Interesting News.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6825, 16 October 1900, Page 4

Interesting News.

the Decay of Teeth Conimutoe of the British Medical Association have recently presented their report to the Council, and it contains many facts of interest. The general conclusions are that teeth do not become decayed exclusively as the result of civilisation, inasmuch as dental disease has boon proved to prevail among the feebler savage tribes, while it is rare among the more powerful neighbours of thu lmccr. Again, it is rarer still, though not absolutely unknown, among the lower animals. So far as tho causes of the decay are concerned, two are especially mentioned—name, arsificial feeding* Aunog infancy, ond diet. Tim disadvantages, it is pomted out, of tho civilised methods of preparing food nre that thorough mastication arc rendered unntceesary, and ihe natural cleansing of tho mouth and teeth from particles of retained food by the muscles of the jaw is retarded Tha effect of this liiuira'ion of tho action of tho muscles is further shown by utrophy of the jiw, as a consequence of which the tneth become ovc-r-ei'owJed. Attention i 3 drawn to the fact that tho teeth of the well-to do closes seem more prone to decay than tho teeth of the children of the poor, and it is assumed that tho coarse, plain food of tbo lalic-r is more adapted for the preservation of the teeth than the richer foods wheh largely form tho diet of the comfortable classes.