The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
CONDITION OF OUR TEHrH.
Alarm In Europe "A Lesson From the
African Negroes.
From IA. cOurritr De, EtIn Uni.

From TIA Courritr dts Etih UniL
A writer in tho Dentist has raised q cry
OF alarm about the dental decadenco o: the
English people. He calls attention 70 the
carly ravages which carles 10 making upon the
teeth OF English children. and calls for pre-
ventice measures against state OF affairs
which he regards rs a national calamity"
Among 776 children. whose mouths he ex-
amlned. he found 1887 bad teeth.
He is Justly alarmed by this figure. and he
calls tho attention OF all tho schoo masters
and schoolmistresses to this too UGH
neglected point OF juvenile hygiene. Tho rem
edy which he advocates Ia dental inspection
to be made regularly and Systematically by
skilled dentists In all the public schools.
IL English teeth are In danger there 10 no
reason to feel moro secure concerning tho
future Of French teeth. The French dentists
are not less psssimistio than tho director OF the
English review. According TO DIR. Pictkievlcz,
out OF the whole number OF pupils OF the public
schools brought to his dental clinic 90 per
cent. are In need OF immediate treatment.
and by adding to these the number OF those
who. without being seriously affected. need
careful watching and treatment sooner or
later. the total 10 brought up to rs per cent.
NJ. Daily estimates the proportion OF children
who are In urgent need Of dental care to be IS
per cent. at least.
A few years ago La Societs do Medicine
Pratiaue did not consider this question OF too
little Importance to occupy it's attention,
and after a rigid criticism OF tho manner
In which corporeal hygiene 10. In general
eomprehended In the lyceums 1t made.
l. That, the pupils OF the colleges and
lyceums be required to take the necessary
care, morning and night. OF their mouths and
2. That they be placed in this regard in
better practical conditions than those at
5. That they be ali examined at tho begin
81 dS, to the %nsT
Have those recommendations been heedad2
y is doubtful, for. generally, the ,deutists be.
given tSs sSrnss. dshssi pf imrair% %sat
pepsia. the abuse OF sweets. certain drinks-
such as cider. and on thS quality OF drinking
with children who study hard the teeth de-
terorste rapidly after these children enter
ev but taxing them from from tscr stndss OF ine
eeording to MaGitGt too Psslduous application
WIIon 81 the teeth Of tho pupils Of tRo
ESTle r rnS sn AZ that IS pos:
Of thcs" auxiliary coHaitions o R Blueh rSs
true cause rest assured Of Il, Is the neg sct or
ignorance Of tho toothbrush. Many parents,
marx Of caS @hy 10 p pspp" Sy me tb" RE-
han 10 every lay and never wash their feetYb
| Children are taught to Glenn their faces every
| day; nut how many are unaware until tho age
Of reason: and the age OF reason is sometimes
mouth and teeth Is as Indispensable as the
washing OF the other parts Of the body?
| On this subject OF hucca hygiene we must
| admit the superiority OF The no rOes OF Africa
DR., HAHN. who practises medicine In Came
room, estimates that not less than forty-nye
minutes day are devoted by everybody i'm
this country to ceanin tho teeth At sunrise
| Is carefully rnsel. anil several times in nd.
| dillon the teeth arc rubbed and cleansed with
| dry sand or with the "tnoth-stick"
| rms stick IN root s TX Inches loag, che wed
az notn endS, Each native pOsSe4sps his own
suck, hut Ia not above using his neighbor's
me opinion OF the natives, indeed, Is that the
more they have been used the better they are
| pr, HAHN, who declares the usage Of thc
stick" TO have heen satisfactory 10 him, con-
| latter statement. VITO
Does IL surprise any one, after that, that tina
| negroes have such white teeth! And c0mparo
| thls African cleansing OF the mouth with tho
sarelessness OF so many whitcs'lor tho tooth
| A physician OF the navy used to tell n
story OF hiH having had toothbrulhes distrlb-
| uted TO his men: whereupon they not know
ing whaf usa TO make Of these Instruments
emnl9yeu them IN polishing their buttons
| Ana recently German Daner cited the
iolloylng, from forest Inspector; This
! OF the trunk OF one Of his suhordnates, and
| hdmiring the way In which the young mans
| mother had carefully furnished him with so
complete an outfit, exclaimed: THE fellow
| even hps toothbTushn", '"'"
| F nS how many is this toilet article also an