The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-06-20


LEGATIONS we're conducted which re-
vealed so per cent OF the Inhabitants
we're suffering with decayed teeth. In
1896 Russia dentists petitioned the
minister Of the interior to organize ?
regular dental hygiene department
throughout the empire. A striking
proof of the estimate in which teeth
are held in Russia was recently fur
nished by the civil court Of st. Peters
burg, which awarded the sum of $780,
900 to singer for the loss of five
teeth in a railway accident. II these
things can be done in Russia why not
in the United States where the need
is far greater.
The overcrowding of the school
course has been urged as an objec.
ton in certain quarters both as re-
CARDS dental examinations and the
far more important instruction of dem
tai hygiene Despite these occasional
objections however, the movement in
behalf of dental hygiene and eEamir-
atoms Is steadily progressing.
As regards the school curriculum IL
self the question becomes one of re.
lative importanc eof studies. The
board of education of New York CITY
recognizing the pressure of the
times and realizing the tremendous
Importance OF subjects of immediate
| utility, has recently made a number
of changes, making room for example.
| for stenography and other branches
designed to enable the pupil on leav-
ing school to obtain a livelihod.
Deeper than the question of utili-
| ties, however, and underlying it, is
that affecting the future well being
of the individual. And there is no
factor deeper or more fundamental re-
garding the future health of the ma
ton than that bearing upon the pre-
servation of the teeth. To this end
the school must cooperate with the
family. and in as much as it has been
commonly demonstrated by statistics
that the family can not be relied upon
to safeguard what may perhaps be
considered as one of the most vital
physical functions it resolves itself
upon the schools to inculcate the prin-
ciples of dental hygiene
Girls whose teeth are defective, will
in few years be the mothers OF the
next generation, and the instructions
thy receive now win be reflected in
the mouths Of their children.
Here then we have a number OF
reasons why special instructions on
the care of the teeth. and mouths
should constitute permanent fea.
ture in our school curriculums, even
though such instructions be limited
TO brief reading lessons of half an
hour two or three times a week 1t is
in the school room and home that the
future American" is formed. In the
school room all the Heterogeneous ele-
ments of our population are assembled
and here their education is supervis-
ed and controlled by the properly con
stituted authorities. That such a
course would reflect beneficently up-
on the home itself is also beyond
question.
The mind of the child, provided the
instruction be properly given, in far
more susceptible than that of the
adult, and. while lectures are pro.
ductive OF much good, they only reach
a comparatively small part of the
population whereas a school course
in oral hygiene would permanently eff.
feet the entire generation.
1t is of the greatest importance for
the comfort and health OF children
and for the Improvement of the stand.
ard OF physique and beauty that
teachers and scholars in primary and
grammar schools should receive in.
structions in the best means OF IRE.
serving the teeth. That certain,v 1,