curio shops, we are all of us familiarly acquainted with these primitive silver table equipments.
To
be " born with a Silver spoon in the mouth " is proverbially a lucky
thing for the babe. None the less is it of absolute certainty that to
be constantly taking much of our food with Silver spoons, and retaining
these for more or less time within the mouth, are practices likely to
gradually entail some limited absorption into the system of certain
soluble silver Salts ; the sulpho-cyanide, for instance, produced by
the chemical action of the saliva on the metal. Moreover, we know that
the-absorbent vessels within the mouth, and cheeks are perpetually
active for taking up all solutions which come in their way. Inasmuch,
however, as metallic Silver,, and its salts, are potentially
destructive of bacteria, (swarms of which commonly infest the mouth,
from decayed teeth, and serve by their noxious juices to-poison the
whole system), to anticipate such matters by a silver " coral" before
dentition begins, and to keep up an acquaintance with the salutary
metal throughout life by a lingering dalliance with the Silver spoon at
this, or that meal, are likely thus much to prove preventive of many a
septic illness. Chronic " rheumatism "—so-called—of the general system
often depends on self-poisoning from carious teeth within the mouth.
The
wearing of Silver ornaments next the skin, and toying with the Silver
spoon whilst eating therewith, together with teeth-extraction, when
needed, by a skilful dentist, should prove curative of this trouble.
In
Aberdeenshire, rheumatism is known as " wins." Thus, respecting a
certain worthy woman there, we have heard it said " Of nothing else did
she complain, but her ' wins,' and want of goodness."
