Page 203 - My FlipBook
P. 203
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To the Animal Economy. 183
by the fact, that a perfect cure was effected, by directing the
treatment to the mouth.
" The preservation of the teeth is of the utmost importance
not only as organs useful to the body, but on account of other
parts with which they are connected ; for diseases of the teeth
are apt to produce diseases in the neighboring parts, frequently
of very serious consequence.
" One might at first imagine, that the diseases of the teeth
are very simple, and like those which take place every where
else in the bony parts of our body ; but experience shows the
contrary. The teeth being singular in their structure have
diseases peculiar to themselves. These diseases considered
abstractly, are indeed very simple; but by the relations which
they bear to the body in general, and to the parts with which
they are immediately connected, they become extremely com-
plicated. The diseases which may arise in consequence of
those of the teeth are various, such as abscesses, carious
jaw bones, &c. Hunter, page 132.
" When we consider how often the teeth, when decayed,
are exposed to irritation from hot and cold drinks and aliments,
from pressure by mortification, and from the cold air, and how
intimate the connexion of the mouth is with the whole sys-
tem, I am disposed to believe they are often unsuspected
causes of general and particularly of nervous diseases. When
we add to the list of those diseases, the morbid effects of the
acrid and putrid matters which are sometimes discharged
from carious teeth, or from ulcers in the gums created by
them, also the influence which both have in preventing per-
fect mastication, and the connexion of that animal function
with good health, I cannot help thinking that our success in
the treatment of all chronic diseases would be very much pro-
moted by directing our enquiries into the state of the teeth in
sick people, and by advising their extraction in every case in
which they are decayed." Dr. Rush's Medical Enquiries,
Vol. I. -page 201.
—
To the Animal Economy. 183
by the fact, that a perfect cure was effected, by directing the
treatment to the mouth.
" The preservation of the teeth is of the utmost importance
not only as organs useful to the body, but on account of other
parts with which they are connected ; for diseases of the teeth
are apt to produce diseases in the neighboring parts, frequently
of very serious consequence.
" One might at first imagine, that the diseases of the teeth
are very simple, and like those which take place every where
else in the bony parts of our body ; but experience shows the
contrary. The teeth being singular in their structure have
diseases peculiar to themselves. These diseases considered
abstractly, are indeed very simple; but by the relations which
they bear to the body in general, and to the parts with which
they are immediately connected, they become extremely com-
plicated. The diseases which may arise in consequence of
those of the teeth are various, such as abscesses, carious
jaw bones, &c. Hunter, page 132.
" When we consider how often the teeth, when decayed,
are exposed to irritation from hot and cold drinks and aliments,
from pressure by mortification, and from the cold air, and how
intimate the connexion of the mouth is with the whole sys-
tem, I am disposed to believe they are often unsuspected
causes of general and particularly of nervous diseases. When
we add to the list of those diseases, the morbid effects of the
acrid and putrid matters which are sometimes discharged
from carious teeth, or from ulcers in the gums created by
them, also the influence which both have in preventing per-
fect mastication, and the connexion of that animal function
with good health, I cannot help thinking that our success in
the treatment of all chronic diseases would be very much pro-
moted by directing our enquiries into the state of the teeth in
sick people, and by advising their extraction in every case in
which they are decayed." Dr. Rush's Medical Enquiries,
Vol. I. -page 201.
