HEALTH INSURANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 14

HEALTH INSURANCE

AUCKLAND DENTIST'S VIEWS EXPERIENCES ABROAD The opinion that a national health insurance scheme would operate satisfactorily in New Zealand was expressed yesterday by Mr. J. A. Gaudin, an Auckland dentist, who returned by tho Mariposa after spending three years in English hospitals and clinics. Mr. Gaudin said he had worked for some time under the national health scheme in England, and had formed tho opinion that it would be suitable for the Dominion.

An interesting development in dental surgery has been the production of a preparation to desensitise a tooth and minimise the pain of the drill, said Mr. Gaudin. While on his way > homo to New Zealand he visited several dental schools and clinics in the United States, and at Colum&ia University was privileged to see this preparation being used by its inventor, Dr. Hartmann. "I think there has been too much publicity of this preparation in many respects before it has been properly tried out and proved," said Mr. Gaudin. " But- it gives almost instantaneous relief in cases of drilling. The preparation has been widely acclaimed in America, and the cases I saw were very gratifying." After his experience in England and his visit to America, Mr. Gaudin has formed the opinion thrft the standard of dental training in New Zealand is a very high one, mainly because it combines the best features of English and American methods. He found the American standard of conservative dentistry evorv Dit as high as ho expected, but considered that New Zealand dentists had something to bo justly proud of in their methods. Mr. Gaudin qualified as a dei\tist at the Otago Dental School in 19«i2, and went to England in order to gain hospital, and clinical experience of children's and industrial work. Ho secured his English diploma in 1933, being able to register his New Zealand degree; hut Ending it hard to secure the right type of English hospital post Without the diploma. Ho worked in several hospitals, and also engaged in private practice at night.