TEETH TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 7

TEETH TROUBLES.

DENTISTRY FOR THE INDIGENT THE SCHEME APPROVED. The Wellington Dontal Association's philanthropic 'proposal to establish a dental hospital for the benefit of the indigent—as outlined iii the Dominion on Thursday last — has been received with general approbation. Latterly peoplo have begun to realise that sound teeth aro as essential to tho worker as healthy limbs and lungs, if he is to bo an elfectivo unit in the ranks of the industrial army. ' But so far, the poorer classes have been denied whait is to them tho luxury of skilled and systematic dental treatment, and they havo had to pay the penalty of impaired health, with its concomitants of inefficiency and inferior earning power. Tho Dental Association deserves credit for having come forward with a bold and beneficent scheme.

Representative public men scon by a Dominion reporter on Saturday, liatl nothing but approval and encouragement. to offer. Great Work of Philanthropy. "In my opinion it' would bo a great work of philanthropy," said Mr. C. M. Luke, chairman of the Hospital- Trustees. "Olio of tho essentials in the development of the stamina and physique, of a strong nation is good and sound toeth; and it is necessary that skilled attention should be devoted to this matter at an early age. Any scheme that ensures this deserves hearty encouragement, and I am in entire sympathy with the proposals submitted. A sound healthy people is ono of tho finest assets a nation can possess, aud you can't got this in. the present state of affairs. I have been associated with hospital work for tho past twenty-three years, and this matter has frequently come under my notice. A very large proportion of tho young peoplo of this country have unsound, .unhealthy, tooth, and it is duo, in many cases, to the fact that parents, with their nieagro incomes, have not been ablo to secure proper treatment for their children in tho early stages, when tho • trouble could have been effectually remedied." As to the suggested co-operation of the Charitable Aid Board, Benevolent Trustees and Hospital Trustees, Mr. Luke said ho did not see why there should bo any difficulty, in carrying it out. .It seemed a practical scheme vhich could ho carricd out as an' adjunct to tho present hospital work. Tliero was already a dental branch •>u a small scale in conncction with clio hospital, but .the cases that now came before the honorary* staff were ■inly those in which tho. troublo wasfar advanced. What was necessary was to deal with the matter in the jarly' stages, and the schemo proposed would do that. Teeth Troubles of the Poor. \ Mr. R. C. Kirlt, chairman of tho Charitable Aid Board, and member ;>f the Hospital Trustees and :Hos-r ,;)ital Board', also encouraged the ilea. "I havo thought .all-along .that such an institution should bo estab.ished," ho 'said. "If peoplo require nodical treatment in .any other di--oction they get the best of skilled ittention from tho honorary staff of Jio Hospital, and there is no doubt '■;hat tho toeth'troubles of tho poorer •jlasses often causo great 'suffering .md lifelong impairment of their wealth and faculties.' That tlioy ought :o be ablo to obtain proper troatlient in this direction also is obvious. Jufc dental treatment' is regarded as r luxury by the poor, except, so far is simple, extraction, is concerned,- • Inch work has been carried on at .he Hospital. for many years past." ~s to the details of tho scheme suggested, he could seo no objection personally, but the matter had net :3ine before his Board. So far ■as 10 was concerned,,,the proposal had •lis heartiest sympathy. Mi\ J. . Godber, chairman of the Hospital Board, expressed . similar ■/Sows. Tliero was no doubt wliativor. tliat,.such an institution was imperatively needed, and tho movement vould rcccivc his enthusiastic support. The teeth'of tho poorer .classes, is. a n?.lq, .were in', a ..very- bad*, state, and the fact , that they,.were largely restricted in the matter .of diet, •uade it all tho. more necessary that. ■;hoy should be ! free from "dental crcubles.