Bicycle Gums

Bicycle ridiug and poor teeth are about tho last two subjects one would place together, but that au overfondness for indulgence in exercise upon the wheel is developing a diseased condition of the gums and teeth can be testified to by many unfortunate victiins and their dentists. It is caused by the extra effort necessitated in ascending billa or in running races, and the short, quick breaths of cold air that strike the overheated gums through the open inouth develop a congestión of those parts. The face swella as with an ordinary toothache, pus forms around the teeth and loosena them, and in many cases leads to their extraction later, and the pain is equal to having all one's teeth ulceratiTig at once. A prominent dentist stated, when interviewed upon the subject, that he had had several cases of that kind. "It comes," he said, "f rom an abnormal current of air, frora fast riding, striking the gums, and if the popularity of the bicyle continúes it will develop a new feature in dentistry. At a private meeting of several dentists the other evening ■we found upon comparing notes that these cases are increasing. The only preventivo is a difflcult one to follow, and that is always ride with the mouth closed. The same effect, however, ia caused by an unnatural draft of air, as, for instance, sitting in front of an electric machine for a long period. I have had several cases of that nature from hotel stewards and ttíeir assistauts, whose offices are generally situated in the basement, where a change of air can be brousht about by artificial means. "