The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-03
HVGIENIC CARE
OF THE PERSON
IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVING
SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH
Organs Must Have Play-Tight
Clothes Prevent This, Are Harm
ful-Right and Wrong Meth
ods of Respiration
Care of Teeth.

The following is the second papel
of a series of articles prepared 20
publication by the committee on hv"i
enc and legislation Of the South Caro-
lima Medical Society:
One would indeed be considered
foolish should he pay no attention. tc
the mechanism, movement and care
of a piece Of machinery of great value
and of intricate and delicate con.
struction which had been intrustej
to his care. Such a piece Of machin-
cry is the human body, the perfect
working Of which depends upon the
harmonious action and care Of its
several parts yet there is probably
no one Of our possessions Of the
structure of which the ordinary per-
son is more ignorant and to which
less attention and care is paid. This
ignorance of structure and physiolog-
ical action of the body on the part of
the majority of people is due to the
fact that anatomy and physiology are
not taught in our schools; and few
of US afterward, because of the hurry
and hustle Of life, have the time or
inclination to acquire this knowledge.
The head of The boy or girl is filed
With s1natteriing Of Greek and Latin
Or German and French, and intricate
arithmetical and sgeometrical prob
lens, while he grows up in ignorance
Of the composition Of the clay of
which he; is made; and because Of this
ignorance abuses and lets others
abuse the casket that contains his
soul.
The care of the body is called per-
sonal hygiene, and the object Of this
paper is to attempt to set forth brief
ly some Of the best means Of develop
ing and maintaining physical and
mental vigor. The body is made up
Of various organs and tissues. The
more important Of these will be taken
up in turn and suggestions made as
to their care.
Care of the Teeth.
The alimentary canal extends from
the mouth to the anus, and in all is
about twenty-seven to thirty feet in
length. Each Of the several portions
Of this canal has it's function to per-
form and the proper performance Of
function depends largely upon what
has occurred previously to the food.
For instance, the object Of the teeth
is to properly masticate the food and
of the stomach to digest certain kinds
Of food; it is obviously impossible
for the stomach to properly perform
its function if the food is bolted be-
fore having been ground up. Many
cases of chronic digestion result from
improper mastication, due to faulty
dentition and inattention to the teeth.
The care Of the teeth then, is i'm
portant, and this care should be be-
gun in infancy and early childhood.
Deformities Of the teeth and jaw IN
many cases is produced by the perni-
cious habit Of "thumb-sucking' in
children or the use Of the ''comfort-
er." This latter is condemned by all
hygienists. "A common cause Of de-
formity is noticed in "mouth- h-breath-
ers-'' These children often suffer
from what is known as s'adenoids,"
6 growth at the back Of the nasal pas
sages which prevents breathing
through the nose. Such children
should be taken to their physician for
not only may the jaw become deform-
ed, but deafness and mental torpor
result. It is hardly necessary to call
attention to the necessity Of the fire. !
quent use of the toothbrush, yet how !
often do we see this practice neglec-
ted. The cause Of decay in teeth is
bacterial. The only way to ,
prevent it is by the frequent use Of
the toothbrush and powder which ;
prevents the Judgement Of these bac- ;
terra, When decay occurs the SOON !
er the teeth are attended to the bet-
ter.
Good Cheer a Factor.
While faulty mastication has much /
to do with improper digestion there I
are many other factors that contrib G
ute to this end. Among these may be S
mentioned the mental state. It is no t