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Nutrition and physical degeneration: A comparison of primitive and modern diets and their effects
194
Orthodontic
Abstracts
und Reviews
BOOK REVIEW
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration: A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their Effects: By Weston A. Price, M.S., D.D.S., F.A.C.D. Member of Research Commission, A.D.A.; Member American Association of Physical Anthropologists ; Author of D&d Infections; Or&l Foreword by Ernest A. Hooton, Professor of Anthropology, and Systemic. Harvard University. With 134 Illustrations. Pp. 431. Cloth, Price $5.00, New York, Paul B. Hoeber, Inc., 1939.
As indicated by Professor Hooton in his foreword to this book, most scientists and researchers interested in dental caries have given their attention to investigations dealing with the reason why the teeth of civilized man are faulty. Price, on the other hand, has been occupied mostly with finding why some people-savages and those living under primitive conditions-have good teeth. Price occupies today a unique position in dental research, and will continue to occupy it for time to come because he has pioneered on many trails that have since been traversed by others who enjoy better facilities than he to carry on their investigations. Whether or not those who revisited his terrain agreed with him is not as significant as is the fact that were there no Weston Price much research in dentistry would not have been undertaken. Price functioned as a mordant and a catalyst to the younger men in dental research. There is no gainsaying the oft-repeated fact brought out by Price that the “white man’s” diet is poison to the dentition of primitive races. At the same time many of the diseases to which savage peoples have established a natural immunity are fatal to the white man. It, is quite likely, also, that the white man would not thrive on primitive diets to the extent shown by aborigines. It is difficult to concur fully in the conclusions drawn by Price which may be stated briefly in this following manner. Poor nutrition is productive of poor dentition and dentofacial development, which in turn leads to mental deterioration and criminal tendencies. The “criminal type” as judged by facial appearance has long been exploded as a myth. Likewise, with all due respects to the author, while malocclusion may indeed be termed inhibited growth, it is not necessarily inhibited heredity. Price has written an exceedingly interesting book which has been chosen as a “ Scientific Book of the Month. ” He has opened new vistas. It is our belief that his fame will rest largely as a leader and guide. The true value of his work will come to us as a result of laboratory research to follow. The book will be found interesting by laymen as well as dentists, dental hygienists, physicians, nutritionists, and workers in physical anthropology,
Treatment by Diet:
By Clifford J. Barborka, B.S., M.S., M.D., DSc., F.A.C.P., Department of Medicine, Northwestern University,Medica.l School, Chicago ; formerly Consulting Physician, the Mayo Clinic. Illustrated, pp. .*, * 691, Philadelphia, ,J. B. Lippincott Co., 1939. .; ~,‘:The fourth edition of Barborka’s work, coming but a scant two years since the third edition w&s published, attests the popularity of this volume as’ well
Orthodontic
Abstracts
und Reviews
BOOK REVIEW
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration: A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their Effects: By Weston A. Price, M.S., D.D.S., F.A.C.D. Member of Research Commission, A.D.A.; Member American Association of Physical Anthropologists ; Author of D&d Infections; Or&l Foreword by Ernest A. Hooton, Professor of Anthropology, and Systemic. Harvard University. With 134 Illustrations. Pp. 431. Cloth, Price $5.00, New York, Paul B. Hoeber, Inc., 1939.
As indicated by Professor Hooton in his foreword to this book, most scientists and researchers interested in dental caries have given their attention to investigations dealing with the reason why the teeth of civilized man are faulty. Price, on the other hand, has been occupied mostly with finding why some people-savages and those living under primitive conditions-have good teeth. Price occupies today a unique position in dental research, and will continue to occupy it for time to come because he has pioneered on many trails that have since been traversed by others who enjoy better facilities than he to carry on their investigations. Whether or not those who revisited his terrain agreed with him is not as significant as is the fact that were there no Weston Price much research in dentistry would not have been undertaken. Price functioned as a mordant and a catalyst to the younger men in dental research. There is no gainsaying the oft-repeated fact brought out by Price that the “white man’s” diet is poison to the dentition of primitive races. At the same time many of the diseases to which savage peoples have established a natural immunity are fatal to the white man. It, is quite likely, also, that the white man would not thrive on primitive diets to the extent shown by aborigines. It is difficult to concur fully in the conclusions drawn by Price which may be stated briefly in this following manner. Poor nutrition is productive of poor dentition and dentofacial development, which in turn leads to mental deterioration and criminal tendencies. The “criminal type” as judged by facial appearance has long been exploded as a myth. Likewise, with all due respects to the author, while malocclusion may indeed be termed inhibited growth, it is not necessarily inhibited heredity. Price has written an exceedingly interesting book which has been chosen as a “ Scientific Book of the Month. ” He has opened new vistas. It is our belief that his fame will rest largely as a leader and guide. The true value of his work will come to us as a result of laboratory research to follow. The book will be found interesting by laymen as well as dentists, dental hygienists, physicians, nutritionists, and workers in physical anthropology,
Treatment by Diet:
By Clifford J. Barborka, B.S., M.S., M.D., DSc., F.A.C.P., Department of Medicine, Northwestern University,Medica.l School, Chicago ; formerly Consulting Physician, the Mayo Clinic. Illustrated, pp. .*, * 691, Philadelphia, ,J. B. Lippincott Co., 1939. .; ~,‘:The fourth edition of Barborka’s work, coming but a scant two years since the third edition w&s published, attests the popularity of this volume as’ well