MEDICAL INTELLIGENCER. JOHN G. COFFIN, M. D., EDITOR. THE BEST PART OF THE MEDICAL ART, IS THE ART OF AVOIDING PAIN. VOL. IV. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1826. ON THE TEETH. NO. 29. to this question. But that the sudden and extraordinary To the Ed of the Med. Intelligencer. SIR, The great degree of changes of temperature for suffering which attends the which our climate is remarkadiseases of the teeth, renders ble, is peculiarly unfavorable it peculiarly desirable that a to bad teeth, is abundantly eviknowledge of the causes which dent from the complaints of are most likely to produce adult foreigners who have these diseases, should be gen- spent the earlier part of life erally possessed by an enlight- in less variable climates. It is ened community; and it is not uncommon for such perequally important that all false sons, coming either from warmprejudices and erroneous views er or colder regions, to call on relating to a subject of such a dentist and tell him, that general concern, should be ex- when they came to this counposed and corrected. With try, only a few months before, this view, I propose to send perhaps, they had not a defecyou occasionally a few remarks tive tooth; but now, they are which will serve in a consider- frequently afflicted with pain able degree to answer the in consequence of their rapid common and various questions decay. Generally, however, concerning the teeth, both in in these cases, a single glance their healthy and diseased at the teeth convinces the dentist that they must have been decaying for several years; but the absence of pain has caused this to be overlooked by the individual till frequent exposure to great and sudden changes of temperature has produced inflammation, and consequent suffering. state. There is a very common impression, not only in the minds of foreigners, but of our own people, with regard to our climate, which often gives rise to this question: Is not our climate unfavorable to good teeth? I believe there are few facts or substantial arguments that can be furnished which will warrant an affirmative answer 29 The observations of celebrated men, and authors who have given us the most valua If our climate, more than others, is to be considered as conducive to scrofula, phthisis, epilepsy, gout and palsy, then may it with equal propriety be considered as conducive to the diseases of the teeth. But the most productive causes of all these, namely, improper diet, neglect of exercise, and injurious habits, are overlooked, and blame is attached to a source of disease which scarcely exists. ble information on the anato- a perfect whole, should still be my, physiology and diseases of chargeable with the defect of the teeth, tend sufficiently to a part. show that the teeth are a part of the human structure which is very commonly predisposed to early decay; that this is the case in all countries and climates, with very little observable difference among the individuals of civilized society. But it is remarkable, that among uncivilized tribes, who live by hunting, fishing, or on the simple fruits of the earth, those of great age are found with more perfect sets of teeth, both with regard to their number and soundness, than are usually found in the aged in habitants of towns and cities. It is also remarkable, that in most of the skulls of savages which have been dug from their ancient burying places, or otherwise obtained, bearing every other mark of great age, the teeth are found perfect, though commonly much worn by mastication. Another inquiry which is very often made in relation to this subject is, Are diseases of the teeth hereditary? Of this there is left no reason to doubt. It is often observable both in the first and second sets of teeth, that they are imperfect in their formation, and carious or otherwise diseased as soon as they pass through the gum. In a greater number of cases, however, they appear perfect in their formation, and sound, It is by no means philosophical to conclude that a climate for a certain length of time; which will favor the formation they are then found to be caof a firm, vigorous, and healthy rious in the centre and softer frame of body, due regard be- parts, and the defect gradualing paid to diet, exercise, and ly increases till they crumble the habits of life, should at the to pieces by the pressure of same time be productive of mastication. disease in any particular organ; that a cause which in its influence on the human constitution, tends so much and so evidently to the production of The same kinds of defect or disease are very often observed to affect the teeth of numerous individuals of the same family, appearing not only in corresponding teeth of different sets, but in corresponding portions of the teeth, and commencing at nearly the same age in each. These cases are often so remarkably uniform in their occurrence, that a skilful dentist, after he has examined the teeth of one or two of the older children of a family, is enabled to detect disease in the teeth of the younger, before it has so far advanced as to be discernible by any other person, and afterward to predict, with great certainty, what will be the event with regard to the teeth of the others, and thus put parents on their guard to prevent the insidious effects of caries. warm and cold bath, friction And Can anything be done to prevent the ravages of the constitu As the first suffering which tional diseases of the teeth? is caused by the teeth is that There are few cases of so which attends what is called hopeless a nature as not to their cutting, their advancepermit something to be done ment through the upper part to diminish the sufferings, and of the sockets and gums, and to prevent the losses which as the period at which this is are occasioned by a constitu- going on, namely, from the tional decay of the teeth. This sixth or seventh, to the twen is to be done, first, by attend- tieth or twentyfourth month, ing, even in early infancy, to is often a critical one with inthe food, in providing a suita- fants, the first question of moble nurse, and taking care that ment is, What should be done the child be not weaned too to prevent, as much as may be, young, or at a wrong season of the evil effects of dentition? It the year; by early exposing is not merely from irritation infants to the ordinary changes about the teeth or gums, that of the atmosphere and tem- teething children suffer, but perature to which adults are from many other complaints accustomed; by the occasional which call for the sympathy and appropriate use of the and care of the mother, and demand the attention and skill that "a child should not be ance of the four first double of a physician. Everything weaned till after the appearwhich will prevent such sufferings in any degree, or alleviate them when they unavoidably occur, deserves the most After the serious attention. directions given above have been observed, there is no circumstance which demands more consideration than that of weaning. The judicious management of this affair will do more than anything else to ward off the evils to which children are exposed during the period of dentition, and even those from which they often suffer afterwards in consequence of pain and sickness at this time. It is a matter which has been too lightly regarded. It is one which is commonly made to yield more to the present wishes and convenience of the mother, or to pecuniary interest, than to the immediate comfort and future health and happiness of the child. Early weaning has been too often followed by evil consequence to be considered a prudent measure. The stage of dentition has been regarded ed in almost all cases, when by the best medical authors they they are nursed less than nine as the most important circum- months. The safest period of stance, and that by which we the year for weaning is from should be principally governed the middle of October to the in determining the time of middle of March; provided weaning. Baume, a celebrat- they are not weaned under ed French author, has stated, ten months after December, in a work on this subject, *Traité sur la Premiere Dentition. In the first volume of the New England Journal of Medicine and Surgery, in some remarks on the morbid effects of dentition by James Jackson, M. D., it is given as his opinion, that "children are benefited by living principally on the breast for twelve months; their vigor is evidently impair Le Dentiste de la Jeunesse, pp. 52, 53, Atkinson's Translation. under eleven after January, wardly and undetected at the nor under twelve after Febru- root of the constitution. He ary. Children who are wean- may be in a situation like that ed at the age of twelve months of a surgeon, who at the time in March are ordinarily safe; that he is occupied in tying those who are weaned at this up one artery, is not aware age in April are less so, one that his patient is bleeding to half of them perhaps suffering death at another.-Intellect is severely in the subsequent not omnipotent; but its actual summer or autumn. In May power over the organized matthe danger increases; and in ter to which it is attached, is the four subsequent months, if much greater than is usually a child of any age be weaned, imagined. The anatomy of it will in most cases be very the MIND, therefore, should be sick before the middle of Oc- learnt, as well as that of the tober ensuing. The disease body; the study of the constidoes not immediately follow tution in general, and its pecuthe weaning; though in many liarities, or what may be techcases the diarrhoea of teething nically called its idiosyncrasies, children ensues at once. But in any individual case, ought the instances in which children to be regarded as one of the who are weaned between May most essential branches of a and October, escape severe medical education. cholera infantum, are extremely rare indeed." A SUBSCRIBER. THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON THE BODY. He who, in the study of the treatment of the human frame, overlooks the intellectual part of it, cannot but entertain very incorrect notions of its nature, and fall into gross and sometimes fatal blunders in the means which he adopts for its regulation or repair. Whilst he is directing his purblind skill to remove or relieve some more obvious and superficial symptom, the worm of mental malady may be gnawing in The savage, the rustic, the mechanical drudge, and the infant whose faculties have not had time to unfold themselves, or which, to make use of physiological language, have not yet been secreted, may, for the most part, be regarded as machines, regulated principally by physical agents. But man, matured, civilized, and by due culture raised to his proper level in the scale of being, partakes more of a moral than of an animal character, and is in consequence to be worked on by remedies that apply themselves to his imagination, his passions, or his judgment, still more than by those that are |