it approaches or falls short of this point, is a fact so generally known as scarcely to need comment.  Suffice it to add, that, if food be introduced into the stomach unmasticated, the gastric juice will only act upon its surface; and after a number of hours it will be either rejected by vomiting, or pass on into the intestine, to give rise to cholic, bowel complaints, or flatulence, and very frequently in children to a serious attack of convulsions.

THEIR MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION.

Irregularity of arrangement and position.—­Every parent ought to have the mouth of her child inspected occasionally, during the advance of the permanent teeth, that any irregularity in their position or arrangement may be prevented.  And it is equally her duty to see to it, that she choose a competent person to do this, since great mistakes are not unfrequently made in this matter, and which themselves become the source of evils far more serious than those they are intended to obviate.  “I have known,” says Mr. Bell, “no less than eight or even ten firm teeth forcibly removed from the jaws of a child at once, when there was not the slightest reason to apprehend any evil result from their being left alone.”  Here there was a most cruel, because unnecessary, infliction of pain, as well as great hazard incurred of seriously injuring the permanent teeth by interfering with the secretion of their enamel.  And besides all this there is another and yet greater evil, for, if the temporary teeth be removed, before the permanent ones are so advanced as to be ready to occupy their situation, the arch of the jaw will assuredly contract, and when, subsequently, the permanent teeth are fully formed, there will not be room for them to range in their proper situation.  Thus the operation which was intended to prevent irregularity becomes the cause of its occurrence, and that in its very worst form, producing a want of accordance between the size of the teeth and that of the jaw.

The eye-teeth generally occasion most anxiety to a parent, from the prominent position in which they present themselves; but in the majority of cases nothing but time is required to reduce them to their proper station.  But, whatever may be the peculiarities of each individual case, the dentist will decide what may be required; only, I would again repeat, do not neglect the occasional inspection of the mouth at this age, if you regard the future comfort and appearance of your child.

Their preservation.—­The preservation of the teeth requires attention to several points; the first and principal of which is, to enforce the habit in the child of thoroughly cleaning the teeth by means of water and a brush night and morning, and rinsing out the mouth after each meal.  The brush should not be very hard, as it will not only be more difficult to clean the interstices between the teeth, the part in which the tartar[FN#24] is most likely to be deposited, but by its friction, will occasion the gradual absorption of the gum and the exposure of the neck of the teeth.  The hair of the brush should be firm and elastic, and not too closely set.