The Washington times., 1894-07-08
THE POOR MODERN TOOTH.

One Authority Says Vegetable Eaters Have
Worse Teeth than Meat Eaters.
A correspondent sends this interesting lettee
TO Manure on the subject Of teeth: I'm . let-
ter to Nature for May II, on '.The Teeth and
Civilization" the writer advances a theory
to account for the great prevalence Of decay
OF the teeth at the present day. and con-
cludes that DIR. Wilburforce Smiths investi-
CATIONS show that the ancients enjoyed Z
perfect set OF teeth till advan ed years, and
the modern savages enjoy the same blessing
II have not had the opportunity OF seeing
DR.. Wilberforce Smiths communication, but
the number OF cases examined In this par
ticular instance (ten Sioux Indians) would
hardly be sufficient to draw any conclusion
from; and even in these ten cases all the
teeth were not examined. think. however,
1t has been sufficiently proved by several
careful Investigations that carries of the teeth
is not purely moCe-n disease. and Is not
entirely confined to civilized races. NV father
in communication to the Chronological
Society in 1870. brought together the results
of an inquiry extending over more than ten
years. In which he examined over 1000 skulls,
including all the available collections In
Great Britain, and his conclusions % to the
prevalence of dental carries differ very con-
siderably from those Of the writer Of this
letter.
among thirty-six skulls Of ancient Egypt
ians he found carries In fifteen (41.66 per
cent. }. in seventy-six Anglo-Saxon skulls he
found twelve cases (157s per cent J, among
143 skulls of RECOMMENDATIONS there were
fortv-one cases (2s.67 per cent. J, while among
forty-lour miscellaneous skulls OF ancient
Britons 20.45 per cent. showed carious teeth.
Several other collections gave similar results.
Again, with regard to savage races
among the Tasmaaians z7.7 per cent. oil carries
was found. among native Australians 20.45
per cent, among East African skulls 2x.A
per cent, and among those Of West African
natives 1886. Similar results were obtained
on the examination Of skulls Of many other
races. but think l have quoted figures sum-
cient to proce that carries Is not confined to
civilized races or to modern times.
1T Is quite comprehensive that excessive
nerve strain, especially by affecting vascular
supply, may lead to imperfect nutrition dur
ing the development Of the teeth, and We
know that the diseases OF early childhood
have very marked effect upon tooth strue-
ture, indicated by the rtdged and defective
teeth so frequently seen, and it seems quite
possible that too early stimulus Of the brain In
childhood may have similar effect on form
ing teeth. 1t Is very difficult, however, to .un-
derstand how nerve strain can have any direct
effect upon fully formed teeth and we should,
l think. look for the explanation Of the cases
referred to in some vitiated condition OF the
fluids Of the mouth, caused by the depressed
condition of health SO common among hospl-
tai nurses
"There is little doubt that an open-air life
and healthy surroundings encourage the for
nation OF sound teeth in a sound body: but I
connot but think that the principal cause Of
carries must be looked for in the food. 1t 10
plainly shown by many Investigators, and in
the paper above referred to, that carries is
rare among people who subsist principally
upon animal food; the Esquimaux showed,
among sixty-nine skulls, only two cases Of
carries. and the largest amount of disease was
found among those races who lived upon
mixed or exclusively vegetable diet. These
results are of course. easily understood un-
der the more accurate knowledge which we
nov possess Of the immediate cause of dental
carries.
.'As to the relative frequency with which
different teeth are affected. think statistics
plainly show that it is the first molar tooth of
the lower jaw which is most prone TO decay
of any tooth in the series, and most authori-
ties consider the second lower molar as the
next in order: with these two exceptions, the
upper are more frequently diseased than the
lower teeth. This would. however, not affect
the argument, as the lower molars are Of
course also supplied by the fifth nerve
structural defects, due to inherited weak
ness or imperfect nutrition during the devel-
opment OF the teeth, combined with the use
of soft cooked food. which is long retained in
contact with them, and Is of nature emf
nently suitable for fermentation, give US,
think, the principal factors OF decay among
civilized races.
sWhile allowing the influence OF nerve
strain in early childhood, and as a factor in
hereditary transmission of defective struct-
ure. fail to see how it can influence teeth A.
ready formed