certain peculiar circurn-
stances and conditions attending de-
cay of the teeth which largely qualify
such al affirmative answer. The prob
lem however, Is very grave and de-
rnauds the most serious consideration.
We are always prone To overlook the
Importance Of any disease which does
not Immediately threaten 20 extngnish
life; bat IL would not believe. DC dszsi-
cult 10 show that the sun Of physical
evils which may be directly traced %
decay and loss Of the teeth r far greater
than any likely 10 be inflicted by the
advent OF sny eonts gious or infections
disease On FIRST thought sais snaS
seem bold statement. hn. tie simple
truth is that the foundations arc lad
and the way prepared for The incoming
Of many diseases. both contagious and
r.op-contagio1s. oy 3 degenerate coDci-
ton OF sne teeth 4 high state 81 rftai-
isg Is the uoss perfect protection against
any form Of disease. ard THIS csr only
De secured and maintained by perfect
nutrition Perfect nutrition results
fror.s pss-.7c. digestion % food materials
and psrfezt digestion i aE iaupo@<sbiit.y
without perfect nsaStlcasisn. Srr lie
X sae wAole Sc3x IA Poisoned a. SIS