Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-11-20
copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
PERSONAL RESISTANCE TO DE
CAY.

acid or alkaline has been under dis
cussion for a century, and men still
differ SO widely and so many authori-
ties may be found on either side that
the subject is involved in confusion.
Without doubt the truth is that the
saliva is very feebly alkaline and
readily changes either to acid or al
kaline with the establishment of va
rious constitutional conditions. No
two individuals can possibly be exact
ly alike and the constitution of the
mouth secretions must vary according
to time, place and the predominance of
one or more of the forms of the many
species of micro-organisms known to
be found in the mouth; also 1t must
vary in accordance with the individual
state of health and mind, So that a
physiological saliva, with the biochem-
ical elements in state of equilibrium,
is probably very rare.
il confusion exists concerning so
comparatively simple matter as the
reaction of the saliva, it is reasonable
to expect difference of opinion in re-
gard to so worldwide and vague dis
ease as carries, or tooth decay. and its
numerous allied conditions. Because
they are SO very closely identified the
same general confusion exists with
reference to the subject of decay of
the teeth as pertains to the reaction of
the saliva. Hence, one authority finds
carries due to acidity and another to
akalinity; another declares it to be
caused by the absence of certain
element. and still another finds It is
caused by the presence of that same
element.
The idea that some teeth are hard
and resistant to disease and some soft
and easily destroyed was very gener-
ally believed by the dental profession
until the investigations of DIR. G. v.
Black few years ago cleared the sub
ject. He demonstrated that there is
actually no material difference in the
hardness Of teeth and that the quality
of hardness or OF softness of the
teeth has no specific connection with
their tendency to decay. But the idea
that the hardness or softness is due
to the amount of calcium salts they
contain and that hardness endows
them with decay-resisting qualities is
still firmly fixed in the public mind.
science does not consist in simply ac-
cumulating facts. but in interpreting
facts. and this applies with peculiar
force to the subject of tooth decay and
its allied conditions.
When the teeth of children are seen
to be decaying badly the general inter-
probation is that they are soft and
poorly calcified. II, on the other hand,
the children happen to grow up to ma
turity without developing decay OF the
teeth the Interpretation is that the
teeth are hard and firm and therefore
resist decay. Then 1t has been gen.
orally observed that during pregnancy
and Iactation the teeth of women suf-
fer more from carries than during other
periods. and this has been so universal
an experience that 1t gave birth to an
old saying: "A tooth for every child"
1t is generally held that the teeth
of the mother are robbed OF the cal.
cium salts to build up the bones Of
the unborn infant, but this Is one of
those half truths that are SO confus.
ing and misleading.
Carries is essentially disease of
childhood, and childhood has epigram.
matically and most truly been deslg-
mated az AN extra hazardous occu-
patton" Child bearing is an extra
hazardous occupation. too; and so.
measured by its mortality, is modern
business hazardous. We have already
noted that typhoid and other fevers
frequently and quickly destroy teeth.
and SO does excessive physical work.
II is only within the last few years
with the dawning understanding of
the action of catalyzers. the engines,
and the ductless glands of our bodies.
and more especially since Funk's dem
onstration OF the vitamines and their
influence on the hormones of the duct
less glands-the governors of our bod
fes-that the matter begins to clear.
We begin to suspect that 1t is not
solely the abstraction OF the phosphor-
rs, the calcium, the magnesium, the
carbon, the iron and the fluorine from
our food that is the cause OF the
universal prevalence OF tooth and gen
eral physical decay. We begin to
suspect that the loss of that part of
the eternal energy by which those eIe-
ments are normally welded into and
held In the plants. our ultimate source
of life, precipitntes these troubles
upon us. We know that animals can
be starved on physiological combina.
tons of tie pure salts of these ele-
ments. and we know that they thrive
on the natural constituents of the
same elements.
With the single exception OF the
tides, the movements OF which are
connected with the moon and Tho ~,
tation OF the earth on its axis. every
motion on this earth from the beat
ing of every individual heart to the