Evening star., 1951-05-25
Diet Alone Won't Cause
Tooth Decay, Tests Find
Experiments at Notre Dume
Point to Cost of Services

Experiments at Notre Dome
Point to Cost Of Services
By Thomas R. Henry
Diet does not cause tooth decay-not.
at least, in the absence of germs.
This has been demonstrated In Navy
supported experiment at Notre Dame
University. where white rats are being
reared in a completely germ-free en-
vironment.
Dental carries is the most prevalent
disease Of Americans. A survey few
years ago to determine the prevalence
of tooth decay in children showed that
at least so per cent Of two-year-olds
have cavities. and this figure reaches 90
per cent as the end of adolescence is
reached. It was estimated that to treat
this condition in the mouths Of young
people between the ages of and 10
years would require at least 244 million
filings, plus SO million more to be added
each year. To provide dental service
for adults would require 285 million
filings, with an increment of 70 million
each year. The estimated annual cost
Of such services, on a moderate fee
basis, would be nearly SIS billion, or ap-
proximately nine times the annual in
come of all American dentists.
There are three theories as to the
cause-germS, inadequate diet, and
mental upSetS which change the chemis-
try of the saliva. The germ theory is
by far the most widely accepted.
Work Carried Out by Grants.
The present work was carried out with
Navy grants to Notre Dame and the
University of Chicago, and a report on
the progress to date has been made by
Drs. j. r. Blayney and F. J. Orland
OF the latter institution. They have
used the Notre Dame facilities and have
experimental with white rats, because,
like men. they are sufferers from dental
carries.
A group of these animals, kept from
birth absolutely isolated from germs Of
every kind, was reared on a diet COM
monty considered to cause tooth decay
in humans. No carries developed. A
control group, reared on exactly the
same diet but without any precautions
against germs, showed decay in 81 per
cent of individuals.
This does not prove, the two dentists
point out, that germs are the principal
cause of carries. but 1t does prove that
in white rats-the conclusions probably
are equally applicable to humans-there
is no such thing without them. Diet
and germs, of course, may constitute
a partnership.
The second phase of the experiment
now is under way. Animals will be di-
vided into two groups-one in the germ
free environment and one outside it
and fed precisely the same diets. But
all will be inoculated at birth with the
bacteria most frequently associated with
the disease. Thus it is hoped to obtain
evidence of the partnership, If anything
of the sort exists. Later other germs
will be tested.
During the last war the apparent
physical condition Of the Nations young
manhood was alarming.
1t was necessary to reject more than
5.000.000, or nearly third Of all draft
registrantS. In every State at least one
out of every five was turned away as
unfit for military service.
These figures have just been statis-
tically analyzed by DR.. Marcus S. Gold
stein of the United States Public Health
Service. About one in ten was rejected
for some condition which was not easily
durable, such as blindness, deafness or
lack of an arm or leg. Otherwise it
was demonstrated by Army experiments.
DR.. Goldstein points out that this great
body of manpower could have been SAL
vaged. Ar
Major, Cause Of Reflections.
major cause Of reflections. for ex-
ample, was illiteracy, due both to neg
lected education and to low intelligence.
About the latter, of course, there was
practically nothing to be done. This
cause for rejection was discontinued in
1943 and illiterates were sent to special
training units Immediately after induc-
ton. The results were remarkable It
was found that more than 80 per cent
of the men, regardless of race or color,
could learn enough reading, writing and
arithmetic in three or four months to
meet Army standards. The great ma
jority of these men had no previous
schooling.
A total of more than 80 per cent of
the men who originally would have been
rejected because Of venereal disease could
be cured very rapidly by newly developed
methods, so that they offered no further
physical problem to the Army. Final
treatments could be carried out In the
field while the men were on duty.
Most eye defects could be remedied
satisfactorily by glasses, and poor teeth,
formerly cause for rejection, could bs
repaired satisfactorily at little expense.
The implications, the report indicates,
are that in another all-out war the medi.
cal rejection rate will be very materially
reduced and great reservoir of formerly
unavailable manpower will be made
available to the armed forces.