The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-18
SHAMEFUL NEGLECT
 OF CHILDREN'S TEETH.
pr. A. c. Zones Finds De- plorable Conditions Elk
 isting Here
To Establish Free Lecture Course Along Lines of
 Preventive Dentistry

The subjoined communication to The Farmer from pr. Alfred c. Tones, D. D s., on a subject that is worthy of the most profound consideration on the part of all citizens, especially those who have children attending the local schools will be read with interest.
 To the Editor of The Farmer, Sir:
 As final word for the immediate present, as far as I am concerned, re- garding the dental clinic for the chill dren in the public schools, wish to make a brief statement of some facts.
 As a citizen, born and brought up 1n this city, l am deeply interested in Brddgeport's progress. My work and studies, for many years back, have made me realize more and more that human efficiency as well as nor mai thought and action are due chief ly to a sound and healthy body. The human machine is not unlike any piece of fine mechanism and if it is not abused and is used with some de- gree of care and intelligence, 1t is capable of much more than the aver age person at the present day obtains. It is also a fact that students of crirn- inology find that unclean and defec-I tive bodies are the chief source of perverted thoughts and actions. We never find rowdy with clean mouth for cleanliness does not go with rowdyism.
 L been interested in the condition of the mouths of the children in our public schools and have found, like many oth- CTS who have looked into the matter, most deplorable condition of affairs A thorough examination of the teeth by dentist would disclose that fully g. per cent of the children had one or more of their teeth decayed. Even the hasty' examination given by the medical inspector shows in Dr. Sher- mans report that defective teeth out numbers all other physical defects combined. It would seem that in this enlightened age 1t would be possible to have a system of education and treatment in our public schools to pre- vent this wholesale loss of teeth be- sides the poisonous action in the sys- tenn Of abascessed and decaying teeth combined with decomposing food de- brfs. I realize that the average lay man has given but very little thought to this matter in the past and is apt to treat lightly of it in the present but the more he observes and ponders over the subject the more he will be- come convinced of its great importance to health and happiness.
 If this campaignl has done nothing more it has called the attention of the public to a. deplorable condition that must be met in the near future. The city should at least support
  sincerely hope that either the Board of Educa ton or the Board of Health will be able to establish such a clinic. To stamp out this wholesale loss of teeth women must be trained to go into the schools and give the children prcphylactic treatments of the teeth at regular intervals. These women to eventually be teachers of hygiene. A clinic established just for the filling of teeth is but 8 charity and would be an endless one and much abused. The Board of Education was given S, 900 by the Board of Apportionment to establish a clinic for the relief of pain and to secure a demonstration Of what could be accomplished with the younger children in oral hygiene for increased mental and physical ef- fciency. It is now exceedingly doubt fuI if such demonstration will be made.
 I wish to say that I am not dis couraged in eventually bringing about this much needed help and service for the children. I realize that a. work of this kind is slow and educational and endeavor to establish a, free lecture course for thirty women and, securing the aid of men from Bridgeport, New Haven, New York and possibly other cities, will educate and train these women in the science of preventive dentistry and general hygiene. If the opportunity does not offer for their entering the schools they will be well equipped to enter dental offices as prophy1actic assistants to be of service to the public. shah also try to issue facts and figures for. the enlighten- ent of the city fathers so that they may eventually appreciate that the preservation of the chiId's body is more important than the development of its brain.
 Yours very truly,
 ALFRED c. ZONES, DDS.