Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-05-30
ORAL HYGIENE IN THE
POBL|C SCHOOL 5.

cester County Medical Society in Woodbury.
on 5-l6, by DIR. T. Franklin Giffordl
1t is with pleasure that come before you
this afternoon on matter that should be
extremely interesting to all viz: Oral Hy-
giene in the Public Schools, its relation to
dentistry and medicine, and the manner in
which this work will be carried on.
For number Of years the dental profess
sion has realized the necessity Of proper
instruction to the public in Oral Hygiene,
the anatomy, nerve and blood supplies,
functions Of the teeth and adjoining parts
and their relation to other parts of the
body. The profession sees the need OF
short lectures in our schools, realizing from
experience that many children's mouths are
in such a filthy and unhealthy condition,
teeth 6iecayed, assesses and mouth full OF
disease, microbes, some of them being the
most contagious and infectious. The cause
of many children being dull in their stud
les can often be traced to bad teeth.
If the Importance os correcting teeth de-
fects at an early age was more generally
recognized by parents and teachers, we
would hear much less of the harmful infu-
ences OF our schools on the eyesight OF chill
dren. and the number who pursue the course
to the end would be materially increased.
Many parents, though interested in the
welfare of their children, in all other re-
spects, neglect this most important duty
not appreciating the fact that large num-
Der that are not up to the average in the
class or who suffer from toothache, earache,
sickness, weak indigestion, saint yitus'
dance, epilepsy, headache and physical
breakdown, owe their Ills to some defective
tooth or teeth.
The correction Of retroactive errors early
in life will not only prevent disease, but by
favorably influencing physical and mental
development win sidetrack inherited ten
denotes.
Il is we'll known fact that many nerv-
ous wrecks who are supposed to be invalids
from inherited causes haYe inherited only
defective oral conditions, which, like those
of their parents have not been corrected.
The continued leak Of nerve force from this
cause and from the nightmare OF the
thought that sooner or later they will be
compelled to surrender to the inevitable go
reduces the reserve force that, if called up
on to go through great strain, they col
lapse. when under other circumstances the
trial may haye strengthened them.
The following statement was made by an
eminent German Doctor, Myer, in Ger
man Medical Journal: ssThe nervous dis
eases of school children is an interesting
question from the point Of view OF one who
has had exceptional opportunities to observe
the frequency with which children are af-
feceed with nervous affection. 1857 school
children were SO examined, with the res ult
shat 1870 we're found to be nervous, which
ia 7 per cent, and out of the material Of
1O68 thas had never gone to school,, 2 8 per
cent. were nervous.
In America the PERCENTAGE is much
higher A statement has been published
recently that out Of the 1852, 600 school chill
dren in Philadelphia, so, 900 were nervous
or had eye trouble, according TO an article
in she St Louis Clinique by DR.. S. s.
Bishop, Of Harrisburg, Pa.
DIR. Darlington, Health Commissioners Of
New York City, made the statement some
time ago before the Academy of Medicine
at Harrisburg that 40 per cent. Of the
school children and SO per cent. Of the tru-
emit children Of that city were physically
defecsiye.
When we consider that the destiny of
this nation will be committed to those who
are now in its schools; that happy and
useful life, and peaceful existence de-
pends upon the health Of the individual, it
is obviously important that every effort
should be pu5 forth to prevent physical
degeneracy and, as far as possible, side
track inherited tendencies during the years
Of physiological growth, which are the
wears of school life A child should not be
allowed to drift down the stream Of life to
physical insuficiency, but the teacher
should come to bis rescue in any moral,
mental or physical defect which has been
acquired Or inherited, BY plotting him up
the stream to the hills wherein lies the hid
den treasure of physical strength.
In many Of the schools Medical Inspec-
tor is employed to examine any child de-
tected BY the teacher appearing in an abb
normal condition. The results of this work
is beyond comprehension. Children should
never be condemned or discouraged on ac-
count Of any weakness. but should be en-
couraged by an extra effort being put forth
10 strengthen weak points. Much depends
upon she way a child is started. + may be
shought be has sno turn for mathematios,
bus the sole trouble is shat be does not see
az 6x.sra9 f,arreaklv. sol5se children with