Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-14
By Frederic J. Hask'in.

by FREDERIC y. I1dok III.
New York City. Jan. 1l.-Every few
years or so, new theory dawns glor-
iously like new star upon tho medi-
cal horizon. Sometimes it Is . con-
structive theory. such as that which
claims that II we only consume enough
vitamines health Is ours. but mora Of
ten than no It is a destructive theory
which attacks some obscure and ap-
parently unimportant portion OF the
human anatomy as being responsible
for all tho physical ills of the race.
Thus. a hundred years ago. an excess
supply OF blood was supposed to be the
cause of all complaints, and the way
to cure anything and everything was
by bleeding process. In more recent
changed with greater rapidity and tho
role of anatomical arch villain has
shifted from the appendix to the ton
sils and from the to.lsils to the teeth
Now it looks as II 1t might be enthu-
siastically passed on to the ductlens
glands. but for the present It is still
securely in the possession OF the teeth,
1t would be interesting to know now
many million teeth have been sacrl.
ficed during the past few years ana
why, but unfortunately no complies
statistics are available. Personally
nearly everyone of our acquaintances
has contributed at least ono strong
full-grown tooth to tie cause OF heahn
but We have yet to hear OF any s"ltt
and miraculous cures. Three years ago.
when the theory of focal infection was
still comparatively new, we rememoer
that we were greatly impressed by inc
enthusiasm OF woman dentist VINO
had Just discovered that her sister nad
| three or maybe four injected teeth.
The girl had had a long series OF tu-
4 NJ
was the cause: The guilty teeth were
quickly pulled. the family breathed a
sigh of relief, and 'he girl gradually
improved In weight and strengtn.
Here" thought everybody. is livlns
proof Of tho new theory" But. not Ions
ago, We learned that the young wom-
an was again in a hospital sufferins
with another tubercular gland.
TEETH AND NERVES
| In another case. a suburban residens
afflicted with an over-abundance O.
leisure and a nervous malady had his
teeth x-rayed, hoping to find that An
infected tooth was the cause OF MS
disability. Tho revelations OF tho x-fay
were most satisfactory. They not only
showed that he had an infected tootn,
but that 1t was tooth with way~aIa
| tendencies that had grown up~arn
instead OF downward in ifs extreme
youth and was now Lodged behind his
nose. lie remembered. he told the
dentist tina. the tooth had mover Ut
peared when It was expc:.e.i and thai
after a, few years of patiens waitlns
he had acquired a pivot -ooth as
substitute. He Immediately unler-
went an operation and tho offcndins
orEan was removed. after which. ne
was assured. his extreme nevv?usnss,
| would disappear. But 1t dida I, an
now he Is suspicious OF NIL meoica
theories. When It was suggested tina
he try psychoanalysls. no replied ni..
terly that no was '.h,u cxperi'nent'hs
Yhc majority OF laymea. ineludins
} probably even this disappointed hypo
chondrias. arc abl'e TO sec tho can
ger OF focal infection. Of course. hne
are only too anxious 20 havs y &c
!. moved But they are losing their fai.r
In tooth-pull!ng as oinaceS ,,,.,. "a. -
afflictions. from epilepsy to 'onsHitis
Among the various ailments attr'o-
|uted TO infection In the cana OF
around the roots of the testh. with ,Ie
x.ray alone can reveals. are 'tuoer
culosIs, diseases of the kidneys. rhcu
lmatism. partial blindness. partial deaI-
ness, neuritis, epilepsy. sciatica; per
sistent headache, general laesituoe, W.
sanity. some forms OF heart diseaee
such as endocarditis. which is inliam
nation OF the membrane lining the
heart. and blood clots, which may plue
the interior of blood vessels. causint
paralysis and death"
A CAUSE OF INSANITY.
The connection between defecsiS~'
. initely proved TO the satisfaction o
tho society for the Prevention o
Heart Disease: while New Jersel
aiicnis. Of note has succeeded in con
: yincing tho profession that certain