Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-19
Dentistry for Women.

In almost all the professions where
in skill takes the place of capital sup
ply exceeds demand, and consequently,
III such pursuits, women find it hard
to compete with men. But there is
one exception, and that is dentistry
For this there is a constantly growing
demand, at prices relatively high Mean
while hundreds of thousands of young
people lose health, and later die pre-
matureiy, because, during their child
hood, their parents could not afford to
pay for treatment.
At the Twentieth Century club of this
city, last Saturday, an expert affirmed
that recent inspection of the teeth of
the pupils in one of the Boston schools
showed ninety out of a hundred as al
ready suffering from incipient dental
decay, which. taken in time, could easily
be cured, but, let alone, will result in
the destruction of their teeth before they
attain maturity. AS a consequence, thor
ough mastication becomes impossible
Gent nutrition, and every form of mala-
dy therefrOm. No wonder that a MAORI
ty of our people die in early or middle
life, just when usefulness and enjoy
ment should be in their prime!
There is no reason to doubt that the
condition of that school may be mul-
tiplied by the hundred thousand in
professional employment to an army
of women at fair remuneration, eX-
ceeding that earned in most other
employments now open to women. But
this opening exists not alone in this
country. AT a conference held last
week in Boston, it was pointed out
that the american dentist" has be
rome recognized institution the
world over, particularly in Spanish
America, and hardly less so in France
and Russia. There is reason for
this The Transcript observes that
the repair work, so called. in den,
tistry is probably more expensive than
almost any other service necessary
for the maintenance of good physical
condition Americans have been able
TO afford this to a greater extent than
the people elsewhere. 1t is also prob
able that the refnements Of food which
now prevail have weakened dental
structure so that Americans need
more Of tais work done, and the two
things have worked together, With the
result that Americans at home are
great patrons of the dentist, and the
dentist is great American product
SO successful, in fact, that he is eX-
ported to the most distant quarters Of
the world. The native peoples appear
to regard him as little short Of won
der worker. and they are willing to
pay, even on their scant standards Of
life. what is a comparatively eXorbl.
tant sum, since he does not settle in
Madrid or Manila for his health but
because of the exceptional yields to he
expected from his professian. And yet
some of the native races, even of Asia,
have shown unusual alertness in avail
ing themselves of his services"
We hear much of the need of industrial
schools for girls. Might not some of OH
benevolent women or men endOw scholar
ships for the instruction of young women
in dentristy, or otherwise provide free
instruction in l. for graduates of our
grammar and high schOlS, issuing certiti-
Gates of ability to those who attain mod
crate efficiency? Afterwards, these pu'
pills might be put in charge of the teeth
of the children Of town and city schools
now uncared for. They would thus ac-
quire superior skill, emitting them in
turn to supervise the work of others in
field OF usefulness now almost wholly
neglected.
The dental profession would seem to
be in many respects especially adapted
to women. because it can be followed in
after life in their own homes c0mpatlbly
with domestic duties and responsibilities.
Delicacy of touch and manual deXterlty
are especially feminine accomplishments.
Already many women excel as surgeons,
performing the most difficult and critical
operations. Surely, therefore. they can
he trusted with the care Of our children
teeth. with results equally beneficial 70
themselves and to their patlents.-H- b.
+. in Woman's Journal.