CHILDREN’S HEALTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 7

CHILDREN’S HEALTH

INSPECTING THE TEETH. Referring to the recent appointment of medical officers for the inspection of school children the Hon. ,R. H. Rhodes (Minister in Charge of Hospitals), speaking at Greyrown on Thursday, said it was hoped that |a good deal of valuable work would be jdono by the officers in regard to the 'prevention of disease beiore it had materially influenced the health of the ■children attending the schools. ‘‘lt is .not claimed, 1 ’ he said, “that by the appointment of these officers a great deal can be effected in the near future; but from their reports it will be possible to ascertain to what extent preventable disease exists amongst the school children, and by that means find out whether it will not be better to face the question, irrespective of cost, and provide a more extended scheme of school inspection. . . . From the reports of the recent Dental Conference it would appear that the condition of the teeth of the children of the Dominion calls for decided ac-tion-on the part of the Government, and with a view of getting the best results from the efforts of the medical officers who have been appointed to inspect school children, I have arranged for the officers appointed to attend a course of lectures at the Dental School in Dunedin, whereby,. with the assistance of Dr Pickerill, of the Otago University, it may be possible to collect information witli regard to this very important matter, and take action that may go a long way towards checking those diseases which are traceable to oral sepsis—infective diseases of the teeth.”