The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-23

cular incrustation of pyrites of iron In
front. all from the same skeleton.
II In no new act that some of the
aboriginal peoples of Mexico wore or
naments or incrustations In their
teeth. Lie. Alfredo Chavero possessed
P~alenque. In the middle of which a
green stone il set. Sometimes h In
c~rustations were of gold. and the in
crustations Of iron pyrites. when they
were new and the sulphur in them
was fresh. undoubtedly shone like
gold.
There IL reason to suppose that only
the eight front upper teeth were in
crusted. at any rate as a rule, for a
second bicuspid given by Mr.. Batres
TO DR.. Jose J. Rojo. the young Mexi-
ran dentist in DIR. Howe's ONCE. n
also taken from the Militia tomb. is
without any such incrustation. On the
other hand. q canine. given by Mr..
Batres to DR.. Rojo. has the incrusta-
ton. and also affords evidence that
these ornaments were made during life
and not after death. The present con-
dition of the tooth shows that the in
crustation had reached the nerve cav
ity and destroyed the life Of the tooth
4 process that argues life in the sub
Ject. as decay OF the teeth Toes not
occur after death. the microbes or or
ganisms which cause decay dying with
h Individual.
As to the object and significance OF
these incrustations. they are a matter
of conjecture. They may have been
Affected by all who could afford them.
or they NAV have been a distinctive
mark Of some rank or caste. What is
vident from the specimen possessed
by DIR. Roto In that they must have
caused suffering to hos who used
them. and. therefore. 1t is to be inferred
that thA FAaAfA. ~ ..oe4 xx~htnh veA-
scribed them must ave had a strong
social or religious sanction.
Another custom revealed by the teeth
found in these prehistoric tombs Ii that
Of notchinR h teeth so as TO form
dove-tailing i~ndentations. Each con-
tiguous pair OF upper front teeth were
notched for a certain distance upward
and sideways. so as to bear a resemb-
ance to battlements turned upside
down.. The lower teeth were alternate
ly cut on and left Of their natural size.
so as to ut in with the notches above.
In other words. a lower tooth situated
below a cavity above was left of Its
was cut OF for some distance. or
course. the upper and lower teeth thus
treated would not meet at once, but IL
In a fact well known to dentists that III
an upper tooth In cut of. the CORE
spending lower tooth will gradually
STOW up 10 II, anu, VIZ NtfSd. u
lower tooth is sawed of. the corre-
spending upper tooth will grow down
to II. Therefore. in course of time. the
notched teeth of these prehistoric In
dians fitted into n another exactly.
and must rave given them a peculiarly
firm grip upon anything they got be-
tween their teeth.
The fragment of skull which DIR.
Howe has. as well as the tooth. is
colored red, which must have resulted
from their being dipped i'm mercury.
This was naturally a post mortem
operation.
The cavity in the tooth i'm which the
incrustation of iron pyrities Is inserted
ut il loose now and easily comes out).
is perfectly circula n symmetrical.
II argues good instruments and skilful
workmanship. The instruments used
We're of tempered copper. the art OF
producing which has been lost.
The little bell taken from the tomb.
and which IL also one of DIR. Howe's
valued possessions. Is green, of course.
but IL is otherwise In perfect preserva-
ton. and IL tingles just as audibly as
II did when deposited I'm the tomb.
thousands of years ago.. by a race of
people that has persisted.