Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-22

This Is the fourth of n series of
a~xticles dealing with tho depiorable
and diseased condition of the teeth
of 90 per cent. of Newark children
of school age.
An analysis of the dental clinic situa-
ton in this city brings two facts
prominently to the foreground. First,
the city needs more centres where the
poor may receive dental treatment,
either free of charge or for a very
nominal fee. This is particularly true
In it's application to school children,
who appear to be more In need of this
kind OF treatment than their elders;
second. there Is a divided opinion as to
Just who should take the initiative In
the extension of this work.
Tho Board of Education believes that
the matter should emanate from the
Board of Health, while the latter body
thinks the matter belongs largely with
the Board of Education.
The city itself, as represented by the
Board of Aldermen, is of the opinion
that the matter is up to either one OF
both of these branches OF the local gov
eminent, so that between this differ
NICE of opinion the public simply has
TO sit back and wait Until something
happens to make these much-needed
institutions possible.
All Realize Gravity of Case.
Scarcely any official in either the
Board Of Health, the Board of Educa-
ito OF the Board of Aldermen ques-
tons the Importance of caring for the
teeth of the school children, and most
Of them will acknowledge that Tree
clinics in various parts of the city
would be of inestimable good, but
neither n of the three boards will
TAX unto itself the task of organizing
these institutions.
In his regard Newark is far behind
cities that are less able to support such
clinics, but it would seem that the
campaign of education a not yet been
waged sufficiently effectually to bring
our officials to a realization Of what
the city needs in the way of dental
clinics.
1t is nothing less thai a reflection
upon the city that the only clinics of
the kin we have were made possible
through the charity of a handful of
people who realized that the needs of
the city demanded some place where
the poor could have their teeth treated.
After the clinics were established and
1t was seen what good was being ac-
complished the friends of the move
ment succeeded in having legislation
enacted hat empowered the aldermen
to vote the sum of $1,000 a year to the
clinics.
Perhaps, if the truth We're known,
judging by the indifference shown the
matter since the project was first in
troduced the Board Of Aldermen
would have been loath to part with
even this trifing sum if they could
have avoided 1t, but the appropriation,
small though 1t was, enabled the people
behind the movement to improve the
facilities for handling the great num-
Der of people that applied for relief
and advice.
The simplest solution of the prob
lem would seem to be to let each board
provide for that portion of the re-
sponsibility that 1t could best care
for. The Board of Education should,
for instance, conduct clinics for the
school children only while the Board
of Health, working in conjunction with
the Newark Dental Clinic Association,
could well afford to help in maintaining
the two clinics already in existence
and help to establish others where they
are needed.
Mayor Haussling is known to be
heartily in sympathy with the free
dental clinic idea, and in fact II was
largely through his efforts hat the
city was able to give the existing
clinics $1,000 a year. He urged the
matter upon the Board of Aldermen at
a time when the interest in the plan
was at a very low ebb, and he would