The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-10-09
iii Health From
Bad Teeth-Old.

4
Only during the last decade. how
even. has it received the prominence
j, deserves.
The following is taken from an
article published BY Dr. Benjamin
Rush, one Of the signers of the De-
clnration Of Independence. and in his
day one Of Americas most noted
phyricians. This article must be
considered truly remarkable because
il was written before the discovery
OF bacteria and when the knowledge
of disease was meager indeed.
DR.. Rush says: Some time in the
month Of October 1901. I attended
Miss 4. c., with rheumatism in her
| hip joint. which yielded for q while
TO the several remedies for that dis
ease. In the month Of November 1t
returned with great violence, accom-
panied with severe toothaehe.
surpecting that the rheumatic aiflic-
tion was excited by the pain in her
tooth. which was decayed. ! directed
il to be extracted The rheumatism
Immediately le Il her hip and she re-
covered in few days. She has con-
,iuucd ever since to be free from IT.
soon after this ] was consulted
by Mrs. J. r., who had been afflicted
for several weeks with dyspepsia and
toothache. Her tooth. tho no mark
Of decay appeared on 1t, was drawn
By my advice The next day she
) was relieved from her distressing
stomach complaint and has cortin-
, ued ever since to enjoy good health.
From the soondness of the external
part Of the tooth and the adj joining
gum. there was no reason to suspect
discharge Of matter from IT had
produced the disease in her stomach.
Some time in the year 1901 !
was consulted by the father of a
young gentleman in Baltimore who
had been afflicted with epilepsy. ]
inquired into the state of his teeth
and was informed that several in his
upper jaw were decayed. directed
them to be extracted and advised
him after TO lose few ounces OF
blood at any time when he felt the
preliminary symptoms Of his fits.
He followed my advice, in conse-
quence Of which l lately had the
pleasure Of hearing from his brother
fbat he was perfectly cured.
Il have been made happy by dis
covering that I have only added to
the observations Of other physicians
in pointing out a connection between
H the extraction Of decayed and dis.
eased teeth and the cure of genera
l diseases. Several cases Of efficacy
of that remedy in relieving headache
and vertigo are mentioned by DR.
Darwin. DIR. Cater relates that Mr.
Petit, a celebrated French surgeon
had cured intermitting fevers, which
had resisted bark for months, and
even years, by his prescription. ane
he quotes from his works two cases
one Of consumption. the other OF
vertigo. both Of long continuance
which were suddenly cured BY the
extraction Of two decayed teeth in
the former. and Of two supernumer'
AIRY teeth in the latter case.
III These facts. tho little attended
to. should not surprise US, when we
recollect how often the most dis
tressing general diseases are brought
on by very uncomfortable inlets Of
morbid excitement into the system.
A small tumor, concealed in the
fieshy part Of the leg. has been
known to bring on epilepsy. A
trihing wound with splinter or q
nail. even after 1t has healed. has
often produced a fatal tetanus
Many hundred facts Of similar ma
ture are met with in the records OF
I medicine.
when we consider how often thu
l teeth, when decayed. are exposed I.
irritation from hot and cold drinks
I and ailments, from pressure by mas
I tication and from the cold air. an,
] how intimate the connection Of tn,
mouth is with the whole system,
am disposed to believe they are Otter
!; the unsupported causes of general
and particularly of nervous diseases
! When we add to the list Of thes,
morbid effects of the acrid and pu