TKS STORY OF THE TEETH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 3

TKS STORY OF THE TEETH

This is the' title of a booklet written by Dr. Tmby ivins and recently published under the auspices of the Phuket tfoci'jty. The work of the society in the community is so '.veil known and appreciated that there is little use in dwelling on it here. Tlio vital statistics of iiie Dominion for the past ten years arc sufficient evidence of the vaet aimmnt of good timt its agents and nurses are doing in saving infant life. Birring that period the death-rate of infants has fallen from 7 to ii per .jeiif., and shows a tendency to a steady decrease, in the years U> come. Or. King states the case pretty plainly when he- says: "The universal decay." of weak and badly-built teeth is bv far the gravest disease of the day, iiiid is the main precursor and unfitness find disease in general.". "The simple, common-sense measures which would ensure to every child of seven years of u:;fi strong, roomy jaws, and a complete set of sound, permanent teeth, would do more than anything to empty our hospitals, gaols and shims."

\Vliat these common-souse measures are U clearly set forth by Br. Tniliv lure in- the booklet under review, and it is no i'xn,i;'eration to say thnt every sentence''iii his .admirable little book is ivortliy of being printed in letters of gold. • "The lifc-histovy" of the teeth is one of the most wonderful and beautiful unfoldings and revelations of our time, a story worth lulling from any point of vi?iv." "Where and how the teeth are liorii, what they arc fed on, how they mny be pnteiivd , . how they should grow from (heir infancy to their lull maturity, what are their viguij, what treatment they ar« entitled to, v.iiat friends they have, what foes they may meet, and 'how they may lie cut oft , "in early life or live" lo a good old age.' , are clearly set forth, and well illustrated witli excellent diagrams, in ii.e 32 pages which .Dr. Truby. King 'has given Ins. "All these arc matters of Mii'Hiiiisiiig interest in themselves; but it is not from the point of view of mere interest that tlio I'liinkc-t Society makes the anneal for general enlightenment as regard's the teeth—it appeals from the higher standpoint of justice to the children and duty to the community and the State—the duly of establishing health and national efficitney. In Kcw iicalniid we have every ground I'm , perfect confidence that .wo can prevent decay of the teeth, if we only set about the intilter in the right way." "Dtcay of thi; teeth" is not a mere unfortunate disability of the day—it is the gravest and most urgent of all diseases of our time—a wore serious national scourge thii.n .cancer or consumption: indeed, Ihcse iiMil other diseases would be best attacked by establishing the strength

i'.nil vesistivenes-i-of the whole liuinn'n <>rjiitiiisin, n! , which, fli? mouth, jaws, teeth linil no-? arc the jrateways—the gatewiiy-s to p.ciiltli or disease iicr.-oiV.ing to our choice." Tho element of heredity is in our i'iivmii , , for we inluM-it from enuntKw gcneratiois of linrdy nncrators a tiTdp-jcy to iirodiico stroiiß teeth ii n<l h»«.!tli.v' bodi's. Or. Sim Will lace i-on-.■iiilw-i'rliut 08 per cent, of the babies born into the world have potentially

:riod tfdh mid thitl the present stnte of tliinss results from iHifliiitiibli; diet between Hi" ajirs of I and 3 years. "On the nrpsemiti'.'ii of the livpt ft-t.nf ieetli eiiti-'e and fi-i" , from dUenso vlicvher the sn-oni! >'C-t slp.U lie wcll"ipivn. and free from disease, liiid whether thp whole body ?h;il! be v.enl; an ,l ailing, or slrfln;:, vifjorous. and eiiicient."

Great us is Hi" result of the Plunk" , : movement i'i the reduction of infant mortality, this service to the eoimnipiity would sink into iiisi},'nifi''ni!TO when comiliareil with the jjrcntp.r serviro at wliirh the jirrspiit movement aims, of (fi villi! lo the children food leetl'. si rung, lvuHliy internal organs, .".ml vigorous eliieient Iwiiiio-i thr!iii"hinit life. 'I'lie booklet under revinv should find a iilaee in every liii , "". anrl in th» in'.eresi':' of fuiire i;?neration? Hie hook should he in \b<- band; of every lireatlicr end lonelier and e.f nil Iliove who are reiiionsiWc for the upand t.niiiiin:; of children and youm; people.