LIFE EXTENSION 



3416 



LIFE EXTENSION 



should be screened, and the manure removed at 

 least once in seven days. Garbage pails should 

 be kept tightly covered. Fly-paper and fly-traps 

 should be used. Houses should be screened, and 

 in particular in the pantry the food itself should 

 be screened. 



Ticks, bedbugs, fleas and lice should also be 

 carefully exterminated. They are often respon- 

 sible for infectious diseases. The hookworm 

 disease is to be avoided by not treading barefoot 

 on ground polluted by victims of the disease, by 

 preventing soil pollution through the proper dis- 

 posal of human excrement, and by screening all 

 waterclosets. 



Cleanliness is important for avoiding infec- 

 tions. The hands, face and finger nails should be 

 kept clean ; especially before rqeals. Any cut or 

 crack in the skin or mucous membrane may admit 

 germs when the spot is dirty or is touched by 

 dirty hands. The need of bathing is particularly 

 great for those who work in factories, mines and 

 other places where dirt is likely to be carried to 

 the mouth by the hands. Probably many diseases 

 get a foothold in this way, without the victims 

 realizing in the least that they were due to care- 

 lessness and lack of cleanliness. 



Some of the most serious and widespread, 

 although usually unmentioned, infections, are 

 those from the venereal diseases, with a whole 

 train of terrible consequences, such as blindness, 

 joint-diseases with heart complications, perito- 

 nitis, paralysis and insanity. From even the nar- 

 rowest interpretation of hygiene, a decent life is 

 necessary for the maintenance of health. Dr. 

 Rosenau says : "Every boy and girl, before 

 reaching the age of puberty, should have a knowl- 

 edge of sex, and every man and woman before 

 the marriageable age should be informed on the 

 subject of reproduction and the dangers of vene- 

 real diseases. Superficial information is not true 

 education. On the other hand, it is a mistake to 

 dwell unduly on the subject." 



13. Keep the teeth, gums and tongue clean. 



There are two forms of mouth danger dental 

 caries, or decay, and pyorrhoea, or Riggs' dis- 

 ease. The former is largely a chemical process, 

 and affects the teeth proper. The latter affects 

 the tissues surrounding the root of the teeth and 

 is accompanied with infection by pus bacteria, 

 and possibly also with animal parasites termed 

 endameba. Scrupulous cleanliness of the mouth 

 largely prevents both of these maladies. 



A cavity in a tooth is a menace to the health, 

 as it harbors various forms of bacteria which 

 may infect the general system. The same is true 

 of pyorrhoea, as far as the general health is con- 

 cerned. The germs from the abscess may get into 

 the system and cause many other kinds of illness, 

 such as so-called rheumatism, certain forms of 

 anemia, etc. All the ills that flesh is heir to are 

 not caused by mouth infection, but enough of 

 them are to more than justify a vigorous and 

 world-wide campaign for the better care of the 

 teeth, and for a thorough search for mouth infec- 

 tion in every case of obscure disease. 



The cultivation of normal eating habits with 

 respect to the vigorous use of the jaws by thor- 

 ough mastication, and the easing of hard, resist- 

 ant, crusty foods every day is the next desirable 

 means of tooth and gum hygiene. The teeth 



should be cleaned night and morning, and after 

 each meal, if possible, by rapid rotary brushing. 

 Strong pressure is not advisable. A brush should 

 be used with bristles that are stiff and of different 

 lengths, so that the innermost crevices of the 

 teeth may be reached. If the gums are sensitive, 

 a moderately stiff brush can be used until the 

 gums can bear the more vigorous treatment. The 

 use of dental floss between the teeth, provided 

 care is taken not to press it against the gums, 

 is also helpful. 



The tongue should also be carefully cleansed 

 with the tooth brush. By taking care not to hit 

 the roof of the mouth, gagging is avoided. 



The advice of a dentist should be sought re- 

 garding the condition of the teeth, and the ques- 

 tion of alkaline or acid washes determined. 

 Periodic examinations and cleanings by the den- 

 tist are the only safe measures against decay and 

 pyorrhoea. If the dentist has facilities for giving 

 preventive treatment by specially cleaning the 

 teeth, he should be visited every other month. If 

 such a program is adopted, it will generally be 

 found unnecessary to visit him for any other 

 purpose. 



Some dentists and physicians have until lately 

 given too much attention to the saving of teeth, 

 without "fully realizing the dangers of infection 

 from the mechanical devices employed. This Is 

 not to say that all bridge and crown work is 

 improper, but that such work should only be of 

 a character that will permit of surgical cleanli- 

 ness in the mouth, and that such teeth should 

 always be examined by the X-ray, when there 

 is evidence of systematic disease, in order to be 

 sure that the roots and sockets are not infected. 



In early life the jaws should be carefully ex- 

 amined by both dentist and doctor in order to 

 determine whether or not the proper development 

 is taking place. If upper and lower teeth fail to 

 fit well together, extra strain is placed upon 

 certain teeth and the sockets are liable to injury 

 and infection. The temporary teeth should not 

 be allowed to be removed by decay. If cavities 

 form, they should be filled and the teeth saved, 

 unless they are causing infection. 



14. Work, play, rest and sleep in moderation. 



The whole personality should be utilized in a 

 daily rhythm. When, as too often happens, the 

 equilibrium and mutual proportions of the various 

 wholesome elements in a well-rounded life have 

 been lost, the balance should be restored if possi- 

 ble the next day. If a physician has had his 

 sleep broken, he should aim to make it up at 

 the earliest opportunity. If the afternoon exer- 

 cise has had to be omitted, an extra amount 

 should be taken as soon as possible. 



It is distinctly unhealthful either to overdo or 

 to underdo work, play, rest or sleep. Not all 

 people are in need of exercise, nor are all in need 

 of rest ; but almost every one needs to change his 

 proportion between the two. Normal work is one 

 of the greatest blessings of life, but too many 

 miss the joy of it, some, because their work has 

 gone to the extreme of drudgery, and others, be- 

 cause it has shrunk Into nothingness and futility. 



A very moderate degree of fatigue Is normal, 

 but anything that approaches exhaustion should 

 be avoided with the utmost care. Working hours 

 should be arranged so as to enable the worker 



