The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1916-09-21
(Copyright. 1914. By A s. Gray)
SOUND TEETH AND BRAINS.

S0SNS f>NS onf>fN9-
In spite OF the prevalence or carries
(tooth decay, the matter Is generally
left to individual initiative. which too
frequently becomes operative only for
the purpose OF securing individual re-
lief from pain. There is little organ
tied effort made TO combat the condi-
ton as a whole or to understand the
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 or the matter may
possibly give peculiar interest to a
publication entitled: "a Report of Sci
entifc 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
sac children enrolled In the Marion
school of Cleveland were examined by
competent dental surgeons. Only
three were found with teeth In per-
feet condition. colored boy eleven
years OF age. a Slav girl of ten. who
had been In America about six
months. and an American born child
of Russian parentage. aged twelve
years.
II was decided to form a test class
OF the children showing the worst
mouth conditions In grades 4. s. 6 and
Z. aggregating 423 pupils. and. accord
ingly. a group OF 40 of the worst
mouths were selected as making
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
q competent psychologist
The following two cases. selected be-
cause one made the poorest and the
other the best showing in the first
tests, are very signifi-
cant and highly suggestive OF a 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 vas
suffering with severe constipation.
was stolid. with no animation at all
In fact. there existed a decided mental
The dentists worked for
her most of the winter; is teeth were
nlled. requiring ten amalgam and is
cement filings. Her teeth are now In
q sound condition. She keeps them
beautifully clean. IL now healthy and
brighter mentally. constipation entire
ly cured. complexion clearer and skin
q 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
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 a total average
gain Of 444.ss per cent.
Case No. 5-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 fllings. |
The permanent teeth were very slow |
In erupting Since his dental work |
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 a 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 what |
to eat. Individual average gains were |
shown TO range from q minimum of |
2s.102 per cent to q maximum of |
sls. asa per cent. and the total average