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I have had occasion before to remark that 1 have noticed
persons having good teeth who had used tobacco, both smok-
ing and chewing it, for a great number of years. On the
other hand, I have seen persons with very bad teeth who
used tobacco. In some constitutions tobacco removes its
irritability ; in others, it increases the irritability of the sys-
tem. And when we look over the causes of caries, diseased
gums, &c. we shall find that the fact respecting the opera-
tion of tobacco, which we have noticed, explains its good
and bad effects on different individuals. There is an acri-
mony or impurity about some tobacco, which causes it to in-
jure the teeth ; but my observations, as to the effect of good
tobacco, are, that by some individuals it may be chewed with
impunity, and that smoking tobacco may be allowed ; and,
probably, used as an errhine it never injures the teeth ; but
as it is a dirty, and in many instances pernicious substance,
perhaps its use might, with advantage, be entirely dispensed
with.

CHAPTER VI.

SECTION I.
DISEASES PRODUCED BY DISEASED TEETH, &C

I need not, in the commencement of this chapter, for one
moment detain the reader in proving the well-known fact,
that disease in one part of the living system may be produc-
tive of disease in another and remote part ; or endeavour to
explain the rationale of that mysterious sympathy by which
this effect is produced. A vast many pathological facts are
yet to be explained, whilst the few that have been are every
day assailed by new and more plausible theories. At pres-
ent the truly intelligent physician is satisfied with clearly un-