injuring another, is just; he who gives up his superfluity rather
than do harm to another, is noble; he who works only for the common
welfare, is the most noble, and no one but him deserves that name.”
(_Spurzheim._)
(42) _Disturb the system when themselves destroyed._
“I have been made happy by discovering that I have only added to
the observations of other physicians in pointing out a connexion
between the extraction of decayed and diseased teeth, and the cure of
general diseases. Several instances of the efficacy of that remedy in
relieving head-ache and vertigo are mentioned by Dr. Darwin. Dr. Gatu
relates that M. Petit, a celebrated French surgeon, had often cured
intermittent fevers, which had resisted the bark for months, and even
years, by this prescription; and he quotes from his work two cases, one
of consumption, and one of vertigo, both of long continuance, which
were suddenly cured by the extraction of two decayed teeth in the
former, and two supernumerary teeth in the latter case.
“These facts should not surprise us, when we recollect how often the
most general diseases are brought on by very inconsiderable inlets of
morbid excitement into the system. A small tumor, concealed in the
fleshy part of the leg, has been known to bring on epilepsy. A trifling
wound with a splinter or a nail, even after it has healed, has often
induced a fatal tetanus. Worms in the bowels have produced internal
dropsy of the brain, and a stone in the kidney has excited the most
violent commotions in every part of the system.--Many hundred facts of
a similar nature are to be met in the records of medicine.
“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 connection
of the mouth is with the whole system, 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
influences which both have in preventing perfect mastication, and the
connection of the animal function with good health, I cannot help
thinking, that our success in the treatment of all chronic diseases
would be very much promoted by directing our inquiries into the state
of the teeth of sick people, and by advising their extraction in every
case in which they are decayed. It is not necessary that they should be
attended with pain in order to produce diseases, for splinters, tumors,
and other irritants before mentioned, often bring on diseases and death
when they give no pain, nor are suspected as causes of them. This
transition of sensation and motion to parts remote from the place where
impressions are made, appears in many instances, and seems to depend
upon an original law of the animal economy.” (_Medical Inquiries by Dr.
Rush_, Vol. I. p. 199.)
(43) _And spreads disease with every pulse that beats._
That the general health of the body is affected by the state of the
stomach and lungs, is a proposition which few, if any, will deny.--And
that the condition of either depends on the nature of whatever is
introduced into it, will likewise be readily admitted. The effects
which the state of the teeth may have upon the lungs, may therefore be
considered in the first place. The chemical process which is carried
on in the mouth, by means of its moisture and heat, will always, in a
greater or less degree, cause the putrefaction of whatever extraneous
matter is permitted to lodge upon or between the teeth. The air, even
in the most open situation, is affected by passing over any putrescent
substance. Now as the mouth is the chief passage by which the air
enters the lungs, and as the air is affected by whatever it passes over
or through, the lungs can never receive it in a pure state, except the
mouth, through which it is introduced, be perfectly clean and healthy.
But while any extraneous matter is permitted to accumulate and remain
on the teeth, the mouth will naturally become unclean and unhealthy,
imparting an infectious taint to the air which is inhaled.
“Fetid breath is occasioned by the state of the mouth, and seldom
results from the condition of the stomach or digestive organs, as
erroneously supposed. The escape of vapor from a disordered stomach
can produce only a temporary effect, but from uncleanliness of the
mouth, we find the taint constant and habitual; and unless the cause
be eradicated, all the spices and perfumes of the east, though they
may for a moment conceal, cannot remove it. Cleanliness of the mouth,
therefore, is of great importance to the general health; in fact,
the danger of the lungs from a constantly putrid effluvium has been
strongly commented upon by the faculty of medicine, as a leading cause
of pulmonary consumption.” (_L. S. Parmly’s Lectures._)
“We respire,” says Dr. Fitch, “about twenty thousand times in
twenty-four hours, and yet, for months and years, this vast quantity
of air is rendered poisonous by one or more diseased teeth. How little
does it avail an individual, if by every possible means the purity of
the air is preserved; if no impurities are suffered to remain in the
streets; if his tenements are kept clean, his apartments ventilated; if
he make distant journeys at a great expense of time and money, for the
benefit of pure air, and, at the same time, carry the cloaca of filth
in his own mouth? If this state of the breath, caused by bad teeth, so
affects the olfactory nerves of a person near an individual having bad
teeth, what must be its effect upon the delicate and sensible tissues
of the lungs of the person himself? Nature has formed the lungs most
delicate and sensible, and susceptible to the slightest injurious
impressions:--She has also finely tempered the atmosphere for its safe
and healthy reception in these delicate organs; but an accident, or a
disease, may render it impure, unfit for respiration, and cause it,
instead of harmonizing with the lungs in the most perfect manner, to
exercise a baneful influence, armed with pestilence, and scattering the
seeds of disease over the lungs, thus pouring the streams of deadly
poison through every vein in the system. The matter thrown off from
the teeth in a state of disease and putrefaction, and also some states
of diseased gums, is very acrid in its nature, as is demonstrated by
its vitiating the saliva so much as to dissolve and oxydate metals,
even silver, and to tarnish gold. We know that many of our organs
have the power of resisting, for a length of time, in a wonderful
manner, the effects of injurious impressions; but with the lungs I
am disposed to believe that even slightly injurious impressions, if
continued, will, sooner or later, prove to them a cause of disease and
disorganization.” (_Fitch on the Teeth_, pp. 300, 301.)
(44) _Each dental malady a thousand ways._
“These sympathetic pains arising from carious teeth, proceed from
the intimate connection that subsists between the branches of the
fifth and those of the seventh pair of nerves. The pain in the ear is
therefore sympathetic, arising from disease in the dens sapientiæ. From
the connexion which subsists between these two pairs of nerves, it
happens that not only inflammation in the teeth causes a sympathetic
pain in the ears, but disagreeable and unharmonious sounds produce
a sympathetic effect upon the teeth, and occasion that unpleasant
sensation called the teeth being set on edge.” (_Fox on the Teeth_,
Part II. p. 31.)
“The sympathetic affections to which the tooth-ache gives rise, are
exceedingly various and important; though it is only of late years
they have been properly understood, and the attention of medical men
directed to their true source. It not unfrequently happens, that parts
the most remote become the apparent seat of pain, from the exposure of
the nerve of a tooth. I have seen this occur, not only in the face,
over the scalp, in the ear, or underneath the lower jaw, but down the
neck, over the shoulder, and along the whole length of the arm.” (_Bell
on the Teeth_, p. 155.)
(45) _And oft the maniac sufferer expires._
“A person complained,” says Dr. Fuller, “of seemingly violent spasms
in the head, which instantly deprived her of sense and motion, and
she fell down lifeless for some time. She had been subject to these
fits, I think, for two or three years, but of late they had become
very frequent; no pain succeeded them, nor were they preceded by any
symptoms, except by a trifling pain which darted into one of the third
grinders that was decayed:--nor did she know what tooth-ache was.
Having seen the most astonishing effects of caries in these teeth,
I recommended the tooth to be extracted, and on removing it, she
expressed herself by saying, that it seemed to pull up the root of the
complaint.
“I have twice extracted teeth when the most severe pain was in the
elbow; in both instances, it was one of the large molares of the under
jaw; and in both, the pain of the elbow vanished on removing the
teeth.” (_Fuller on the Teeth_, p. 71.)
(46) _That feels the living impulse of the heart._
It may be necessary to explain briefly the passage of the food through
the alimentary canal, and the manner in which the chyle is converted
into blood.
The food is received into the mouth, masticated between the teeth,
imbued with saliva, and forced through the constrictors of the pharynx
down the œsophagus into the stomach. It is then mixed with the gastric
juice, which is secreted from the inner surface of the stomach; and
this is found to be the immediate agent for effecting the change that
the food undergoes. A knowledge of no part of physiology is more
useful, than of the digestive organs.
“The peculiar properties of gastric juice render it one of the most
powerful productions of the animal body. It is not a simple dilutent,
but a solvent; and has the power of breaking down the food, and
converting it into a soft, homogeneous paste, known by the name of
chyme. So powerful is its faculty of solution, that the hard bones
which dogs devour cannot resist its action. It not only unites with
and dissolves the food, but changes its nature and composition. It
is found to be of an antiseptic property, and corrects putrescency
instead of inducing it. After the food has been properly acted upon
by the gastric juice, it passes through a muscular contraction of the
stomach, called the pylorus, into the duodenum. Here the food undergoes
other changes, equally as important as those already produced on it
in the stomach:--it mixes with the bile brought by the ducts from the
liver, and with the pancreatic fluid from the pancreas. Having remained
some time exposed to the action of these fluids, it is separated into
two parts, an excrementitious, and a nutritious.”--(_Richerand’s
Physiology_, p. 119.)
“After the food has remained a certain time within the duodenum, and
this separation taken place, it proceeds along the other smaller
intestines, the jejunum and ilium. By means of the peristaltic
contractions of these intestines, the nutritious part of the food is
said to be pressed out, and this is taken up by the inhalent mouths of
the lacteals. The alimentary mass parts gradually with its nutritive
particles, and passes from the small into the large intestines, the
cœcum, the colon, and rectum.
“The nutritious part of the food taken up by the lacteals, is conveyed
by different branches into the thoracic duct, and thence into the left
subclavian vein, where it mixes with the blood brought back from the
upper extremities. The subclavian vein terminates in the vena cava,
and this in the right auricle of the heart.” The reason for the chyle
entering the blood in the subclavian vein is explained as follows, by
Dr. Paley:--“The chyle enters the blood in an odd place, but perhaps
the most commodious place possible, viz., at a large vein in the neck,
so situated with respect to the circulation, as speedily to bring the
mixture to the heart. And this seems to be of great moment; for had
the chyle entered the blood at an artery, or at a distant vein, the
fluid composed of the old and new materials must have performed a
considerable part of the circulation, before it received that churning
in the lungs which is probably necessary for the intimate and perfect
union of the old blood with the recent chyle.” (_Paley’s Natural
Theology._)
“It is now necessary that this new venous blood, which is of a dark
color, should undergo changes indispensable to life. The right auricle
contracting, the blood is propelled into the right ventricle, and from
the ventricle it is farther forced through the pulmonary artery into
the lungs. While circulating through them, it is exposed in the air
cells to the atmospheric air taken in during respiration:--a change
takes place; the blood becomes of a florid red color, subservient to
the principles of life, and is returned by the pulmonary veins into
the left auricle of the heart; and passing from them into the left
ventricle, this ventricle contracts and propels the blood, by means of
the aorta, to all parts of the body.
“Different opinions are entertained of the change which the blood
undergoes in the lungs. Some physiologists imagine that it receives
oxygen from the air; others that it gives off its superabundant carbon,
and that the air is expired as carbonic acid gas. It is here sufficient
to state, that the change is necessary to life, and that the blood sent
to the lungs is of a dark color, while that which returns from them
is a florid red, subservient to the functions of the animal economy.”
(_Waite’s Manual_, 1826, p. 70.)
(47) _May rise terrific from that single source!_
“Mechanical trituration is not the only change that the food undergoes
in the mouth. Subjected to the action of the organs of mastication,
which overcome the force of cohesion of its molecules, it is at the
same period imbued with saliva. This fluid, secreted by glands placed
in the vicinity of the mouth, is poured in considerable quantity into
that cavity during mastication.
“The saliva is a transparent and viscous fluid, formed of about four
parts of water and one of albumen, in which are dissolved phosphate
of lime, of soda, and of ammonia, as well as a quantity of muriate of
soda. Like all other albuminous fluids, it froths when agitated, by
absorbing oxygen, for which it appears to have a strong affinity. Its
affinity for oxygen is such, that we may oxydize gold and silver by
triturating in saliva, thin leaves of these metals, which are of such
difficult oxydizement. The irritation occasioned by the presence or
desire of food, and by mastication, excites the salivary glands, which
swell and become so many centres of fluxion, towards which the humours
flow abundantly.
“It is estimated that about six ounces of saliva are secreted during
the average time of a meal. It flows in greater quantity when the food
is acrid and stimulating. It mixes with the mucus copiously secreted
from the glands, and with the serous fluids exhaled by the exhalent
arteries of the mouth. There can be no doubt that the saliva, mixing
with the food by the motion of the jaws, absorbs oxygen, and unites to
the alimentary substances a quantity of that gas fit to bring about
the changes they are ultimately destined to undergo.” (_Richerand’s
Physiology_, p. 96.)
(48) _Nor asks a staff to guide him to the grave._
The following judicious observations, made nearly two centuries ago,
will serve to convince the reader that the opinions sustained in this
volume are neither new nor singular.
“The terrible pains and diseases of the teeth do chiefly proceed from
two causes. The first is from certain filthy phlegmy matter which the
stomach and vessels do continually breathe and send forth, which does
lodge or centre in the mouth, especially between the teeth, and on
the gums; and some people having fouler stomachs than others, such do
breathe forth very sour, stinking, phlegmy matter, which does not only
increase the pain, but causeth the teeth to become loose and rotten.
And for want of continual cleansing and washing, those breathings and
this phlegmy matter turns to putrefaction, which does eat away the
gums, as though worms had eaten them. And this defect is generally
attributed to the disease called the _scurvy_; but it is a mistake: the
cause is chiefly, as is mentioned before, from the stomach, or for want
of cleansing.
“This distemper of the teeth and gums does also proceed from the
various sorts of meats and drinks, and more especially from the
continual eating of flesh, and fat sweet things, compounded of various
things of disagreeing natures, that do not only obstruct the stomach
but fur and foul the mouth, part thereof remaining upon the gums, and
between the teeth. For all such things do quickly turn to putrefaction,
which does by degrees corrupt both the teeth and gums. Besides, our
beds take up near half the time of our lives, which time the body
is not only without motion, but the bed and coverings do keep it
much hotter than the day-garments, especially of those that draw the
curtains of their windows and beds so close, that the pure spirits
and thin refreshing vapors of the air are hindered of having their
free egress and regress, which does dull and flatten the action of
the stomach; and this is the chief cause why suppers lie hard in the
stomach, and require more than double the time for perfect concoction,
that the same food does when a man is up and in open air: for this
element, if it hath its free influence, is sucked in, as by sponges,
through all the pores of the body, and does wonderfully refresh,
comfort, open and cleanse all the parts, having power to assist and
help concoction: but hot, dull, thick airs, do destroy the action of
the stomach, and as it were suffocate the pure spirits, drying up and
consuming the radical moisture. Therefore the night does foul the mouth
more than the day, furring it with a gross slimy matter, especially
those that have foul stomachs, and are in years, which ought to be well
cleansed every morning.
“Whatsoever are the disorders in the body, the mouth does always
partake of them; besides the evils that the variety of food, and the
improper mixtures of flesh and fish, and many other things, which do
foul and hurt both the teeth and gums. When any person is disordered
with inward diseases, does not the mouth quickly complain of the evils
thereof? This very few consider in time.
“It is to be noted, that most people do attribute the diseases of the
teeth to colds, and rheums, and other outward accidents. It is true,
outward accidents will further this disease, but then there must be
matter beforehand, otherwise outward colds can have no power to cause
this pain. The same is to be understood in all stoppages of the breast,
and other obstructions, as coughs, and the like. For, if any part be
obstructed, or there be matter for distemper, then, on every small
occasion of outward colds, or like accidents, nature complains. If your
teeth and gums be sound, and free from this matter, take what colds
you will, and your teeth will never complain, as daily experience doth
show. For all outward colds, and other accidents of the like nature,
have no power to seize any part of the body, except first there be some
inward defect or infirmity: suppose the teeth be defective, then the
disease falls on that part; or if it be the head, eyes, breast, back,
or any other part or member of the body that is obstructed, the evil is
felt in that part. Therefore if the mouth be kept clean by continual
washings, it will prevent all matter which may cause putrefaction:
and then colds, and the like accidents, will have no power to seize
this part, or cause this terrible pain. Even so it is in all other
parts of the body. If temperance and sobriety be observed in meats,
drinks, and exercises, with other circumstances belonging to health,
then stoppages, coughs, colds, and other obstructions, would not be so
frequent on every small occasion; for temperance has an inward power
and operation, and does as it were cut off diseases in the very bud,
preventing the generation of matter whence distempers do proceed,
increasing the radical moisture, and making the spirits lively, brisk,
and powerful, able to withstand all outward colds, and other casualties
of the like nature.
“There are many various things, of divers natures, prescribed by
physicians and others, as washes to preserve the teeth and gums; but
most of them, if not all, to little or no purpose, as daily experience
teaches: for all high, sharp salts, and things of a sour or keen
nature, do rather cause the teeth to perish, than the contrary; as do
all hot spirits, be they what they will: many have destroyed their
teeth by the frequent use of such things, and it hath hardly ever been
known that such things have ever cured or prevented the aching pains
of the teeth, but water only. Many examples I could mention, if it
were convenient. Physicians and others do daily prescribe such things
for the cure and prevention of this disease of the teeth, which most
of them do know by experience can do no good, but rather the contrary:
but when people come to them, they must give them something for their
money; for interest and ignorance have more affinity with this sort of
people than virtue, and the true knowledge of the nature of things.
Most certain it is, that the shepherd and husbandman do know far better
how to prepare the meat for their cattle, and also how to preserve them
from disorders, than many physicians do their food or physic: and a
man shall understand more by conversing with this sort of people, than
with the learned: for the shepherd and husbandman understand something
of nature; but most of the learned are departed from the simple ways
of God in nature, putting out their own eyes, and then boasting what
wonders they can see with other men’s: they have invented many words
to hide the truth from the unlearned, that they may get the greater
esteem. This hath chiefly been done to advance pride and interest; so
that the divine eye is departed from many of them, who never make any
inspection into the true nature of things, being contented to take
other men’s words, let it be right or wrong, as long as they have
authority and law on their sides, wherefore should they trouble their
weak heads?
“The best and most sure way to prevent the diseases and pains in the
teeth and gums, is every morning to wash your mouth with at the least
ten or twelve mouthfuls of pure water, cold from the spring or river,
and so again after dinner and supper, swallowing down a mouthful
of water after each washing; for there is no sort of liquor in the
world so pure and clean as water; and nothing doth cleanse and free
the teeth and gums from that foul matter which does proceed from the
breathings and purgings of the stomach, and from the various sorts of
food, so well as water; the use of other washes is to little or no
purpose; but whosoever do constantly wash their mouths with water, as
is before mentioned, shall find an essential remedy.--All hard rubbing
and picking of the teeth ought by any means to be avoided, for that is
injurious to them. Also whensoever you find your mouth foul, or subject
to be slimy, as sometimes it will more than at others, according to the
good or evil state of the stomach, though it be not after eating; at
all such times you ought to wash your mouth. This rule all mothers and
nurses ought to observe, washing the mouths of their children two or
three times a day; and also to cause their children to swallow down a
little water, which will be very refreshing to their stomachs. For milk
does naturally foul and fur the mouth and teeth, and if they be not
kept clean by continual washing, it causes the breeding of children’s
teeth to be the more painful to them.