THE GREATEST SERVICE OF ALL"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GREATEST SERVICE OF ALL"

in our final letter to the parents of our intended visitors, we offered facilities for medical ancf dental examination, we unknowingly made the first move in what subsequently proved to be the greatest service of all.

Wc will ever remember the Thursday morning upon which the first batch of youngsters went to be overhauled by the doctor, because no less than four out of the first nine were certified to be suffering from septic tonsils a condition which, if not given immediate remedy, would result in serious ill-health. The dentist the same day told a story of the necessity for several full-mouth extractions and nearly 150 fillings, whilst the foot specialist spent a full day in examinations and treatment. i S ? \l I w ®* , that " considerably reduced party set off for home on the scheduled day—Monday, January 16 no less than 15 young folk staying behind for surgical, eye or dental treatment. Fortunately, with one exception, there was nothing more serious discovered than antrum drainage, removal of tonsils and adenoids and teeth extraction, but what this treatment meant to the health of the children concerned, and just what that treatment meant to the parents is a story which can be better imagined than written. We have letters on our files to-day letters which were penned to the accompaniment of tears of gratitude from parents whose isolation, combined with other factors, had made impossible the treatment which they knew their loved ones needed so badly. Just think for a moment of a child crying unceasingly for days on e ™ cr >" n f? for help which cannot be given. Think of raging toothache, and no dentist to alleviate the pain. Imagine the steady decline of health caused by septic tonsils which pour their poison into the system imagine these things, and you can understand why those who know feel that every farthing of the very considerable sum of money spent in the righting of these troubles was money well spent. In these columns we have thanked our readers not once, but many times for their gifts which made possible the holiday for the party, but no thanks of ours can express the gratitude which is in the hearts of many an isolated mother who will see a new vista of health opening up for her boy or girl.