PROPOSED DENTAL DEPARTMENT AT THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9012, 27 March 1888, Page 3

PROPOSED DENTAL DEPARTMENT AT THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

At a meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, Dr.. Leger Erson, who was in attendance in connection with the Typhoid Epidemic Medical Report, directed the attention of the Board to the urgent need at present existing for a dental department in connection with the General Hospital. At the present time Auckland students, in order to qualify for the New Zealand Dental diploma, had to leave for the South in order to gain their practical experience, which entailed considerable expense and loss of time, while there existed here ample materials for an excellent School of Dentistry being established in their midst. He had spoken to some of the leading dentists in Auckland upon the matter, and they had expressed the utmost readiness to further the proposal and offered their services. Such an institution would' also afford great practical benefit to that section of the public who, though suffering, could ill afford the expense

of skilled assistance at all times. Spmo arrangement might also be made by the dental body to qualify pupils after a course of instruction for the extraction of teeth, and thus confer considerable benefit upon those in far outlying districts who might require relief, and amongst whom they might settle. At present they had a cancer and other special departments, but none provided for this, the commonest and most painful of every - day complaints. He warmly commended the suggestion to the favourable consideration of the Board.

The Chairman moved, " That the matter be referred to the House Committee."

Mr. Crowther was afraid that expense would be attached to the proposition, and believed that people should pay for such attendance, and thought the Hospital might become a large school for nurses and dentists.

Mr. Dignan and Mr. Udy warmly supported Dr. Erson's proposal, the latter stating that the thanks of the Board were due to Dr. Erson for bringing the matter forward.

The Chairman thought the suggestion an excellent one. At present, young men studying dentistry had to go South in order to obtain diplomas ; and the experience they would acquire at the Hospital, were Dr. Erson's proposal carried. into effect, would prove of the utmost value to them. It would be recognised that if two or three of the best Auckland dentists went to the Hospital at stated periods, and there conducted experiments in dental surgery, great benefit would result ; while the cost would be trifling. The Chairman's motion was carried.