New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-01
NEW DENTAL CLINIC
T1co Small Boys Willing PIC
tins at Opening.

Emilio Bava and Giovanni Peretti were
proud boys yesterday. They were the very
first subjects selected to have their teeth
dlled at the opening OF the new dental
clinic in the Italian Industrial School at
No. 1855 Worth street. This building, long
known as the Five Points House OF In
dustry. was lately turned over to the
Children's Aid Society. and this organiza-
tlon decided that It's new school would be
a good place for its third dental clinic.
d.. J. Schwarts and Or. 7. Greenstein.
who did the dental work yesterday. had
large and admiring audience. There were
numbers of the friends o. the ChlldTen's
Aid Society who came 20 attend the OPEN
ing, and there were as many small Toys
as could manage TO slip past the outposts
and get into the clinic. The latter hung
fascinated around the two dental chairs.
and took advantage OF every Inomentary
absence Of the dentists to gaze into the
mouths which Emilio and Giovanni Obig
ingly opened wide FOR their benefit. and
to ask i'm awed whispers. Does IL hOit?"
From now on a number Of children will
be treated each school day, but Emilio
and Giovanni were the only ones yester-
day, because every one was occupied with
the speeches given IN the chapel down
stairs in honor Of the opening of the
clinic. DR.. David s. Sned1en the new
Commissioner OF Education for Massachu-
sets. took charge OF the meeting.
Undertakings like this clinic. he said,
evidenced a growing sense Of collective
responsibility.
philanthropy must pioneer the way" he
said. but these things become definitely
organized it is inevitable that the state
should take them over. No one can say
how far the public schools may concern
themselves with the children's needs. They
are beginning to PROVIDE medical inspection.
In two states OF the Union clothes are
given where the parents can't buy them.
But the state doesn't seem capable of ex-
perimental work. which is apparently the
province of philanthropic societies.
"A good many people are afraid OF de-
stroying the parents sense Of responsibility
by doing too much. But the child has a
right 10 protected childhood, and the
child that lacks proper medical care isn't
getting the fair start IN life which society
owes II. and society is going TO commit
itself to this doctrine"
Dr. Arthur Merritt, who organized the
dental clinics for the society and examines
the mouths of the boys and girls and de-
the city ought to have an institution where
false teeth would be given people who
couldn't buy them. "As to destroying the
parents sense of responsibility by estab-
fishing free dental clinics for children" he
remarked. I'm not a social expert, but 1
know this-the children's teeth must be
cared for. II they're not, there's crop OF
digestive diseases. tuberculosis and all sorts
of Ills awaiting the next generation"
"Out OF $4,000 children examined" said
DR.. Josephine Baker. chief OF the division
OF hygiene OF the Board of Health. 1885, 900
had defective teeth. Only 200 of these
were able TO obtain permanent help Re
Gently a number of children who had just
applied for their work papers were ex-
amined. Their mouths were in most de-
plorable state. There are about seventeen
dental clinics in New York. but some OF
these are clinics IN name only