TRENCH MOUTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2172, 4 September 1920, Page 4

TRENCH MOUTH.

ITS H[STORY.

XOT FROM FRAXCE.

Some items of interest eoncevn-■|-i£>' “trench month" wore divulged l<> :,n Auckland Star reporter by :in Auckland dentist. who has had much In ’do wild ihc Ireal incut <d' this disease. Trench inoulli, lie said. was nor, as was commonly supposed, inIrodueed from France during Ihe war, hul. on (he eonirary. was

iaiowii twenty years a"o in epidemic Minn, allliouyli (hen bacteriolojrica 1- ! y obscure. He binr-elf had Iron led Tour eases prior to I lie war. -The proper desipnation of the disease v.as that of “Vincent's Disease." It has ofien been confused wub pyorrhea, which is, however, a chronic disease, whereas “trench mouth” is acute, and runs its course in a few weeks. 11:, moreover, yields very readilv to treatment.

The infection of this disease,

'which is more often Tmmd in mm and children than in women, is generally brought ahmil l>y a run-down , ondiliuii. It is" prevalent among men who arc in the lia.hit of hidingug in excessive use of alcohol and ;obacco, which has an irritatin'’’ effect on the membranes of the month, and thus renders them liable to infection. The disease is distinguish'd by an ulceration of the 'ruins, which spreads io (he imicuoiis ineinbranes of the mouth and throat, accompanied with considerable soreness of the glands and the neck. As a measure of prevention, good health and abstinence from the excessive list' of alcohol and tobacco is necessary. The mouth should be kept thoroughly clean, and the use of a mild antiseptic mouth-wash, is advisable. Where the disease has ■developed to any great extent, professional treatment should lie .-ought. With regard to the prevalence of “trench mouth,” it was learned that considering the infectious nature of the disease it was verv rare.