Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-11
TonsiI, Teeth
Removals
Often Wronq
Routine Extractions Not
Justified by Study
BY LOGAN CLENDENING. MD.

ME concept OF local Injection
as causative factor in
systemic disease is undoubtedl,'
quite sound but, as I pointed
out a week or two ago, il can Re
carried too far.
Even its originator, Doctor
Billings, said:
Focal Infection as cause
of disease has come Ia stay.
But, like, every other principle
in medicine, IL has its limita-
lions"
One of the other founders OF
this concept, William Hunter.
an English physician, in 1910
rade some remarks which have
been misinterpreted.
He spoke chiefly of infections
arising from ill-ftting dentures
and crowns, not of appeal
assesses about pulplcss teeth,
which are now usually regarded
as infected teeth.
Another commonly blamed
source of focal infection are the
tonSlls.
In an investigation of a num-
Der of surgical operations in a
single hospital over a period of
years, 1t was found that one
third Of 10000 surgical opera
tons were for removal OF the
tonslls.
TITS interesting TO note that
L the StatiSticlan VINO collected
these figures stated that the
operation for removal OF the
tOnSIls was three times az COM
mon among the well-to-do as
among the poor.
The suspicion remains that
there Is such thing as removal
OF tonsils for revenue only.
Cnquestionably there are many
cases in which systemic disease
IS caused by focal Infection Of
TINS type.
But also unquoStionably most
cases are not critically evalu-
ated.
The removal Of tonSllS is not
very serious bur the loss of
teeth winch may he forming
part Of the structure OF the Jaws
is no light matter.
Their loss results not only in
facial deformitv and discomfort
but also IN digestive disturb
anCcS.
A review or the case against
routine extraction Of teeth and
removal Of the tonSliS for the
purpose Of curing systemic dis
case shows that the experience
Of p years has not justified the
practice in the minds of those
who have given the matter care
ful thought.
/ WISH 10 emphasize the fact
L that l have said routine re-
mONal
When the case has been given
careful consideration and there
Is logical evidence that. first. the
teeth or the tonsils are infected
and. second. that there is some
connection between this infec-
ton and the disease. the whole
case assumes a different aspect.
These infections should be re-
moved for their own sake alone,
not because some theoretical
benefit is going 10 occur 10 the
general health.
The relation between focal in
fections and such systemic dis
ease as high blood pressure.
kidney degeneration and arth-
rltlS. is far from proved
As one physician has said:
Belief I'm focal infection must
be taken like religion---on faith"
Large groups Of people whose
tonSlls are present are no worse
of than those whose tonsils are
OUT
Many suspected foCi Of infec-
tlon heal as the systemic dis
ease improves and the general
health becomes better.
QUESTIONS. ANSWERS
NJ y - Does vinegar contain
any mineral or has II any call
oric value?
Answer: Vinegar is mostly
acetic acid and has no caloric
value and contains no minerals.
NJ. l.. G.; My child. 2i2 years
old. wakes up every morning
with his eyes and lids inhamed
Could this bo caused from his
eyes being weak
Answer No. It's undoubtedly
an inflammation Of the eyelld
or conjunctiNa. and should be