MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 8

MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

Tho appalling disclosure contained in tho reiwrt of the OJontological Socit'tv of Dunedin, print«i in another

column, call for earnest attention on tho part of all who desire that colony should be inhabited in future by a healthy and robust population. Tho Society, having examined tin , mouths of 12G0 children attending tut Dunedin public schools, discovered only 2o casee in which the teeth were free fiom decay. The majority of the mouths were found to be in what is described as " a deplorable state. Hardly a mouth, examined was free from abscessed teeth, and inflammation of the gums. There were 380* cases of irregularities of teeth, a large proportion of which were /caused by the mistaken practice of extracting the deciduous teeth when they showed symptoms of decay, instead of getting them filled by a dentist, co as to preserve the arch of the mouth and the normal condition of the gums until the timo arrives when Nature replaces the first teeth with the set no doubt intended to be permanent, although, unfortunately, nowadays they hardly provo 60 in experience. When ono thinks not only of tho ueedkss pain which those unfortunate children must sutfer, but of the effects on their health, it is hardly possible to over-estimate the gravity of tho report. Nor does Dunedin stand alone, in regard to tho lamentable condition of tho teeth of tho children attending tho public schools. An examination of 1178 children made in Wellington some timo ago disclosed oB'J7 carious teeth. In Christchurch no investigation has been made on so largo a scale, but when tho president of the local Odontological Society examined 10G children attending one of tho primary schools a couple of years ago ho found only one child, j boy, had all his teeth sound, and ho was a native of Australia. Perhaps the most distressing fact disclosed by these investigations is the ignorance and negligence of tho parents concerned, especially in the matter of enforcing cleanliness. In Dunedin some 504 children "willingly admitted" never having used a toothbrush, and tho examiners think that that number can bo almost doubled. "A pretty little "girl, ono of a largo family," stated that she had not cleaned her teoYh lately, as her sister had lost tho only toothbrush in the house. In the Wellington inspection, only 15 per cent, of tho children "admitted to tho use of " a toothbrush," and of these the girls formed only 6 per cent. It is not surprising to learn that " a large number "of tho children were suffering from "stomatitis and inflammatory condi- " tions of the tonsils as a result of " these carious teeth." Even graver dangers to tho health are likely to follow if we are to accept medical testimony. In an articlo on "Bad Teeth " and Disease," which appealed in "The Press" of Juno 18th, 1905, we quoted Dr. Louis Henry, assistant physician at tho Princo Alfred Hospital as pointing out that tho physical development of the race is largely influenced by tho condition of tho teeth. "Tho mouth," said Dr. Henry, "forms "a most prolific cultuue-bed for all " kinds of bacteria, and a person, siiffer"ing from dental decay is constantly "swallowing injurious germs of various " kinds." When decay is associated with tho utter want of cleanliness disclosed in tiho reports wo have quoted, the case is limply shocking to contemplate. Tho disclosures now made greatly strengthen- the arguments frequently put forth in tiheso columns for systematic medical inspection of the schools. Government liavo promised in a half-hearted way that something shall bo done, Sut hitherto have shown no active in.te-nition bf carrying the promiee into effect. SucQi an inspection would mi itself do much to remove the ignorance of parents and stimulate them to take proper steps to preserve their children's health. And we certainly . think that more attention should bo given to teaching personal hygiene to the school children themselves. Wo would willingly 6acriiice some of the fancy subjects in tho syllabus to which ait (present a good deal of time is devoted, for a little comimoneense teaching on the care of the teeth and other elementary subjects connected with tho preservation of health.