204 COMPARATIVE DENTAL ANATOMY 



taking the characteristics of both types, but in 

 some instances may resemble one or the other or 

 be a blending of both. 



Owing to the effects of civilization, the teeth of 

 the higher classes of both the American and Euro- 

 pean people are often decayed, which is not so 

 much the effect of a weakness of the structure of 

 the teeth as it is the result of unnatural foods 

 and habits. 



The teeth are often uneven and crowded in 

 the arches, because of disuse and other constitu- 

 tional diseases, including diseases of the nose and 

 throat. 



The closer the human family approaches the 

 natural methods of life, and the teeth are made to 

 perform their normal functions, the more often 

 do we find a better structure and arrangement of 

 the dental organs. The effect of irregular habits 

 and the feverish pursuit of the elusive so-called 

 pleasures of civilization, and the consequent phys- 

 ical degeneracy have an extraordinary effect on 

 the teeth of all the higher races. 



