Youth and Sex | Page 9

no way better than those of the
young men. In addition to several vacancies in the dental series, it is by no means unusual
to find that a candidate has three or even five teeth severely decayed. The extraordinary
thing is that not only the young people and their parents very generally fail to recognise
the gravity of this condition, but that even their medical advisers have frequently
acquiesced in a state of things that is not only disagreeable but dangerous. A considerable
proportion of people with decayed teeth have also suppuration about the margins of the
gums and around the roots of the teeth. This pyorrhoea alveolaris, as it is called,
constitutes a very great danger to the patient's health, the purulent discharge teems with
poisonous micro-organisms, which being constantly swallowed are apt to give rise to
septic disease in various organs. It is quite probable that some cases of gastric ulcer are
due to this condition, so too are some cases of appendicitis, it has been known to cause a
peculiarly fatal form of heart disease, and it is also responsible for the painful swelling of
the joints of the fingers, with wasting of the muscles and general weakness which goes by
the name of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to this there are many local affections, such
as swollen glands in the neck, that may be due to this poisonous discharge. One would

think that the mere knowledge that decayed teeth can cause all this havoc would lead to a
grand rush to the dentist, but so far from being the case, doctors find it extremely difficult
to induce their patients to part with this unsightly, evil-smelling, and dangerous decayed
tooth.
The Throat.--Some throat affections, such as diphtheria and quinsy, are well known and
justly dreaded; and although many a child's life has been sacrificed to the slowness of its
guardians to procure medical advice and the health-restoring antitoxin, yet on the whole
the public conscience is awake to this duty. Far otherwise is it with chronic diseases of
the tonsils: they may be riddled with small cysts, they may be constantly in a condition of
subacute inflammation dependent on a septic condition, but no notice is taken except
when chill, constipation, or a general run-down state of health aggravates the chronic into
a temporary acute trouble. And yet it is perhaps not going too far to say that for one
young girl who is killed or invalided rapidly by diphtheria there are hundreds who are
condemned to a quasi-invalid life owing to this persistent supply of poison to the system.
Another condition of the throat which causes much ill-health is well known to the public
under the name of adenoids. Unfortunately, however, many people have an erroneous
idea that children will "grow out of adenoids." Even if this were true it is extremely
unwise to wait for so desirable an event. Adenoids may continue to grow, and during the
years that they are present they work great mischief. Owing to the blocking of the
air-passages the mouth is kept constantly open, greatly to the detriment of the throat and
lungs. Owing to the interference with the circulation at the back of the nose and throat, a
considerable amount both of apparent and real stupidity is produced, the brain works less
well than it ought, and the child's appearance is ruined by the flat, broad bridge of the
nose and the gaping mouth. The tale of troubles due to adenoids is not even yet exhausted;
a considerable amount of discharge collects about them which it is not easy to clear away,
it undergoes very undesirable changes, and is then swallowed to the great detriment of
the stomach and the digestion. The removal of septic tonsils and of adenoids is most
urgently necessary, and usually involves little distress or danger. The change in the
child's health and appearance that can thus be secured is truly wonderful, especially if it
be taught, as it should be, to keep its mouth shut and to breathe through the nose. In the
course of a few months the complexion will have cleared, the expression will have
regained its natural intelligence, digestion will be well performed, and the child's whole
condition will be that of alert vigour instead of one of listless and sullen indifference.
Errors of Digestion.--From the consideration of certain states of the nose, mouth, and
throat, it is easy to turn to what is so often their consequence. Many forms of indigestion
are due to the septic materials swallowed. It would not, however, be fair to say that all
indigestion is thus caused; not infrequently indigestion is due to errors of diet, and here
the blame must be divided between the poverty and ignorance of many parents and the
self-will of adolescents.