.
tions from fond remains,—all maintained at 98 degrees! Is it to be wondered
that the human race is degenerating physically when every bolus of fond is
mixed with these poisons before entering (he stomach?
Pure food laws and Inspectors from Boards of Health can accomplish lil-
tlc until this fearful condition is radically changed. What is the remedy?
Who .shall demonstrate it? The remedy is Oral Prophylaxis and il is the
duty of (he Dental Profession to give il lo the world. The object of Oral
Prophylaxis is to bring the human mouth lo a. slate of asepsis and purity and
to obtain the teeth in their original perfection and beauty as far as possible,
and il has been shown that when such has been accomplished, wonderful re¬
sults have been seen as to the patient's physical betterment.
A few years ago, there prevailed among the employees of our large fac¬
tories a disease known as phospho-necrosis. Thousands died annually as a re¬
sult of it, and yet the cause was unknown until a dentist discovered that by
keeping the mouth in an aseptic condition, the dreaded plague could be con¬
trolled.
Physicians now say that it is practically impossible to effect a cure of
tuberculosis when the teeth are in a decayed condition, as decaying teeth serve
as a culture medium for the tubercular bacilli and the patient is constantly
taking them into the system.
Oral Prophylaxis as a specialty in dentistry was first introduced to the
profession by Dr. D. D. Smith, of Philadelphia, in 189S. Though severely
criticised at first, it has stood the test because it was founded on facts, and today
il stands out as the foremost and most important branch of dentistry. Since
science has proven that the mouth is the barometer of the human organism,
and that it is so necessary to keep il in a healthy condition, it becomes the
solemn duty of the Dental Profession to leach the people that by prophylaxis
treatment, the desired end may be acquired. That decay in the teeth is ab¬
normal and that an individual whose teeth are faulty cannot be normal in his
general metabolism.
The Southern Denial College is the first in the United States to have a
special chair upon this important branch and il is ably filled by Dr. Robin
Adair. The Southern Dental College and every member of its Faculty stand
for progress, and with such a reputable institution annually sending out men
fully equipped and educated to teach the people along these lines, it is to be
expected that e'er many years have passed, thousands who are now suffering
from preventable diseases may be enjoying the blessings of health, and ex¬
periencing the rare pleasure and satisfaction of a clean mouth filled with per¬
fect teeth. J. RUSSELL MITCHELL.
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