The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-05-23

that people Of the two towns see it.
For this reason they have arranged to
hold a public reception on Thursday
and Friday afternoons at which those
desiring to look the building over will
be given an opportunity to do so.
A~-~1~--~~~U~-~~~-~-~-~-
cents per capita, on the promotion Of
health. This year it will exceed so
cents, believe. It is a fact that the
promotion Of health is sadly neglect
ed. Last year you had 1884 pupils in
your public schools which means about
1886 decayed teeth that need atten-
ton, about 800 permanent teeth miss
ing and about 800 that will have to
be extracted or crowned Then there
are the 2SS abscessed teeth which are
still discharging pus. We do not want
to forget them. Besides, you will find
at least 900 children who should have
their teeth regulated If they are going
to be able to masticate their food
properly and have the facial lines
which their Creator intended they
should have. Just a word about the
irregular teeth. 1t is an absolute fact
that the great majority Of irregular or
crooked teeth are caused by lack Of
'attention to the baby teeth. The baby
teeth are removed too soon or left in
too long. If the children of the first
grade were looked after along dental
lines much of this trouble would be
eliminated.
It costs about $50 per year for each
child's public schooling. About 81 per
cent of their time is lost on account
of sickness It is believed that 80 per
- ctr Sc al
which means that each child loses
Sill on an average or for your city
schools it amounts to $4,000 annually
from preventable diseases. If this
amount of money were added to your
health promotion in the shape of den
tai services it would pay purely from
the phase of school economy. This
does not take into consideration the
health and happiness of the child, its
health in later life more certainly as
sured, nor the addition to the eff
cheney of the nation"
DR.. Smith then quoted other in
stances that showed great results as
to the general health and he advo-
Gated the care of the teeth of the
children Of the schools.
"Our schools cost us more than any
other branch of our municipal govern
ment and it is certainly up to us to
give the pupils all the legitimate ad-
Vantages that may be obtained there. y
Committee Is Named.
After the address of DR.. Smith the
subject was discussed by DR.. Heller
and w. L. Stockwell at some length.
Maj. M. F. Steele told Of the conditions
in the army as he knew them and of
the improvements that are being made
| in the military forces of the country
/ nf hVQinnn
BY a vote Of the club the president
was instructed to name a committee
of three to cooperate with the local
dentists in drafting a state law, or an
amendment to the present state medi-
cal inspection law, to present to the
| next legislature, which will effect
compulsory oral hygiene in the schools
of the state.
Pres. F. l.. Anders named DR.. L. G!
Davenport. w. L. Stockwell and H. L.
Loomis as this committee.
A resolution was also passed by the
club in which it pledged its support
to the board of education to effect bet
| ter conditions and promote oral hy-
giene in the schools of the city. A vote
of thanks was also extended to the
dental association of the city for
bringing DR.. Smith to Fargo to ad-
dress the club.
| The matter Of oral hygiene in the
schools was taken up by the Fargo
dental association some time ago. A
committee appeared before the board
] of education and offered to make
, free examination or the children OF
the schools. This offer was accepted
and an oral hygiene day will be named
in the near future.
| It is also the intention Of the den
lists to arrange for free clinics for
pupils reported by the visiting nurse
as needing dental assistance and as
being financially unable to have this
| work done for themselves.