The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-02-23

COLUMBIA, ,. =. -
dred upon an average, carries daily 6
we'll kept. healthy mouth. More fire.
quently than otherwise they are al
germ-producing cess-pools, and often
offensive beyond endurance. Not only
80 with the laity, but medical men and
dentists who should advise rightly fo1
health and SGT good examples on
| health lines are In the same line Of
neglect and non-performance Of duty
with all the evils attendant. This IL
all wrong. contrary to reason, refine.
ment and good taste, and must be rem
ed!ed. If not remedied and 4 new or.
der of things established instead, what
hope Is there for the children and
youth OF the land. and for the future
development and strength of human
constitutions that are now daily weak
ening through neglect.
It is no exaggeration to say that the
breath Of nine-tenths of the adult pop
ulation cannot be inhaled for reaaon-
able length of time without discomfort
and possible detriment to health.
Able men in both professions (medl
cal and dental are enlisting in the
work OF prophylactic treatment as a
means preventive OF disease, and their
work is being highly commended
through medical and dental journals,
the promise Is favorable that the good
work will be continued and a blessing
In point of health to millions of the
human family will come of 1t.
The work of preventive treatment is
now In Its incipiency as was the Christ
Ian religion eighteen hundred years
ago, and practical. Manageable electrici-
ty twentv years ago. What of the
change. and the blessings derived to-
day? The results are before us. So
may we hope tor the future of prophy-
Tactic treatment tor tho comfort and
betterment of mankind.
DR.. Smith OF Philadelphia having
given much thought and study to the
subject OF prophylactic treatment for
prevention Of decay Of teeth, advises
that treatment shall be commenced
with children and the earlier the Pc
Rod the better for effective work and
future benefits. He very forcibIy and
correctly speaks OF the mouth as the
vestibule of human life, an expression
that invites serious reflection. In the
mouth all variety OF food substances,
solid and liquid, incorporate with the
natural secretions of the mouth and
are in a state of minute reduction, i'm
pacted between and around the necks
of teeth and In the fissures on top of
the tongue, and are there subject to q
tenn perature of ninety-eight degrees,
causing putrefaction, foul odors and
other abnormal and unfayo1able feat
ures, decay of teeth, Inflammation of
gum tissue, and the pericemental
membrane, causing what is designated
Is Riggs disease, but more commonly
spoken of as ecurvy, which il, neglect
ed causes tho loss of many teeth, and is
variously hurtful to general health,
With breath at times almost unbeara-
Tie.
Learned ph ysicians, dentists and dis
tinguished scientists, tell % that the
mouth Is tho natural incubator Tor the
development Of germ products and that
around tho tooth and on top of the
tongue arc 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 arc facts not
to be ignored but should be carefully
reflected upon and studied for benefit.
In paper written by distinguish
cd physician, it is shown how inju-
rious an effect upon the health Of
child might be produced by tho 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
lymphatlc glands, later tuberculous
growth by which the whole system
might be Infected.
Another writer Of note has said that.
there is a large variety of germs..of bac-
terra IN the average mouth In a state
OF health. This il suggestive, but
when we realize the diseased state of
mouths, the possibility of infection is
almost appalling.
The danger from unolean tongues,
and mouths containing decayed teeth,
are graphically set forth by the distin-
euished DR.. Miller of Berlin. He says,
From neglected mouth, such az i Of
ten SEN ~ dentists. enormous quanti-
ties of bacteria must reach the intesti-
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