The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-11-21
Asour soLplsws rEsrn.
fHey Must be Looked After to Main
tain Military EfHcisney.

Netu WNiNaFl EFlCteUcys
After much study the British war
once has appointed eight dsAtna sur.
geons who are 70 aid in maintaining
the courage and temper OF the
army" Interesting as Is the announce.
ment, England is considerably behind
the United States in learning the inn
portanoe Of caring for soldiers teeth.
In the first place, we have had these
important adjupcts to the medical
corps since February 2, 1901, when the
law officially creating them was pass
ed The law stipulated that there
should be one dentist for every thous.
and soldiers and officers. AS the law
has been In force for over three years,
and the wisdom Of its passage has be-
come daily more manifest. the limit OF
the number of dentists allowed for
the army IS already nearly reached.
In this country a secondary consid-
Grafton, quite naturally following the
first. has bobbed up-an effort on the
part CT the dentists to be admitted in
TO the army as commissioned ofieers.
At the present time they are merely
legalzed aids to the medical corps
under the jurisdiction Of the army sur
geons
! When Gen. Miles signed the order
for the appointment Of dentists It had
been discovered that however well tho
natives of the Philippines and Cuba
preserved their teeth in their warm
climates, our soldiers suffered severe
ly AS soon as regiment reached the
tropics. it's officers and men began to
have trouble with their teeth
The trouble, however, was the result
OF intestinal disorders. The medical
men who were behind the bill Great.
ing the dentists understood this, and
useful as the dentists are to any
army in any lands they have proved
especially so TO American soldiers,
cause OF the new possessions and
physical ailments following upon
their arrival there.
While the law stipulated that not
more than one dentist for every thou
sand soldiers should be appointed, It
allowed them to be sent in whatever
quota was deemed necessary to what
ever points needed them most AS a
result we now have in Cuba and the
Philippines a regular army of dem
fists. so large as TO put to shame tho
recent appointment Of eight tooth doc.
tors by the United Kingdom
So important is this army depart.
ment that it seems surprising how IL
has remained to be established until
SO recent a date, Army officers declare
with one voice that there is no such
q think as courageous fighting force
with bad teeth, but It is a solemn
truth to which the powers Of the
world seem Just waking up
I think that most people will agree"
said an army surgeon the other day
''that dyspepsia is not conducive to
gallantry and dash. With your heart
beating violently. your head in a
whirl. and your stomach affected as
by the heaving sea, you cannot ex-
pect your nerves to be in condition
proper for successful action in modern
warfare For that man must be alb.
Bolutely ft II the soldiers teeth are
bad, and he is inclined to dyspepsia
in peace and comfort, what viii he be
when his meals are rorgh and irregI-
lar? Unless molars' and grinders are
In good order It must mean that before
long the man will be permanently on
the sick list
"As a matter Of fact, It is quite ap-
palling how many would-be recruits
have TO be refused because Of the con
dition OF their teeth, and the war Of
4 nce in this country as well as the one
Il In England. is to be congratulated up.
e on the steps It is taking TO insure good
o teeth in the soldiers. The common ad-
age. No foot, no horse, might well be
p paraphrased into no tech, no man
d "While not abreast of us in the mat
ter of army dentists, Great Britain 10
4 rs understand going to the fountain
e step in advance Of us In that It is,
= head In the matter. and is trying TO
enforce a law which requires the ex-
4 animation Of the teeth Of boys in the
boarding schools. In teeth, as in ey-
m srHlhina eLsa- the hnY ls fathar 10 Lha