THE NEW ZEALAND YOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 36, 5 August 1911, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND YOUTH

RESULT OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION THEIR TEETH "SIMPLY DEPLORABLE." By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. An officer who has had the opportunity of seeing how the medical examination of territorials is conducted locally, stated to an interviewer that he had formed the opinion that the examining doctors did their work with the utmost care, and every lad was carefully examined. The examination, of course, was not that which would be insisted on for life insurance, where one had to look forward to the possibilities of disease. The object of the examination was to find whether the persons being examined were fit to be trained, and it was practically impossible for a lad who should be rejected to get through. He had noticed a statement that Dunedin doctors examined lads at the rate of two a minute. The average in Christchurch was about four minutes each lad. Were there any doubt about the lad passing, the doctor engaged would consult with a confrere. "The teeth of the majority of lads exined are simply deplorable," was the verdict of the informant; "not one in twenty would get through the Royal Navy test for the teeth." The_ number of lads of 16 or 17 with artificial upper sets was simply terrible. The examination preached a graphic sermon on the necessity of steps being taken to have the teeth of children seen to. The general physique of the lads did not satisfy one. It was disappointing for a new country. The majority of the lads did not know how to breathe. A fair number were rejected on account of deficient eyes. The boys behaved very well in the whole, though there was a bit of hooliganism one night. Generally the youths appeared to regard the prospect of being trained with equanimity.