Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-09-21

"a IlltS less llldI d year d&Ot ICl
months, to be exact, the Rev. Edward
f. QuirlS put into practical operation
at st. Joseph's Parochial School, in
Wallace place, a plan that he had
been evolving for a long time, but
which had received little encourage
ment from most of the people who had
been approached on the subject.
The plan was nothing more than a
regular and thorough examination or
the teeth of the children in all grades
In the school and the recommendation
of such treatment in each case as the
condition seemed to warrant.
Father Quirx did not a year ago,
and does not yet, believe that visiting
nurses can pass the proper Judgment
on the condition of children's teeth
neither does he believe they can sug-
gest the proper treatment in the
numerous advanced cases of tooth dis
ease that confront the teachers of
every school in the city. His purpose
at the very beginning, and subsequent
experience showed that he was right,
was to secure competent and expert
enced dentists to examine each child
and to make each case a special case.
If the conditions warranted 1t.
Secured Five Dentists.
With this idea in view, and with the
support ana Endorsement of the Rev.
George w. Corrigan, rector of st.
Josephs Church, Father Quirl1 secured
the services of five graduate dentists
the best that he could find in the city
of various denominations who gladly
offered to do the work outlined free of
charge, requesting only that their
names be kept secret, so far as the
general public was concerned
ST. Joseph's School at that time had
an enrolment of 1.4Oo pupils, and every
one of them was examined for dental
troubles. If Father Quirk and the
dentists expected to find plenty Of
work they We're not disappointed, as 1t
was found that nearly 95 per cent. of
all the children needed some sort of
dental treatment. There were many
advanced cases of tooth disease, re-
curing the most skillful treatment,
while in the majority of the others II
was found that the children's teeth
had been receiving little or no atten-
tion.
Cards were printed showing the teeth
just as they appear in the mouth, and
arrows were used to indicate which
teeth were affected in each case. On
the reverse side of the card was an
explanation of each tooth affection in
dicated, with instructions as to treat
ment and care.
Up TO this point the system adopted
at st. Joseph's School, while more
thorough than that in the public
schools, resembled in It's essential par
ticulars the same principles that the
Board of Education was endeavoring
to put into practise.
But Father Quirk did not let the
matter drop when the children received
their cards and the. examinations had
been completed. He sent word to the
parents to have the children taken to
dentist for the treatment indicated
as result of the examination by the
schools dental staff Some cases re-
quired no more than home treatment
little care and continued cleanliness
while others called for systematic
professional treatment.
Parents Enlightened.
A reasonable time was allowed to
elapse before any well defined results
were looked for and then another thor
ough examination was made of each
child's teeth to see If the proper prog
ress and improvement had been made
II it was found that the instructions
had been neglected or that the child's
teeth had not been attended to as or
dered, the parents were visited and the
Importance of the matter impressed
upon them in such a manner that it
was seldom necessary to visit the same
family twice.
Families who did not have regular
Dentist were advised as to the kind OF
treatment to prepare for and were sent
to a dentist of standing near them.
Others who could not we'll afford such
office treatment were sent to the New
ton street Fairgrounds clinic. where a
very nominal charge is made.
Parents who were too poor to pay
even these moderate prices were pro-
yided for in other directions and the
necessary treatment secured free.
There we're no excuses for neglect and
none were accepted. Father Quirk made
1t imperative that each child should
have its teeth attended to, and the
records show that his wishes were sell
dom ignored.
The results of this system were. no.
ticeable almost at once. The children
did better work at school, and. being
relieved of toothache and other dental
troubles, enjoyed their child life more
fully. Their general health was bet
ter because they could eat as nature
intended and they gave evidence OF
fewer stomach troubles AND less OF the
ailments peculiar to children who suf-
fer from digestive disorders. The
whole tone of the school seemed to
! improve, and Father Quirk found a
uniform change for the better In all
the departments.
The success Of the earlier efforts dio
! not cause any relaxation In the sys-
tenn, and the examinations We're con-