Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1920 DENTAL DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 14 August 1920, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1920 DENTAL DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

REFERENCE lias been made to the serious dental defects discovered in connection with the medical examinations in New Zealand. Much the same state of affairs was discovered in Britain and America. A correspondent in the Telegraph describes how the two countries faced the matter. England, so-called the most conservative land when it comes to national movements that concern even its internal welfare, at once»appointed a commission to inquire into the whole question of dentistry in England. When it is considered that this commission was aptpointed at a time when the country was struggling for life as a nation, and at a time when all its brains and' energies were required to hold its place in the world, it can at once be realised the state of affairs that had come to light that made a count-y, so slow moving on such matters, to divert some of the best-known brains iu the laud to this inquiry. One million'men, out of the first three milion were rejected for mouth diseases and dental defects, which made them useless for the front. And when the commission presented its report, such a deplorable state of affairs was hard to imagine. The chairman, I'rancis D. Aclaml, in his report, used these words: — , “We wish to state very shortly that, in our opinion, the State cannot allow the health of the workers of the nation to he continuously undermined by dental neglecShops should be taken, without delay, to recognise dentistry as one • of the chief, if not the chief, means of preventing ill-health, and cveiy possible means should be employee for enlightening the public as to the need of conservative treatment of the diseased teeth. The dental profession should he regarded as one of the outposts of preventive medicine and, as such, encouraged and assisted by the State. treatment should he rendered available for all needing it.” . The authority on contagious diseases in England, and when one says this it means, perhaps the greatest authority on the question in the v, arid .stated that bad dentistry and the want of good dentistry were < ausi'ig death and untold misery to thousands. In America a similar state i of affairs was revealed. Over 31 per cent, of men in tho first draft were rejected. That is, 31 per cent, of the men that could reasonably be considered the pick of the country were unfit for service. And hero again obscure heart troubles, joint infections, and many other complaints were traced definitely to dental defects. Septic areas in tho mouth, either produced by teeth dying in the natural order of neglect, or by dental treatment that hurried up the unfortunate state of affairs. America, did not appoint, a commission to inquire. She knew what the English report was, and dental units were enlarged, and every endeavour made to repair tho damage, with results that surprised even the prime movers in the crusade. Obscure troubles in many cases vanished with the cleaning up of septic areas in the mouth, and thousands of men were like magic made available for war service overseas. Soon the greatest authorities in medicine, bacteriology, and dentistry came into line, giving their assistance; and the American Govern-

Incut to-day is sjiemliog millions ol dollars in a great educational campaign by lectures, by .films, and pamphlets, trying to get people to realise that a dirty mouth can kill people in some cases, and certainly shorten life. it is given out that, nndov the now -system ol health campaign adopted by the Surgeon-Gemv-rnl’s ’Department- the average life of the Americans can he increased hy ten years. The prevention, of dental diseases in chi Id veu and prospective mothers is receiving the greatest, possible consideration, and great institutions, costing enormous sums or money, are being built by wealthr men and municipalities in various parts df tho States.