THE "PARTIALLY UNFIT'

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2730, 27 March 1916, Page 5

THE "PARTIALLY UNFIT'

MINISTER'S APPRECIATION OF ■ DENTISTS' WORK. V 7,' ; "I do ; think -something ought to ha ! said about the dental work that is he- 1 ing done in connection with the New-' ' Zealand Forces," said tlie Minister'of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) to. a., reporter on Saturday. "New Zealand was the first to have dentiste on transports and at the front; ive hare had dentists \ in our camps, and have organised a very effective dental service. Ido not. say that it does not require further development; 1 think it does, but we have a very large staff at work, and a number of civilian dentists are giving up a lot of time to assist us. The New Zealand Dental Association has also rendered valuable assistance. They have . reduced their prices for treatment of the - men, and are assisting us in examination and treatment of recruits. They have also reduced prices in connection with returned soldiers who came back with their teeth in a condition requiring treatment. We' are arranging to have the returned soldiers treated "at lessened rates up to the time they are discharged. For men who were discharged before this regulation comes into fores : special, arrangements will be made. We cannot open the door too wide, because of tho- cost. ■ Our 6oldiers are going away in a very much more efficient- condition, as far as their mouths are concerned, than they were at the begin- . ning. I don't think we realise the importance of good teeth in soldiers. I nave no doubt that many an illness can be traced to bad tcot-li and consequent imperfect mastication." The Minister went on to say that he had received the following information by Captain W. R. Hursthouse, Nevr Zealand Dental Corps, through Lieut.- i Colonel Hunter, Director of Dental Services:— . ~ : "In the month of January the total amount of work done in all the branches of our work was more than double the ; total for December,, and lam pleased I to report that, for February', except with regard to the number of extrac- ; tions, wo have again doubled the pre- 1 vious month's record.. ; .j "This result shows with wfiat a good • spirit the civilian dentists and the corps dealt jrith the big problem before, them. In no case do we enter in our, record- i hooks examinations, consultations, advice, etc.; the return sent in is for 1 operations. So, in addition to the work shown in the return, we have examined . and charted 1635 men of the lltli Rein- : , forcements. A separate return showing : the result of this work ■is enclosed. With tlie help of seven civilian dentists j fora.fortnight vol have saved.last month j 2337 teeth. Taking tlie average for , last month, one operator can do 334 f fillings in a month. • r "The arrangement about civilian den* I tists has been a success, and Tam glad : to know that I am allowed four for 1 another month. -To deal with the-work , which is' likely" to be'continuously lieces- ] [ sary in tlie, future; we;. should ;; need j I another hospital like the one we have at ' , present." I