The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-10-10

geons who are 10 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
portance of caring for soldiers teeth.
In the FIRST place. we have had these
important adju7cts to the medical
corps since February 2, 1901, when the
law officially creating them was pass
cd. The law stipulated that there
should be one dentist for every thous-
and soldiers and ofhcers. As the law
has been In force for over three years,
and the wisdom OF It's passage has be-
come laily 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
nrSt. has bobbed up-an effort on the
part of the dentists to be admitted in
70 the army as commissioned officers.
At the present time they are merely
legauzed aids TO the medical corps
under the Jurisdiction Of the army sur.
geons.
When Gen. Miles signed the order
for the sppointr- ent Of dentists II had
been discovered that however well the
natives OF the Philippines and Cuba
preserved their teeth in their warm
climates, our soldiers suffered severe
ly As soon as a regiment reached the
tropics, its officers and men began 70
have trouble with their teeth.
4 The trouble, however, was the result
Cf Intestinal disorders. The medical
men who we're behind the bill Great
ing tbs dentists understood this, and
useful 40 the dentists are to any
army in any lands they have proved
especially so to American soldiers,
cause of the new possessions rnd
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, IL
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 regular army Of den
lists, so large as TO put to shame the
recent appointment Of eight tooth doc
tors by the United Kingdom.
So important is this army depart
ment that it seems surprising how 4.
has remained TO be established until
so recent a date. Army officers declare
with one voice that there is no such
q think as a courageous fighting force
with bad teeth, but 1t 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 az
by the heaving sea, you cannot en-.
peot your nerves 10 be in condition
proper for successful action In modern
warfare. For that man must be alb
BolUtely ht II the soldiers teeth are
bad, and he is inclined TO dyspepsia
tn peace and comfort, what win he be
when his meals are rorgh and iErsgO
laRf Unless 'molaTs' and grinders are
J ln good order II must meab that 5sfOF4
long the man will be permanently on
i he sick list
"As a matter Of fact, II is quite ap
: pAlling how many would-be recruits
have to be refused because Of the con-
nition Of their teeth, and the war Of
nce in this country, as well as the one
In England, is 10 be congratulated up
on the steps II is taking TO insure good
teeth in the soldiers. The common ad-
age. No foot, no horse might well be
paraphrased into no tech, no man
while not abreast Of us in the mat
ter Of army dentists, Great Britain is
hs understand goiag TO the fountain
step in advance OF US in that Ii Is,
head in the matter, and is trying 70
enforce a law which requires the ex-
animation Of the teeth Of boys In the
boarding schools In teeth, as In ev-
srythine else. the boy is father to the
man A generation bred from dyspep
, ties means a people whose shattered
constitutions win crowd our hospitals
and asylums. The strain OF moderI
existence is often put down as the sole
cause for modern lunacy II is, n
doubt, a contributing factor, but be
heye very much Of It is due 70 neg
leeted teeth. aoeentuated in two o.