The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-17
CARE OF TEETH
PREVENTS CANCER
DECLARES EMINENT BALTIMORE
SURGEON IN ADDRESS AT
HIGH SCHOOL.
Warns Against Foul Teeth and Exccs-
siVe Use of Tobacco - Should
Fear Beginning of Disease.

! 4 warming against the lreachery Of
cancer Of the mouth, lips and tongue
and an explanation of its causes, dis
covery. prevention and relief featured
an interesting discussion Of subject
Of Vital importance 10 health given by
Dr. Joseph Colt Bloodgood OF the sur
giCal staff Of Johns Hopkins unlver-
silly, Baltimore, before public gather
ing in the Wheeling high school audi
forum yesterday afternoon.
DR.. Bloodgood came to Wheeling
under the auspices OF the Ohio County
Medical society, and in addition 10 his
public address on Cancer" delivered
yesterday afternoon. he provided an
hour Of thorough instruction 10 the
members Of the medical society before
whom he spoke al the high school
auditorium last evening.
Caused $4,000 Deaths.
! Tobacco and bad teeth DR.. Blood
good assigned as the two great factors
in causing cancer Of the mouth, one
Of the most common forms Of this
deadly disease. which, according 10
his figures from a census bureau
report, resulted in more than $4,000
mortalitics during The year 1914.
In the Su al pathological labor
atory OF the ms Hopkins Hospital.
! Or. BloodSoC said. "our record III
cnscs from 1SH L" l?l7. is as follows:
| Benign rro-"Xis,ins LESSONS and cancer
| Of the oral cavities. G%N cases; cancer Of
the skin. 334 cases. These figures show
that the number Cf deaths from cancer
within the mouth * greater than from
cancer OF IA" cNtrrmal skin. on tn"
/ other hand The record Of the Chicago
! surgical clinic shows that deaths from
cancer Of the skin "Nc"r,iS tho number
| ~ deaths from canc"" Of the mouth.
nS-r.is, 81 lie -a,icn nc = "a
! prc-c AistinE LESSONS OF tho skin. which
! may develop into cancer are more
, quickly rncoEni2cd hy ~" patients and
/ when cancer does develop the local
! growth spreads To other parts more
slowly than il! the mouth.
! The two greatest factors in CANCER
nf the mouth are tobacco and III" trrita-
/ ton OF bad teeth. IN my experience "f
. have examined either with pre-cNlstinG
LESSONS in the mouth or cancer have
found that tobacco has been used III
rxc"@e that tin" breath. as n rule. WAS
foul. the tccnlh in had condition and
they rarely consulted II dentist:
| Among the few women have eN-
amincd. Their" has always been tho MIS-
tory OF d"cayed teeth and OF irritation
| from these teeth before the develop
, mcnt OF cancer.
' Caro- prevents Cancer.
"Ev"ry"ne should know that th"
! proper care OF til" mouth and tcrth is
! the first step in tho prevention of can
. cor In the first plac" there must be
the daily personal attention TO ones
teeth. in addition 10 competent super
vision. ut intervals by dentists. My cX-
pcrionce cOnvincrs me- that il is as i'm
pnrtant /" the health Of an adult 10
keep the mouth and teeth cleans and in
good order as paStruri%"d milk is To
the health of the infant
Fear at thu beginning. not at the end.
Of CANCER. Dr Blo"dEood termed nbs"-
luteiy NECESSARY 20 reduce the cancer
mortality.
! I'VE should educate ourselves 10 fear
: the beginning of cancer rather than ITS
: late stages. In all forms Of the disease.
the fear comes too lat. Fear at the
first sign will Undue" patients 10 seek
ndyicn and treatment in the carly sthge
in which the chance Of Il cure is best