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132
there was no provision at all and food was kept on open
shelves. In 20 cases food was kept in a safe provided by
the tenant; and in only 10 cases was there any efficient
larder accommodation."
PREVENTION OF CARIES AND PRESERVATION
OF TEETH.
53. The Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration
reported in 1904:—
" There is no question that the teeth of the people have
become much worse of late years, and in many parts of
the country may now be described as very bad.
Professor Cunningham assigned the real cause of dental
degeneration to the change that has taken place in the
character of the food in common use.
Sir Lauder Brunton laid great stress on the fact that
dental caries is due to the cessation of the use of food
which requires good mastication, and added that the soft
foods are more apt to leave particles behind which cause
decay. This view, and the aggravation that lack of
cleanliness lends to the conditions of the mouth so produced,
were emphasised by a succession of witnesses, lay
and professional.
Mr. W. H. Dolamore on behalf of the British Dental
Association ' had no doubt that bad teeth were a condition
of the feeding that accompanies high civilisation.
The cruder and coarser sorts of food at one time in use
not only kept the jaw in action during the plastic period
of its development, but had the effect of a tooth-brush
in keeping the teeth free from the settlement of toxic
agents.' "