The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-10

deformed dental arches due to adenoids in the
nose"
Is insanity in many cases due to defective
teeth? That is a question that has aroused
much interest in the profession due to an
interesting series of experiments made by
DR.. Henry s. Epson, professor of neurology in
the Western Reserve Medical school, Cleve.
land, Ohio. He found among the insane in the
asylums of Cleveland and Columbus many
cases of dementia precox and melancholia,
these patients all showing dental impaction
Of the teeth. Taking nine of these unfortunate
creatures DR.. Epson had them operated on
dentally and the results obtained were sensa.
tional in the extreme Six of these have fully
recovered, two much improved and one showed
no mental change at ALL
The common cause of all our dental
troubles is decay Of the teeth, known techni.
cally as dental carries. Is disease known
to have existed for centuries. In the British
museum is skull Of mummy dated $500
B. c., showing evidences Of wellmarked carries
DR.. L. M. Waugh Of Buffalo, quoting from Guer.
MIS- History Of Dentistry" calls attentidh to
&. c2!lsQti01 yDt!an ,w y DATING l|uIn.
.1.s.a . & ! ..l ~. ~! I.
scssiss Of TIE teeth . larxely dus Is nesllct s.
failure to keep the mouth and particularly the
teeth properly cleaned. II food particles lodge
between the teeth and are not removed thew
eventually ferment. During this Fermentation
process the mouth bacteria acting on the car.
bohydrate foodstuffs produce acid fermenta.
ton. These acids dissolve the lime salts ~
the teeth, exposing the dentine to the action
Of microbes which rapidly destroy the tooth
structure. 1t is the general superstition that
teeth always decay from the outside. aa a
matter OF fact the change takes place from
within outward and goes on rapidly until there
is quite large cavity. Frequently toothacha
or extreme constituencies to hot or cold food
or drink are the first intimatfons that dacav
has taken place. Sometimes there ia no main
at all and chance examination dfscloses tha
cavity in the tooth.
These tooth cavities are ideal ,ncuhator.
for all kinds Of bacteria. Many Of the natho.
genie bacteria require heat and moisture sor
tneir development and the unclean mouth and
teetn oner all these conditions. It IL not I'm.
common to find the pus-producing organisms
the oacliius OF diphtherta and tuberculosis in
these tooth cavities.
, The cases Of unclean mouths ara legion.
not only among children, but among adults
II 10 estimated that only eight per cent. Of thu
people In this country take care Of their teeth.
In recent paper read before the Society
OF Medical Inspectors Of New York, and com.
mentlng on the condition Of children's teeth.
VI. merritt said: 1T may be said without fear
Of contradiction that II the teeth Of the com.
ing generation are to be saved It must be done
curing their school life. In the city Of New
YORK there are In this year Of 1910 over coo. 900
scnooi children, very large percentage Of
whom are In need Of dental treatment. Few
Of them ever make use Of tooth brush. the,r
mouths are filthy beyond belief. and most ~
mem nave one or more decayed teeth"
Dr. William H. Potter Of Boston. at the 70
acltauon OF the school board Of Brookline
MASS. recently examined the mouths Of tho
.cnool children In that exclusive suburb Of
and found that 80 per cent. Of the chill.
1ren had diseased and defective month. ana
.eeth. -Ao1'' auu
Inc school inspectors Of Cleveland. Ohio.
examined $4,000 children last year and AZ.
overeo II per cent. Of them to have defective
eetn. It has been estimated that there ara
'ver 100000 children in the United states
mo nave detective and diseased teeth and
'.. With enlarged glands and 100000
1l.n oeaective breathing. due to adenoid
rowths In the nose.
Don's1 carries frequently originates during
resnancy and should receive Immediate ~.
enuon. There IL IN old and true sayinr.
vooto lor every child" but this can ha
voioed the prospective mother win follow
ae instructions Of her physician and h.- ~.
lot. "1 Ao1 usll'