Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-03-06
HUMAN TEETH FAILING.
A Marked Change for the Worse
In the Past Century.
Tho Modern Degonerncy OF tho Teeth
tho Result OF Neglect to Properly
Conserve tho Nervous
Energies.


shows that the increased brain develop
mcnt of the latter is always accom-
panied by n marked modification in the
form and size of the jaws md teeth.
This modification is. usually spoken of
rs degenerate condition. While it is
quite true that decay of the teeth is
much moro prevalent among highly
civilized than among savage peoples, it
is open to question whether it be an in
evitable concomitunt condition. The
Greeks had, apparently, nearly solved
this problem ut the height of their civ
ilization, for it is not until the COM
mcncemcnt of the period of their de-
cadence that we find any marked de-
cay of their teeth. The modern de-
gcneracy of the teeth, therefore, is not
to be regarded as directly due to modi-
fications produced by changes in the
contour of the face and skull conse-
quent on increased brain development,
rs some scientific men have cohtended.
but rather as the result of neglect to
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 local cx-
preston of q greater or less general de-
cline of systemic vitality. That there
has been n 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, a deterioration especially
marked during the past thirty-or forty
years, no onc-can deny. -
Are we, then, to consider this degen-
eracy of the teeth rs a local indication
of general decline of racial vitality?
asks writer in the New Review. 1
can see no possibility of avoiding an
affirmative answer to such question,
but there are, at the same time as we
shall sec, certain peculiar circum-
stances and conditions attending de-
cay OF the teeth which largely qualify
such IN affirmative answer. The prob
lem, however, is very grave and de-
mands the most serious consideration.
We IRE always prone to overlook the
Importance of any disease which does
not Immediately threaten to extinguish
life; but it would not, believe, be diff
cult to show that the sum of physical
evils which may be directly traced to
decay and loss of tho teeth is far greater
thnn my likely to be inflicted by the
advent of any contagious or infectious.
disease. On first thought this may
seem n bold statement, but the simple
truth is that the foundations arc laid
and the way prepared for the incoming
OF many diseases, both contagious and
non-contagious, by degenerate condi-
ton Of the teeth. A high state of vital
ity is the most perfect protection against
any form of disease, and this can only
be secured and maintained by perfect
nutrition. Perfect nutrition results
from perfect digestion of food materials,
and perfect digestion is m impossibility
without perfect mastication. The life
Of the whole body is poisoned at ITS
fountain springs when food, half masti~,
Gated, inndequately moistcned with
saliva and loaded with the nitro-organ-
1sms which prolheratc in the cavities of
Gccaying teeth is taken into the stomach.
II natures adaptive powers were not
wonderful almost beyond belief thou
sands of people would speedily die
from this sort of sclf-poisoning; as it is,
the beginnings of many persistent
chronic diseases arc established in this
way. am probably considerably
within the bounds of my statement
when say that the loss of the masti-
eating teeth before the thirtieth year
means q shortening Of the life of tho
Individual of from two to FIVE years.
10 know the extent to which many of
these teeth are lost, even before the
fifteenth year, one has only to turn to
tho recently published reports of the
cTaddin&tion of the teeth of children IN
tho schools and orphan homes of Lon
don and elsewhere. If some effective
measures are not adopted for combat
ing the ravagcs of dental decay it looks
very much as though another half
century would find the poorer classes Of
English people practically edentulo,is