Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-12-11


In spite Of the prevalence Of carries
(tooth decay. the matter IL generi1ly
left to individual initiative. which too
frequently becomes operative only for
the purpose Of securing individual re-
lief from pain. There IL little organ
lied effort made to combat the condi-
ton as whole or to understand the
enormously destructive effects Of it,
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. a. the following
will show:
In June. 1909. by authority Of the
board Of education. the moths Of the
S46 children enrolled In the Marion
school of Cleveland were examined by
competent dental surgeons. Only
three we're found with teeth In per-
feet condition. colored boy eleven
years Of age. q Slav girl Of ten, who
had been in America about six
months. and IN American born child
Of Russian parentage. aged twelve
years.
1t was decided to form Q test class
Of the children showing the worst
mouth conditions in grades 4, 6, 6 and
z. aggregating 423 pupils. and. accord
ingly, . group Of 40 of the worst
mouths were selected a. making q
unit convenient to handle and repre-
senting approximately 10 per cent Of
these grades. 81
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 diferentia-
ton, individual records being made by
q competent psychologist.
The following two cases, selected b.
cause one made the poorest and the
other the best showing in the FIRST
psychological tests. are very signih-
cant and highly suggestive Of q 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
filled. requiring ten amalgam and Is
cement hllings. Her teeth are now In
sound condition. She keeps them
beautifully clean. ID now healthy and
brighter mentally, constipation entire
ly cured. complexion clearer and skin
q good color. There has been q 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 Quiekness and accur.
acy Of perception she made after the
dental work was done q total average
gain Of 444.SS per cent.
Case No. 6-Boy. age eleven. Very
small for his age. thin. pale and poorly
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
In erupting. Since his dental work
has been completed he shows general
and has grown rugged.
School record-Before: Scholarship.
good: effort. fair: attendance and con-
duct. poor. After: Scholarship and at.
good; effort and conduct,
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 zen what
to eat. individual average gains were
shown to range from . minimum Of
26.102 per cent to . maximum of
91S.3S4 per cent. and the total average
gain for the entire class Of 10
to more than 99.7 per cent.
Society exists for the benefit Of IT. |
members and not the members for the |
benefit Of society. II this be true then
It surely is the duty Of society to take
steps to give its innocent members It |
east fair start BY making sure they |
are each equipped with efficient mill. |
ng apparatue-a perfect set Of teeth.
who has never done you any harm