The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-19

Juldhl 6eneral COrbln. approved already BY
the Secretary OF War are followed out
General Otis says that the teeth Of nearly
every man in the islands are in bad stages
Of decay. and recommends that number
OF dentists be sent from the United States
10 look after the mOlsrs and the grinders
Of the fighting men in the Philippines
He states that after a careful investiga-
ton. ne finds that year of life in the trup-
les. living on army rations. has almost
completely ruined nearly SO per cent Of
I The teeth. while those Of the remaining
soldiers are in various bad stages Of decay.
Adjutant General Corbin has discovered
/ that there is no way by which dentists can
( be sent TO the Philippines to look after the
l teeth of the men. unless Congress provides
Tor such appointments They cannot be
sent as medical surgeons. with the rank of
captain or major, because the law express
ly limits the number of surgeons. and
there are not enough surgeons To- supply
the medical demand in the Philippines
Adjutant General Corbin therefore recon-
mvndef that the matter be submitted TO
surgeon General Sternberg Of the United
states Army who has replied TO Secretary
Root heartily endorsing the project TO ap-
I point dentists TO the army. one to be at
tdched 20 every regiment and perhaps
more. If necessary
II am Of the opinion" writes Surgeon
General Sternberg. that the appointment,
OF competent dentists 10 the army is an alb
Solute necessity. ! have long been of the
opinion that there should be some system
attic way by which the teeth Of every en-
listed man could be Inspected at least once
q year. and preferably once in six months
There are few civilians who permit their
teeth 10 be neglected for so long a period
as six months. The condition of the teeth
rs reflected in the physical condition OF the
individual Ii the teeth are bad ache
much, or do not perform their functions
properly in the masucation OF food the
health of the soldier is seriously impaired
] strongly endorse the proposition and
suggest that one dental surgeon with the
rank of major. be appointed FOR each regi-
ment'
A bill has therefore been drawn by the
direction Of the Secretary Of War which 30
is believed VIII be passed by Congress
within q few weeks. possibly DAYS The
bill provides that the Surgeon General of
the Army with the approval of the Score
tary OF War. shall employ and appoint
dental surgeons TO serve the officers and
enlisted men i'm the Regular and yoluntsc.
Army. in the proportion OF one dental sur
BE
These dental surgeons shall be employed
as contract dental surgeons. under the
terms and conditions applicable TO army
contract surgeons. and shall be graduates
OF standard medical or dental colleges.
trained in the several branches OF dent
istry. Of good moral and professional char
acter. and shall pass a satisfactory pro-
fessiOnal examination. These examinations
viii be held i'm Boston. New York Wash
inEton, Chicago, Denver and san Francis
co and possibly elsewhere as soon as the
proposed bill becomes a law. To will then
be possible TO appoint the dental surgeons
Immediately. and they will be- sent TO the
Philippines. where So much work awaits
them on the earliest available transports
or passenger ships
There has been some discussion as 10
what rank the dental surgeons should have
The accepted understanding rs that they
viii get the rank corresponding to that OF
the medical suTEeOns-that is for battalion /
surgeon. The rank of captain and for regi- I
mental surgeon the rank Of major There .
are. however. surgeons attached to the bat +.
taliOns and regiments. while il Is proposed
to designate dental surgeons on a schedule .
of one only for each regiment That would .
make him rFCi with the medical regmeutal .
surgeon. and he would II rrefore get COM /
mission as major. The salary Of major in .
the regular army is app. OXimatcly 5000 a
month. or s.. 400 a year. with quarters and .
rations. II viii therefore be seen that
there viii soon be nearly four score fine
army billets to be at the disposal OF the
War Department for which only competent
dentists will be eligible.
This will be a good chance for some Of
the struggling young dentists OF the United
States. Old established dentists OF course
make much more than the probable income
Of an army dentist. but there may be ex-
Dected a rush for these coveted appoint
ments that will remind one Of the rush 70
secure appointments in the volunteer ar
my when the war frs broke out Some
dentists Will doubtless resent the imputa-
ton of being hired BY the Government 10
keep so many teeth in good order every
month. but professional ethics will doubt
less be overcome by the prospect Of travel.
D commission in the army and good sal
,ry.
In General Otis mail report the case Of
Walter Fitzgerald. Company c. Twenty
Eighth Infantry. formerly of the Montana
Volunteers, is cited This young man
wenty-thres years old has been in the
philippines for a year and seven months
lie was one Of the first volunteers to reach
Manila after Deweys victory. Nineteen
months In the tropics. sub listing on the
atiOns Of the army. have resulted in the ;
{ Is not the climate alone which is respon-
'ible- II is that which undermines the
'oots Of the teeth. while the tropical fever
which has afflicted nearly every volunteer
now in the Islands. affects the gums of
he mouth and lOssens the teeth. Grind
ng on army biscuits, and canned beef
naturally doesn't improve the teeth. In
he case Of Fitzgerald. the teeth did not
ecay. but they dropped out one by one.
his is a common ailment in the Philip ,
ines, and the cause generally is the fever.
he hospital surgeons are able to relieve
be condition Of the patient 10 some extent.
ut constant care after the fever is neces-
airy to save the teeth '
Consul Warner. at Leipsic Germany Z j
sported nearly six months ago that the
erman Emperor had been considering the {
ueStion Of appointing dentists TO the 3
rmy' to look after the teeth OF the Ger j.
laE soldiers. In view of the large num- y
er OF troops under arms. and the fact {
nat these troops have never been beyond v
ne herman border in years but have al h
avs Deen near large cities. where dent +
is are available, nothing OF a permanent a
AZURE has yet been done though The Kai- n
y ana The German authorities agree that
ehtal surgeons ought to be attached TO 2:
Ie German army =
y