Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-06
THOSE TEETH
r. 3, Gloster, Miss.
BY H. Addington Bruce

IT may be true-as certain medical men
I contend-that there is an oVer-lncllna-
l. ton nowadays to blame the teeth as
causes of general ill-health. But again and
again one comes upon cases that emphasize
the Importance of at least taking the teeth
into account when dealing with disease prob
lens that perpleX.
Here, for instance is a case of recent DC
currence, the case of the president OF large
industrial corporation.
This eentleman-let us call him Mr.. Jones
-beean gradually to develop symptoms of
nervous exhaustion. He had dltnculty WIN
his sleep, with his digestion, even with his
mental powers. He found 1t painful EFFORT
to concentrate on routine duties, and as the
days passed he became increasingly 19uSueo
both in body and mind.
To his business associates and his FAMILY
this was matter more for regret imam TOT
surprise. The corporation of which ne was
the head had suffered greatly IN the postwar
depression. AS a consequence uncommon
burdens had been imposed on the always
hard-working Mr.. Jones.
All that he needed, it seemed reasonable
to suppose, was a good rest Inc famlly
physician taking the same view, quarters
we're obtained for him in a rural retreat
where his wife undertook to help nurse MIN
back to health.
The rest cure benefited him not whit,
albeit a happy turn in business conditions
had relieved him of all reason for anxiety
on this score. He continued to lose weight
and to grow progressively weaker.
Finally the X-ray was brought into play.
At once it revealed that, although Mr.. Jones
had been scrupulously careful regarding den
tai hygiene assesses had developed at the
roots of several teeth. Within a week after
the extraction # these, marked Improvement
in his general condition was apparent. With
in month he was back at his desk, feeling
quite himself.
Now conceivably, business anxiety had
been a contributory factor in this case, weak
ening Mr.. Jones to cause q more Sc
we're reaction to the poison of the dental
assesses. But that the latter constituted
the actual cause of his illness cannot we'll be
questioned in view of the benefit that follow
ed the removal of the diseased teeth.
And undoubtedly there are many cases OF
so-called nervous collapse-as we'll as OF
progressive weakening, chronic stomach
! trouble, and rheumatic ailments-in which
| unsupported infection from the teeth is the
! real source of trouble. The course of wis
| dom would seem to be the ordering of an
X-ray dental examination in all obscure NAL
aides that may be infectious in origin.
Such an examination will avoid the two
| extremes of ignoring the teeth as possible
disease-factors and of ruthlessly extracting
| teeth on vague suspicion that they may be
diseased Even the finding of assesses, il
may be added, may not mean that extraction
! is imperatively required.
There is such a thing as treating alb
| scessed teeth. The dental expert can deter
mine what is best to be done in any silver
| case Opportunity should at least be accorded
| him, through the X-ray's aid, to advise OF
the course to be followed If dental disease
actually is present
Copyright, 1929