The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, 1911. THE TEETH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 3 October 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, 1911. THE TEETH.

The other day a Avriter in the London “Times” referring to the prevalence of dental troubles amongst Avhito races in these degenerate days, attributed the excellence of the teeth of the Hindus largely to their habit of cleaning their teeth Avith the yielding soft twigs of certain trees, and the “Times” added that the Somali, an ho are noted for their big and strong teeth, have the same habit. The stick is the siwak or misAvak of the Arabs, a piece of stick or tAvig Avhose end has boon made like a brush by beating or chsAving it so as to separate the fibres. To clean the teeth forms tho first part of the ablution which is obligatory on Mahometans before prayer, and Mahomet is said to have declared that “that prayer before which the teeth have been cleaned with the raisAvilk is more excellent than tho prayer Avithout misAvak by seventy.” Mahomet, avlio is said to have been so diligent Avith his toothstick as to Avear aAvay his gums, used the green Avood of the palm tree for the purpose. Twigs of trees or hushes Avhicli have a bitter or pungent flavour are preferred—“Salvadora persica,” sometimes called the toothbrush tree, is the favourite in India. To clean his teeth Avas the last earthly vet of tho Prophet., as appears from the account of his death given by A’isha, his favourite young Avifo: — “Tho Messenger of God returned to

me on that day Avhen he came in from tho mosque, and lay down to deep in my bosom. And there came in unto me a man of the house of Abu Bokr, holding a green toothstick in his hand. The Messenger of Good looked at it in such a Avay that I kneAV he Avould Sj ike to have it. So 1 said: ‘O Messenger of God ! Avould you iiko mo to give you this toothstick P’ He answered, ‘Yea.’ So I took it and chewed it for him till it Avas soft and gave it to him, and ho nibbed his tect.ii w ith it harder than over 1 suav him do, and laid it doAvn. T found the Messenger of God heavy on my breast, :nd I moved my head to look at his face, and In! Ids eyes had become fixed, and ho Avas saying: ‘Nay, the most liigli companion from Paradise .’ I said : ‘Thou hast been offered the choice, and hast chosen, by Him Avho sent thee to do right.’ And tho Messenger of God died.”

MENDELISM. Tho hybridisation of flowers is a fascinating pursuit though yet iu its infancy. Increased interest is being now taken in it not only among horticulturists and orchardists, hut. among scientists and members of eugenic societies. The “Law of .Mendel” is a phrase that one often hears nowadays.

Mendel was a monk who. sixty years ago, made extensive experiments,

chiefly in garden peas—patiently rev cording in a paper the resv.lts and the operation of certain laws deduced therefrom. The paper was lost, and was discovered only ten years ago. The loss was a double gain. Jt gave an extra value to the document, and its discovery happened at a time when interest in the subject was being

aroused from other investigations. The public is gradually awakening to the fact that experiments in the crossing of flowers lay bare the operation ct certain fundamental laws, which, though not yet fully comprehended, point the way to a fuller understanding of the rules of heredity, and such knowledge may have a very far-reach-ing effect. But patience is required in making such experiments—for example, in hybridising daffodils the results arc not seen for four or five years—indeed, it is on record that one will-known narcissus did not bloom until eighteen years after the' death of t!ie raiser. There are (remarks the “Otago Daily Times”) a few hybridism's of bulbs in and about Dunedin —notably in Lawrence’, where the daffodil thrives.