The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-03-02

day? The results are before us. Sc
may we hope tor the future of prophy
Tactic treatment Tor the comfort ano
betterment OF mankind.
DIR. Smith of Philadelphia having
given much thought and study to the
subject OF prophy Tactic treatment fo1
prevention Of decay of teeth, advises
that treatment shall be commenced
with children and the earlier the pc
ricd the better for effective work ano
future benefits. He very forcibly and
correctly speaks of the mouth as the
vestibule of human life, an expressl On
that invites serious reflection. In the
mouth all variety OF TODD substances
solid and liquid, incorporate with the
natural secretions of the mouth and
are in state of minute reduction, i'm
pacted between and around the necks
Of teeth and in the assures on top oil
the tongue, and are there subject to q
temperature of ninety-eight degrees,
causing putrefaction, foul odors and
other abnormal and unfavo1abe feat.
ures, decay Of teeth, Inflammation OF
gum tissue, and the preferential
membrane, causing what is designated
as Riggs disease, but more commonly
spoken Of as scurvy, which if neglect
ed causes the loss of many teeth, and is
variously hurtful to general health,
with breath at times almost unbeara-
lie.
Learned physicians. dentists and dis
,inguished scientists, tell us that the
mouth is the natural Incubator for the
development OF germ products and that
around the teeth and on top of the
tongue are the most favorable localities
for production and hurtful develop
ment, and if neglected injury to health
and special injury to teeth and gums
is consequence. These are facts not
to be ignored but should be carefully
reflected upon and studied for benefit
In a paper written by distinguish
ed physician, it Is shown how inju-
rious an effect upon the health of
child might be produced by the septic
condition of the mouth by the decay
of the temporary teeth. Among other
conditions he mentioned liberation OF
the mouth, necrosis of bone, enlarged
lymphat,c glands, later tuberculous
growth by which the whole system
might be infected.
Another writer of note has said that
there Is large variety of germs of bac-
terra In the average mouth in a state
OF health This is suggestive, but
when we realize the diseased state of
mouths, the posi- bility of Infection is
almost appalling.
The danger from unclean tongues,
and mouths containing decayed teeth,
are graphically set forth by the distin-
guished DR.. Miller of Berlin. He says,
From a neglected mouth, such az is Of
ten seen by dentists, enormous quanti-
ties of bacteria must reach the intesti-
nal tract, and also says, that bacteria
largely prevail on a coated tongue,
and that the mouth is the port of entry
for bacteria of long list of the most
fatal diseases to which the body is sub
ject.
The concensus of opinion OF many
seems to be that the coat
ing OF the tongue contains large guam
titles of bacteria and if not cleaned
several times daily it is one OF the
most favorable localities In the mouth
for breeding bacteria and causing foul
breath. That the majority of the most
destructive dental diseases are the re-
suits OF neglect and an unsanitary con-
dition OF the mouth is not questlona-
BILE, but is true and is censurable, and
there should be combined effort on the
part of all right thinking people, den
lists, physicians and laity to effect
change.
In the New York Medical Journal a
we'll informed and forclble writer says,
and thousands of people are
going about with decayed teeth and
gums, carrying with them in their
cess-pools filled with tetid
OF purifying, offensive
food debris, with its teeming popula-
lion of micro-organisms and resulting
ooisons as consequence, and are daily
swallowing these putrefactlons and alb
sorbing the pus. Many cases of septic
diseases are due to decay in teeth and
diseased gums, and to that alone.
1 will quote disconnectedly sentences
rom paper written by DR.. Grady,
Dentist, U. S. Naval Academy, who
has written ably on this subject. he
saws. It has been estimated that halt OF
The children born die before they
reach the age of sixteen. We can truly
charge a large portion of this great
slaughter to ignorance and wilful neg
r. a-1o-f,,1 how n9nV dis