The youth's dentist, or, The way to have sound and beautiful teeth ... / by J.R. Duval ; translated and supplied with notes by J. Atkinson.

  • Jacques René Duval
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The youth's dentist, or, The way to have sound and beautiful teeth ... / by J.R. Duval ; translated and supplied with notes by J. Atkinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    have in my collection, which I owe to the obliging friendship of M. Gerard, director of the Royal Veterinary School of Alfort. On the contrary, it is amusing to see with what caution the rat (which retains more of its wild habits) gnaws the remains of a piece of bacon. A fine tooth, which is the dens superbus of Horace, might have its lustre sullied by aliments too refined. What the poets have omitted to mention respecting the ef- fects of neglecting the teeth, and of the tartar which is the con- sequence, may be properly discussed in this place. Permit me to remind the reader in a few words, that a neglect of cleanli- ness facilitates the accumulation of tartar round the teeth; that it renders them sensible, painful, and loose, and finally makes them come out: occasionally, however, we witness these sad effects, even where care has been used, especially when the patient masticates only on one side; in this case the simple in- spection of the mouth will soon discover the true cause. Let young persons then take warning, who often contract this habit, by suffering a temporary tooth, which is painful and carious' to remain in, hoping that the secondary one will soon dislodge it; as mastication ought to take place on both sides of the mouth, the obstacles should be promptly removed by art; other- wise the tartar may accumulate to a considerable mass, so as to hinder the movements of the jaws : a case of which is re- lated by Gerauldi.* Want of cleanliness also renders the mouth fetid, which in society where it is customary to embrace often, is a matter of importance. Certain anecdotes respecting bad breath, whether it have arisen from neglect of cleanliness, or from other causes, may serve as a lesson for youth : it may suffice to relate the following, collected by Benserade ; who having heard a young lady sing in company whose breath was very strong, said to his neighbor, the words and the voice are truly fine, but the air is worth nolJiing.] I shall not examine in this place how far, and in what man- •The Art of Preserving the Teeth, p. 135. t Anecdotes : Historical, Literary, and Critical, in Medicine, Surgery, .and Pharmacy. Paris, 1785, p. 122. 5 />