"THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 255, 16 July 1918, Page 4

"THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE"

So imperative is the need for an adequate supply of competent dentists that the deputation advocating the establishment of State bursaries which waited on four members of the Cabinet yesterday was bound to receive a sympathetic hearing. It is almost impossible to over-estimate-the importance of sound teeth both from the individual and the national point of view, and no alert and progressive Government can remain inactive and unconcerned when it knows that, having regard to the future, there is a shortage of dental students. The necessity for taking prompt and effective m?*sures to meet the situation is recognised by everyone who has given serious attention to the subject, and is strongly emphasised by the startling fact that the recent examination of some thdusands of our school children showed that no fewer than 95 per cent, were suffering from defective teeth. When it is remembered that good teeth are essential to good health, and thao good health is the foundation of national well-being, this state of affairs must not bo allowed to continue. The ovil ought to be resolutely fought with the best weapons that science can provide. The bursary scheme must, of course, as Sin James Alien said, be considered by Cabinet; but Cabinet ought to decide promptly either to carry out the proposals of the deputation or to devise some better solution of the problem. Sir James Allen declared that he was surprised at the very large proportion of men weeded out by the military service boards as physically unfit for active service. "The first thing we must do," he said, "is to improve the physical standard of the young men." How is the Government going to do this,, and when is it going to make a start? We cannot afford to allow things to drift any longer. If, as the Hon. J. A. Hanak asserts, health should be our' first line of defence, then the Gov-, eminent should without further delay make much fuller use of the knowledge and resources which modern science has made available for raising the standard of public health. There nan be no doubt, that the heavy percentage of unfitness disclosed by the work of the military medical boards is largely due, directly and indirectly, to dental dofects. It is thorc-

fore the duty of the Government to do whatever is necessary to ensure that there shall be no lack of_ properly qualified dentists. It is becoming increasingly evident that the State will have to enlarge its responsibilities regarding the health of the people. It will nave to pay more attention to infant welfare work, and must devise n thorough system of medical and dental examination and treatment for school ■children. Dr. L. Haden Guest, School Medical Officer of the London County Council, has published a book in which he gives some very interesting information regarding the school clinics ■ established _in London. He expresses the opinion that every school clinic should also bn an infants' clinic, and he says it will probably be found necessary to extend the inspection of school children to infants, and thus to exercise a continual supervision over the growing life of the nation. These things cannot be done without money. Financial considerations cannot be- ignored; hut it should never be forgotten that necessary expenditure on well-thought-out measures for improving the public health is an exceedingly profitable investment. The State will get full value for every pound so spent.. Expenditure in building up a nation sound and strong in mind and body is economy of the best kind.