Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-29
TEETH AND INSANITY

T<ROM various sources additional evidence
/ continually comes as to the baneful power
dental decay and painless dental alb
SceSSeS in causing most serious diseases. Today
it is known that not only may rheumatism
and kindred malades be thus caused, but that
even the brain itself may be diSaStrouSy af-
fected.
On this last point-the relation between
dental troubles and mental diSeaSe-p particularly
impressive evidence is given by DR.. Henry A.
Cotton medical director of the New Jersey
State hospital at Trenton. This evidence is con-
tanned in a report presented to the New York
PSychiatric society and published in the New
York Medical Journal.
DR.. Cotton, it appears, has found dental in
fectionS exceptionally active in causing the
mentally diSordered condition known as manic
Oppressive insanity. In number of cases he
has succeeded in effecting cures by the simple
device of calling good dentist or oral surgeon
to his aid
To give only one instance: A business
man, free from pSyChOpathic inheritance and of
good living habits, after suffering from several
nervous" attacks, became mentally so dis
turbed that it was feared he would have to be
sent to hospital for the insane
Gle was egotiStical and domineering in his
family relations" details DR.. Cotton. Gle would
buy foolish and useless things. He was very
restless and constantly on the go. He would
sleep but little, and remained in his home but
for very short time. AS soon as he came in
and had his meals he was off again.
"He was able to control himself to some
extent in the company of strangers, but was
not tidy or particular about his personal ap-
pearance. He was very profane, which was
contrary to his usual habit. He had a general
feeling of we'll being, and would not consult
physician, as he felt perfectly we'll"
Nevertheless, the unfortunate mans wife,
alarmed at the change in his character, sue
ceeded in getting him to Dr.. Cotton who found
in his mouth conditions strongly suggestive of
dental assesses. After much Directing, he
consented to allow X-ray photographs to be
made of his teeth
AS suspected, the photographs showed some
root assesses The affected teeth were drawn
and treatment begun with vaccine made from
With this result
"The immediate effect of eliminating the
source of infection rapid clearing up of
his manic symptoms, followed by a mild de-
presSive reaction which is now disappearing
He is SolicitouS for his wife, and has lost all
his former irritabity and perverSe conduct"
So often in fact has Dr. Cotton found in
sanity associated with dental disease that he
now makes it a rule to examine all patients
with special reference to the state of their
teeth.
Not always, to be sure, does recovery follow
dental treatment when dental assesses have
been found. Which, of course, is only what
would be expected, in view of the fact that
insanity has many causes, both pSychica and
physical.
But to Judge from Dr.. Cotton's experiences
and those of other observers, the relationship
between the state of the teeth and the state of
the mind is sufficiently intimate to Justify most
stringent warnings against neglecting the for
mer lest the health of the latter suffer
Copyright, 1912 by the Associated Newspapers