OLD AGE. 431 



an offensive breath, the moral being, of course, that you are to go to him and have 

 your teeth set to rights. His hint is by no means to be despised, and there is no 

 doubt that one of the commonest causes of offensive breath is the presence of decayed 

 teeth in the jaw. The sooner they are stopped or taken out and replaced by new 

 ones, the better. But even when the teeth are sound they may, from want of 

 attention, taint the breath. It is an excellent plan to clean the teeth with a soft 

 brush after every meal. In the case of men, who during the greater part of the day 

 are out and at work, this may be impossible ; but surely in the case of young women, 

 who are at home all day, it is no great hardship. At all events, the teeth should be 

 brushed inside and out at least twice a day, morning and evening. The addition of 

 & few drops of Condy's fluid to the water is useful. Camphor may advantageously 

 enter into the composition of any dentifrice that may be employed. When dyspepsia 

 is present it should be removed as soon as possible, not only for the sake of the 

 breath, but for the general health as well. 



Most of us are acquainted with the peculiar smell of the breath observed in 

 people who are addicted to the abuse of ardent spirits. It is not actually the odour 

 of the gin, or brandy, or rum, or whatever it may be, that one perceives, but it is 

 something over and above this. It is a sour, acid, " vitrioly " smell, which is very 

 characteristic of the tippler. You may even notice it through the odour of the fresh 

 spirits. Then, again, the breath of the tobacco smoker is often none of the sweetest, 

 and we are all disposed to give a wide berth to any one who has been indulging in 

 onions or garlic. 



The treatment of offensive breath consists essentially in the alleviation of the 

 condition on which it is dependent. In many cases the care and skill of the dentist 

 will do more for you than will medicine. If you have artificial teeth, you should 

 see that no preparation of mercury, such as vermilion, is used in the colouring of the 

 india-rubber framework, now so commonly employed. Several cases of injury from 

 local mercurial poisoning have been recorded of late years from the red frames used 

 to imitate the gums. When the condition of the breath depends on the stomach, 

 the rules laid down for the treatment of dyspepsia should be consulted. A dose of 

 wood-charcoal taken three times a day for a week or ten days often proves beneficial 

 (Pr. 75), or nux vomica may be used with advantage (Pr. 44). When the offensive 

 breath is associated with, if not dependent on, a sore or ulcerated mouth, small doses 

 of mercury according to Pr. 48 will prove the best treatment. In many cases per- 

 fumed carbolic acid used with water as a wash for the mouth proves useful 



OLD AGE. 



Old age, although not strictly speaking a disease, presents many points of interest 

 that may fairly occupy our attention. As life advances, the tissues become more 

 condensed, the bones firmer, the cartilages harder, and the articulations closer ; the 

 muscles fail in their tension ; the organs of the senses lose their refined adaptations, 

 and the skin falling into wrinkles and folds loses its colour, softness, and elasticity. 

 But these cannot be regarded as phenomena of disease, for they belong as naturally 

 to the declining period of life as certain phenomena of development the cutting 



