The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-28

Guy experimenting tue HHculCdl In-
spection Of the children, and il is they
who are responsible for a large pro
portion Of the big attendance at the
Saturday morning clinics at Tufts.
from nine o'clock until one Of this
school holiday the Tufts inGrmary Is
crowded with youngsters awaiting
their turns in the dentists chair and
youngsters, too, Of the age when many
Of rs, II we were sent alone, used TO
look hcsitatingly at the dentists door.
bell and then scuttle away to spend
the hours Of our appointment amid
plcasanter surroundings.
But being one Of seyenty-six pa
ticnts in big, bright, airy room,
equipped with all the ingenious per-
lection Of hospital construction
everything Immediately clean, every
instrument shining bright from its
antisptic bath, the white enamel chairs
and glass shclviHg almost comforting
in their spotlessness- being one Of
seyenty-six boys and girls, men and
women, all OF whom are almost as
uncomfortable as you are, but none
oi whom is making the slightest fuss
about il, seems to have a psycholog.
ical effect Not only is there rarely
4 sound 10 be heard here, but there
seems 10 be a sort Of rcstfulness (if
you can imagine restiulncss in such a
placed caused by having something
else to occupy your mind besides your
own personal troubles.
Great things are expected from the
efforts OF the dentists, particularly
among school children, and the con
clusions that will be drawn from effect
oi scientific care Of the teeth will be
equally important and interesting
when the work has gone on long
enough to allow professional opinions
to be formed with positiveness. What
affects the health OF the child is bound
TO affect the health of the man; and,
as has been proved over and over
again in other phases OF living, the
example set by the child frequently
has more weight with the parent than
any amount Of advice from the most
grownup.
The theory now is that apart from
any question OF health as affecting
other things, a ehild's scholarship, be-
ing influenced quite as much in the
earlier years by physical condition as
by mental development, will be dis
iinetly benefited by whatever i'm
proves the bodily welfare, and so will
respond noticeably to the results Of
dentistry. The children OF the poor,
such children as come in
great number to the Tufts dental
,linics- should have the most careful
attention given to their teeth, which
ire of more practical value to them
han to more fortunate youngsters.
rhe anaemic, ill nourished child of |
he tenement falls into its unfortunate
tate not only because it is not prop
rly fed and housed, but also because
does not get the most benefit from
that food it has, for the digestion,
ne nerves, and so every part Of the
ystem, are affected by the condition
/ the mouth. Such satisfactory re-
hts have already been obtained from
le treatment OF Boston school child
N that farseeing observers antici-
ate the time when every school
ouse will have its own consulting
Dom where pupils will be regularly
lspected by both doctors and den
sts and will receive whatever treat
lcnt is necessary for their well being,
Modern dentistry goes beyond
attracting troublesome molars, max
ng false SETS" and filling aching
'oids. The whole care of the mouth |
$ its province. The twentieth cen
ury dentist is a specialist in this, and |
he Importance of his speciality is ap-
parent from the fact that most disease
germs enter the system through the
mouth and most diseases are now
Known to be transmitted by germs.
In other words, if the mouth is kept
n good condition, a person is much
ess susceptible to sickness, and on
hat account alone dentistry makes a
strong appeal to the public health !
who realize its preventive
,irtues. The good work of the Tufts
lental clinics, for example, extends
beyond the thousands of patients who
,ome to the schools infrmary for
reatment and includes the care of
he inmates of an increasing number
II public Observation-Disclosures re-
ormatories, asylums, and sanatar.
ums.
An immediate result of the general