BAD TEETH OF RECRUITS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 4

BAD TEETH OF RECRUITS.

CAUSES OP MEDICAL REJECTION. "Tho standard of fitness in the Dominion is a high one," states Colonel J. R. Purdy, director of medical services, in an appendix attached to the Defence Report. "It would bo very much higher if thero were not such a widespread neglect of tho ordinary hygiene of the mouth. Tho percentage of bad teeth and unclean mouths was a very largo one. Of the ultimate rejection of the recruits quite one-half wero rejected because their teeth were in such a bad state, thus causing impairment of tho constitution. Rejections in the British Army for loss or decay of teeth equal 55 per thousand; here they total 120 per thousand." Tho report states that during the year 1911 25.055 Territorial recruits wero medically examined; of these 057 wero c'ussified as unfit to serve during the current year, and 1350 were rejected as medically unfit for service. Of cadets, 20,782 wero examined, and 3GO wero classified as unfit for one year, and 889 rejected as medically unfit. Tho recruits were rejected for the following causes:—Physically disabled, 25 per cent.; discaso of lungs," .8; heart, IS; kidneys, 1J; nervous system, 7; digestive system, i\; cars, 2; eyes, 7; defective vision, 15; deafness, 3; menially deficient 11; varicose veins, 7; very bad'teeth and gums (pyorrhea), 2J.