Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-28
<f- HAT the services OF skilled
dentists are required by the

xf- HAT the services of skilled
dentists are required by the
! navy" said Surgeon General
Rixey, cannot he questioned by those
acquainted with the conditions and
those acquainted with the conditions and
who know the far-reaching results of
'neglecting dental disorders. With the
dncrease in the personnel the question of
attention to the teeth of the enlisted men
of the navy is becoming more and more
pressing each year. and there are few
matters within the province of the medi-
Cal officer that at times cause him more
embarrassment. Like the eyes, the teeth
are coming properly to be regarded as
Intimately and widely associated with the
various organs and functions of the body,
and that defective teeth may be response
BILE for much ill-health is recognized by
all who keep In touch with the accumu-
lating truths of medical science. The
naval surgeon is alert to detect dental
disorders early lest an aggravation of
them produce grave Illness. He, however,
has not that special skill required to fit
him to cope with diseased teeth in final
manner. He can. and often does. put in
temporary filings and treats the medical
and surgical complications incident to
dental disorders. and aften extracts such
teeth as are not worth preserving. but
naval surgeons are not expected 10 uedl
with detnal disorders in a radical man
ner. The practice o. dentistry re-
auires a special education and train
ing. The teeth and the mouth are in
dubitably important factors in the causa
ton of certain diseases of bacterial
origin. This is not a hypothetical con-
'clusion. for it has been proved beyond
doubt that not only are bacteria found
In great numbers in uncared-for and
neglected mouths, but their disease-pro-
ducing properties are greatly increased,
particularly in and about decayed teeth.
Much of the tonsilitis and pharyngitis in
the navy can undoubtedly be traced to
bad teeth, as can also deranged digestion
and general physical deterioration. 1t is
not improbable, moreover, that the teeth
are an important contributory factor in
tuberculosis by producing a state of
1essened resistance to the disease ny the
constant absorption of poisonous matter.
In thus indicating the prominent reasons
for the navy's need of proper dental serv-
ices, 1t may be added that bad tooth
may occasionally give rise to serious
complications which may even endanger
life. Dental surgeons. therefore are
needed In the navy, quite as much as If
not more than in the army, which serv
ice enjoys free treatment by dentists en-
ployed in accordance with law, and it
seems an unjust discrimination against
the enlisted men in the navy not to pro-
vide for similar dental work, especially
IN view of the universally recognized
military service
X * X X
News gathering is a science that has to
be mastered like any other, but there is
an opposite and more difficult science,
brought into existence by the great de-
Nelopment Of news gathering, and all sue
cessful public men have to master it.
This might be called the science of news
paper lodging.
A public man is. in the nature of things,
continually besieged by newspaper men,
whom 1t Is his wish to please. They are
hot after the news-every bit of it-apd
there Is always something he can't di-
vulge, either in justice to himself or some
body else. He hasN to learn to be a good
fellow. and at the same time keep
tight" IL the occasion demands.
There are some men in public life to-
day who have mastered this science to
the queens taste. They have the mar
Vicious power of talking to group of
j, alert newspaper men by the hour. if nee
want II print. at the same time keeping
their g4\d>TiIl 1t Is no easy job to keep
new$S<Der mans good will. either,
when you Aive him nothing to write about
Senator c tlbersSn of Texas. the leader
Of the>mfnority Of the foremost legisla-
I've body in the land. is one of the most
boys" He gives plenty of valuable
Information, .tdt when he wants to he can
keep stili=~ The other day. just before
thefSenate committees We're announced
a star reporter stopped him in one of
the Ssnate corridors and wanted some ad-
vance eommittee news.
DOM you KNOW" he remarked with a
twinkie in his eye. II have been asked not
TO say anything about that. Still, 1
might say something. What particular
thing did YOU want TO know"
The reporter said he was especially in
terested in the membership of the COM
mittee on the District of Columbia
Now that's too had. and it's right
STRANGE foQ." replied the distinguished
Texan, as eolemnly judge. but that
Is iust the committee they told me to be
unusually quiet about
He didn't say who they were but he
gave the impression that he would go
through untold hardships just to get that
hit or news. If it were at all possible.
There was hearty laugh on both sides
and the reporter went merrily on his
way-newsless.
x 4 \
THAT story concerning what the Gov
ernor OF North Carolina said to the Gov
ernor of South Carolina is L dastardly
libel on two great commemorative" re-
marked Senator Benjamin F. Tillman,
and he struck the table with such en-
phasis that the water pitcher and glasses
danced q musical jig. II don't believe il
ever happened. Since have been fight
ing the demon rum l have carefully looA-
ed into the records of our governors for
the last hundred and fifty years, and I
can't ind ghost of authority for the
yarn. Nor can the best historians in
North Carolina find any basis for it.
when i was governor of South Caro-
hna travelling man who smoked ciga-
rettes and had face like a pot of butter
got off that remark. When he came to
his senses two months afterward in a
hospital he opined that there was ter
rible misconception somewhere. 1t was