The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-01-28
PRACTICAL TESTS
OF DENTAL HYGIENE
Interesting Exhibition Civ
en- for City Fathers at DR..
Zones Offices

Probably one of the most interesting
exhibitions Of dental practice as a
means of disease prevention that has
ever, been witnessed in this section of
New England was held late yesterday
in the office of DIR. Alfred c.. Zones,
at Washington and Park avenues
where before an assemblage of the
most eminent physicians, surgeons.
public officials, and educators in
Bridgeport practical demonstrations in
this branch of medical treatment was
given.
The occasion was made possible
through the public. spirited desire of
DR.. Zones to see sesta blished in the
Bridgeport public schools a clinic for
dental preservation and mouth by
gtene. Its prime object was to give
mittee9 appointed by the Board of
Apportionment an opportunity of wit
Messing the necessity for a dental
clinic in the local schools.
1t is the belief of experts who have
recently investigated local conditions
in not only the schools here but in
leaving school with both body and
mind in defective condition, due in
many instances to defective teeth
Yesterday group of five children
picked out at random, from schools
in various sections of the city, were
examined under the supervision Of DR..
to be in a very unsanitary and un-
wholesome condition-decayed teeth,
decomposition of food and other de-
fects all pointed towards causing
their retardation in study.
Opposed to five children more or
less retarded, 6 or z of the doctor s
patients were produced as an example
Il of what could be done towards build
ing up health. in even such a short
period of time as five weeks.
/ Adjourning to the garage the as
senbly were shown stereopticon views
of the previous retarded development
of the children at a previous stage
Films of the Marion school at Cleve-
land, Ohio, where a similar clinic has
been in successful operation for some
| time, were then shown to the inter.
ested spectators.
During the examination OF the var;
/ ious subjects yesterday many phys1o
| logical tests were made and samples O
/ saliva and food were taken from the
mouths of the children for basterio
4 logical tests.
Mouth hygiene as preventative O.
disease has been widely advocated o.
| late and while not held by authorities
] who spoke on the subject yesterday to
I be g. panacea it is contended that SO
ITO Of the average ailments are due
/ to uncIean mouths, impure food and
/ improper mastication of food. -.
/ Dr. Zones, in speaking of the bene'
! fits to accrue. from proper dental OBJ
servatfon. in the schools and advocat-
1 ing the expenditure of the s12, 600 ask
I ed by the Board Of Education from
the Advertisement committee, said
that such a step would be the great
4 est initial contribution towards pre-
tventive medicine made In this cog1n-
4 trv and while not a. cure for all Ills
] is was his belief that it Is the largest
factor in the proper physical anc
mental development.
| B Amone those present were Mayor
Wilson, IS. E. Vincent Angus H. Mac
kenzie, and William r. Hincks, mem
beers of the Board Of Apportionnent
DR. DorIand Smith, DR. W. J. Nc
tLaushIin of the Board of Health; DR.
IPeters, pathologist at Bridgeport hos
pdtaI, as well as the principals ano
teacRera from many of the local
/ schools