DENTAL TROUBLES OF THE POOR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8410, 26 April 1907, Page 3

DENTAL TROUBLES OF THE POOR.

A SUGGESTED SCHEME.

In a letter laid before the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board, yesterday, Mr Adrian Moulton, dental surgeon, unfolded a plan of his own for dealing with the dar-tal troubles of the Wellington poor. Mr Moulton wrote on the subject as follows:—"Even the lowest dental fees are absolutely beyond the purse of the poor man or woman, who can scarcely pay the weekly rent, and undoubtedly on this account there is much suffering patiently endured. My sympathies are with these people. I am willing to give my time and energies, and any talent or skill whicn I may possess, on their behalf. I am in v possession of a complete dental outfit, and if the means should be forthcoming I am willing to place myself and. outfit at the service of those I desire to benefit, my only stipulation being that such services should be absolutely free of aIJ cost to all who desire to obtain them. . . I should only ask for sufficient to enable me to carry on this work, and to provide a sufficiency for my own household. It was originally my intention to address myself to the denta! profession, but feeling that the true spirit of professionalism is to do good to our fellowmen, irrespective of recompense, 1 am sure that I not only have the hearty support of the dentists, but I am , equally certain that if an appeal j were made for funds to establish such an institution as I have attempted herein to outline they would be the first to come forward with financial assistance." The chairman (Mr R. C. Kirk) said there was a good deal in what Mr Moulton said as to the fact that the poor had practically to endure their dental,troubles. There was a dental surgeon attached to the hospital, and ht was willing to treat cases 1 there. Anyone who received an order that he or she was in indigent circumstances could obtain free dental treatment at the hospital. Mr Moulton's offer was one which might be considered in connection with the Benevolent or some other institution. Any poor person could get a tooth drawn at the hospital without an order. He did not think it would be amiss if Mr Moulton were to call on him and see whether anything could be done in the matter. It might be possible for the board to place a small sum of money on the estimates in connection with such a scheme as Mr Moulton had formulated. The Board agreed that the Chairman and Mr Moulton should confer on the subject.