The Washington herald., 1913-06-27
PUPILS Teeth
ARE NEGLECTED
Dental Inspector Killinger
Says Deplorable Conditions
Exist in Schools.
FREE SERVICE NECESSARY
Imperative Necessity Exists for Treat
ment at Public
Expense.
FREE SERVICE NECESSARY

generally either understood or appreciate
ed, according to DR.. w. c. Killinger.
dental Inspector of the white public
schools of the District. This statement
is certainly borne out by the conditions
found during his school years inspection
work in the white public schools of this
city, he declared to an interview last
night. ..
"The real facts almost challenge be-
lief" DR.. Killinger said.
"Out Of 36I0 white children in the
lcity's public schools examined by me
between the latter part Of last Novem-
Der and the close Of the school year,
3os7 had total among them OF E,leS
Icavities-an average OF nearly four cavi-
ties for each one Of them: 3.2f, or prac-
tically 30 per cent Of all the children ex-
amined by me, had teeth which needed
cleaning: 1,5T had teeth which required
and ought to receive regulating-which
must be treated more or less radically
before they can be expected to conserve
the health of the different children who
are carrying them; 1913 had teeth which
needed to be extracted land failure to
extract the teeth of children at the prop
err time often produces woeful conse-
quences of a serious and permanent
character): $50 had permanent teeth miss
ing, which indicated that just $50 blum
ders had been made on the part Of those
iwho were responsible for such missing
I teeth, and ll3 had teeth which had alb
scessed and were sending septic poison
into their little systems all the time.
Average Maintained Elsewhere.
while the conditions thus found are
really alarming. they are pretty much in
keeping with the showings made by the
statistics of other large cities in which
similar inspection work has been done
As a general proposition, between 90 per
cent and 81 per cent, or over 5000. 900
public school children in the United
States are dental cripples-on the road TO
impaired health and ultimate disease.
THE best individual asset OF any ma
| ton, in my opinion, is the good health Of
the rank and file OF its individual pro-
ducers. No man with decayed. defective,
or carious teeth can possibly have good
| health. So that the conservation or
preservation of the good health OF the
| individual producers OF a nation by timely
attention to and care of the teeth of its
school children becomes not only a wise
| but a far-reaching public policy. since 1t
reaches the conservation of an invaluable
natural resource which the tendency is 20
| overlook neglect, and undervalue.
The need OF this conversation. sooner
or later. comes sharply home to every
community and forces itself upon the at
| tention OF observing and thoughtful citi-
| gems OF public spirit, since carious teeth
are prolific and never-failing incuba tors.
propagators. and disseminators OF conta-
gious and infectious diseases. whose in
oculating germs spread tuberculosis.
diphtheria, scarlet fever. measles, and
other death-bresthing enemies of man
kind.
Proper Treatment Necessary.
THE proper treatment and preserva-
| ton Of the teeth of poor children in
| community becomes a vital community
| interest, affects the community as
whole. and ought to be made a COM
munity charge-must be made a commu-
nifty or municipal charge If public health
is to be properly conserved and protected.
The determination OF the pestiferous
house fly is important. but it pales to in
significance in comparison with the ex-
termination OF carious. decayed, defective
teeth in the mouths of the poor children
OF any community. Such conditions not
only breed disease. prevent full develop
ment. impair and undermine the health,
reterd the advancement and lower the
physical equipment OF the young. but
| they also blunt the moral perceptions.
| divert the natural impulses, and make
vast contributions to the various deIin-
quencies of childhood. youth, and mature
years.
food. pure drugs, pure air. pure water
| 1yless homes, alleyless streets. and clean
garbage cans but none for clean mouths
and sound teeth; and yet a neglected
| diseased mouth is as much OF a public
menace as any one or all OF these COM
bined.
My inspection work is being done in
behalf OF the public. 1 am an agent
or instrumentality OF the municipal gov
eminent in locating and pointing out the
conditions and defects which exist in our
midst: but the best dement's MADE posi-
BILE by my work must be lost to the
community at large until provisions are
made whereby those children whose par
ents are poor and financially unable to
have the needed work done may be cared
of the municipality. namely. a free dem
tai inirmary or hospital. or other free
care and treatment for the poor children
OF the city.
I'VE have hospitals for nearly every
thing imaginable under the sun. save
and except the one which, II publicly
and properly understood and appreciated
in all its bearings and ramincatIons,
would render the municipality the great
est return of them all by way OF public
benefit received.
Until a real dental infirmary or hos
pital can be provided. the municipality
certainly can do no wiser thing than
see to II that dental-wards with compe-
tent free-operators are provided in each