Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-19

words about one-seventh of all the
teeth are decayed.
Turning now to the general mark
ings. Over 800 showed absolute neg
lect Only 81 of our $500 could be
called excellent, which is about in
every 100 Reports from other cities
disclose the fact that from 80 to $3.50
of the children of the public schools
are in need of dental attention. AS
we have but 2 in a hundred that are
excellent, and there are possibly some
of those whom we have marked
Good whose cases approach the
Excellent" we are running about the
same percentage.
Regarding the use of the tooth
brush, there is about L who uses it
to who do not.
Let us now briefly make few deduc
tions from these data. Through the
courtesy of your superintendent we
have found that there are about
113 pupils in grades III to VIII
/ inclusive (of the number we have
eXamined) who have failed to
promotion. We have excluded the
lower grades as scholarship is
of little consequence. In order to
make a comparison of these delin
quent children with the average for
the same grades, let us observe the
last rows. (On account of age we
shall disregard the diciduous teeth.)
We would have you note that whereas
every average child in those grades
has "2 plus" cariouS teeth, the average
| for the delinquent is nearly double
being "a plus" There are nearly
double the number of assesses and
3 times the number of teeth in need of
extraction. 1t would be nonsense to
say that these 113 children failed to
make their grade because of the con-
dition of their mouths. Yet is it not
reasonable to assume that possibly
: this is a very potent factor? Medical
| inspection in the schools has had
painful birth, but under the valiant
championship of Mr.. Tobey and others
! it has grown and | believe our popu-
| lace in general will now admit that it
| is valuable and indeed most important
to promote the physical welfare of
| the school children. We in this COM
munity are not ready apparently, for
| dental inspection but it is coming
| just as surely as it has come in other
! communities. Possibly it costs our
/ tax payers 100000 to carry this num-
Der of children through the schools
another year. Is it not then to our
| interest to neglect nothing that will
make for a condition favorable to
their promotion? A child afflicted
with any disorder is a poor student
1t may be the eyes, the ears, the
breathing apparatus, and is frequently
the mouth and teeth
This examination represents about
| 100 hours or 20 days of work exclusive
of the work of the committee compil-
ing the summaries. 1t is but the first
step and is freely made by the mem
bers of the profession in order that
the prevailing conditions might be dis
closed to the parents. Much of the
trouble is due to poverty but much
more is due to Indifference and, ignor-
ance. Nothing constructive has really
been done excepting in so far as the
parents felt inclined to act upon the
suggestions made upon the eXamina-
ton blank. The examiners would take
this occasion to express their appreci-
alton to the children and their par
ents, who almost without exception
have freely helped in the cause. ANY
success that may have been attained
has been due in a large measure to
the cooperation of the teachers and
school authorities as well as to the
generosity of this Board in provid-
ing the necessary materials.
1t would be preSumptuous on our
part to offer suggestions, but we be-
lieve that you will recognize that
there is crying need for dental SER
vices and in many cases absolutely
no means for meeting it. Other cities
are solving the problem with splendid
success and it can be done here and
brought upon practical basis by
working in conjunction with lie
school nurse
You will find the dentists ready at
all times to help in the campaign of
education even to the extent of Civ
ing instruction in the school should
ii be deemed advisable, but means
must be provided for doing the con-
Structive and corrective work.
This city is about to erect a Central
school. We trust that some provision
has been made in drawing up those
plans for an infrmary, where work
of this and similar character can be
done to advantage. The cry that il
is socialistic is no objection in this
day and age. It IS sensible. it is ex-
pedient.
G. G. ANDERSON,