And since we are talking about teeth -- I saw an exhibit at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum on the Jamestown colony founded in America by the English Pilgrims. The exhibit contained a number of cylindrical clay pipes that had been excavated from the site. It stated that almost everyone in the colony smoked clay pipes even young children and that it was believed that by keeping the pipes in their mouths and biting on them or rolling them in their mouths they created microscopic cracks in their teeth which would eventually become infected and lead to tooth loss. Apparently a number of them died from malnutrition because they could no longer chew their food.
There was also a great fear of babies and very young children catching colds which led their mothers to keep them wrapped in swaddling clothes way longer than necessary. Unfortunately this led to them not getting enough Vitamin D from sunshine and caused rickets and other problems.
They could also speculate on the cause of death and their occupation from examining the bones. A very interesting exhibit.
c.d.
There was also a great fear of babies and very young children catching colds which led their mothers to keep them wrapped in swaddling clothes way longer than necessary. Unfortunately this led to them not getting enough Vitamin D from sunshine and caused rickets and other problems.
They could also speculate on the cause of death and their occupation from examining the bones. A very interesting exhibit.
c.d.
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