Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-12-04
SOUND TEETH AND BRAINS.

lied effort made to combat the condi-
enormously destructive effects of it's
neglect.
We are extremely particular about
sanitation of the straps to which we
hang in street cars, the ventilation of
our public halls, and the like, and
such matters are regulated by ordi-
nance and the police power; but lit
tie thought is given to the twenty
three inch incubator that each indi-
vidual carries into every public gath
ering or of its possible relation to in
dividual and public health and prog
ress. This view of the matter may
possibly give peculiar interest to
publication entitled: "a Report of Sci
entific Experiments Conducted in the
Cleveland Public Schools for the Pur-
pose of Ascertaining the Value of
Healthy Conditions of the Mouth"
The facts set forth in this report are
very illuminating, as the following
will show:
In June, 1909, by authority Of the
board of education, the mouths of the
S46 children enrolled in the Marion
school Of Cleveland were examined by
competent dental surgeons. Only
three were found with teeth in per-
feet conditional colored boy eleven
years of age, Slav girl Of ten, who
had been in America about six
months, and an American born child
of Russian parentage, aged twelve
years.
1t was decided to form test class
of the children showing the worst
mouth conditions in grades 4, 5, 6 and
Z, aggregating 423 pupils, and, accord
ingly, group Of 40 of the worst
mouths were selected as making a
unit convenient to handle and repre-
senting approximately 10 per cent of
these grades.
Before beginning any treatment
each of the 40 pupils was carefully
tested for memory, accuracy of per-
ception rapidity of thought and spon-
taneity of association and differentia-
ton, individual records being made by
competent psychologist.
The following two cases, selected be-
cause one made the poorest and the
other the best showing in the first
psychological tests, are very signifl-
cant and highly suggestive of fer
tile field for practical uplift work.
Case No. Girl, age thirteen. This
girl made the poorest showing in the
first psychological tests, and in her
school record; she was three years
behind grade and doing poor work in
that grade. The child was dull and
very slow to grasp ideas. She was
suffering with severe constipation,
was stolid with no animation at all.
In fact, there existed decided mental
| deficiency. The dentists worked for
| her most of the winter; 16 teeth were
filed requiring ten amalgam and Is
cement filings. Her teeth are now in
a sound condition. She keeps them
beautifully clean, is now healthy and
| brighter mentally, constipation entire
| ly cured, complexion clearer and skin
a good color. There has been a steady
mental improvement and decided gain
in flesh.
School record-Before the dental
work was done her scholarship and
attendance were poor; her effort was
good and her conduct fair. After:
scholarship, fair; effort, attendance
and conduct, good.
The psychological record showed
that In points Of memory, spontane-
Gus association, addition, association
by opposites and quickness and accur-
acy of perception she made after the
dental work was done total average
gain of 4448S per cent.
Case No. 5-Boy, age eleven. Very
small for his age, thin, pale and poorly
nourished. He stood the highest in
the first psychological tests. Three
temporary teeth required attention
and these were filled with three ce,
ment and two gutta percha filings
The permanent teeth were very slow
Ill 0luC6 HIS uSHIdl WOTh
has been completed he shows general
improvement and has grown rugged
School record-Before: Scholarship
good; effort, fair; attendance and con
duct, poor. After: Scholarship and at
tendance, good; effort and conduct
excellent.
His psychological record on the
points already mentioned showed to
, tai average gain of 80 per cent.
In addition to the actual mechanical
work done on the teeth and mouth
tissues the children were instructed
, in the use Of the toothbrush, also how
to eat and in some degree even wha
to eat. Individual average gains were
shown to range from minimum O.
, 26.102 per cent to maximum O.
] 918.3S4 per cent, and the total average
| gain for the entire class of Al
amounted to more than 99.7 per cent
Society exists for the benefit of it,
: members and not the members for tn,
, benefit Of society. If this be true thel
il surelv ia the duty Of society RI IA r.,