Pennsylvania Association of Dental Surgeons. [Volume: 2, Issue: 8, March, 1861, pp. 431-441]

PROCEEDINGS OF DENTAL SOCIETIES.

439

with a daguerreotype exactness, on each side the same complex and irregular osseous deposits, the product of a disease similar to rheumatism.
Dr. Buckingham said, he doubted not a fruitful cause of the imperfect
development of the teeth was due to unsuitable marriages on the part of
the parents. It was a well-known fact among stock raisers that to obtain a well-developed animal both parents must be perfectly sound; the
same will hold good with mankind; and if this was not observed, the offspring would of necessity be unhealthy. He referred to the importance
of good nourishing food, but thought with many children, the elements of
nutrition failed to be appropriated, there being a deficiency in the vital
forces, and supposed that when the system was diseased all the tissues of
the body were more or less affected, and that on a subsequent return to
health other organs might throw off the disease, while the teeth, from their
low state of vitality, would be unable to recover. Spoke of the analogy
existing between the nutrition of the vegetable and the animal. He
alluded to the difference in the teeth of Irish servants upon their first
arrival and after they had remained here a short time, as many who had
perfect teeth on first coming into the country would lose them after remaining here a few years; he would ask to what this change was due, and
admitted he was not at present able to determine.
Dr. Flagg having had some experience in regard to the effect produced upon the teeth of the Irish emigrants to this country, was inclined to doubt the existence of rapid decay as the result of constitutional
changes, and rather attributed it to the presence of local causes, in the
combined neglect of the proper cleansing of the teeth and mouth, and the
presence of food more liable to decomposition than that to which they
had formerly been accustomed. Stated that while he had, upon questioning, failed to find one who did not use the tooth-brush at all, they invariably acknowledged that it was reserved for occasions from one to three
months apart. Referred to the stringiness of the fluids of the mouth as an
apparent constitutional effect, but considered that, with proper attention to cleanliness, and the free use of local antacids and detergents, he
had invariably succeeded in removing this condition and retarding, in a
most marked degree, the progress of decay. Referred to three cases
which he had selected some three years since, for the purpose of experiment, in which the condition under consideration had pronounced itself,
and resulted in the presentation of one or two teeth for extraction and
three or four cavities for filling in each mouth. Directed the daily brushing in two cases, and the tri-daily brushing in one case, with the free use
of prepared chalk daily; had introduced but five fillings for the three patients during the three years, and all the work had remained perfect.
He recommended the use of Greta Prep. in some extreme cases, as often
as three times daily, until a decided effect upon the buccal fluids was produced, announced in the removal of viscidity, and then continued daily or