Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-07-05

" Unqualified Leads to Widespread
Evils-Few Laws Regulating the
Profession and These Are So Leni.
ent That Almos, Anyone Can Carry
on General Practice Few Real
A,,.,,..ns rh.,. a,d ch..,.s A..
-.
shocking CONDITION q HHairs mas
'''h e"ll'a 7" pubic attention III Eng
iahI y! report recent! nlhue y!
committee appointed year ago TO ih'
Nesii@at" me extent OF the eVils CON
htol"h WIFI ~" p'actlce OF uehtiStry
b! i"f>"h> wholly unqualified to pFac'
nc" mat pi"i'NS'"h
IL VIII Ice nara Tor Americans who'
Tor many years have had wonderiul
auNaili"-eN lH 'h" cure OF tlie teeth'
to realize ne" dentistry Is practicen IN
EhsIhhd' liner" mr." Il ~" laws anu
government acts controlling the prac'
tice. but they are 50 !rhIent that ni'
most anyone from boiler maker 10
fugitive bartender can 20 out INTO
the provinces ana with prhcuchlly no
training at ALL perform surgical opera
lions on the teeth ana jaws admins
terihg AhtSthrtl'S ana carrying ON
general practice. Amer n has quacE
dentists OF the advertising variety but
as rule. they hay" had some college
training or at least, some little merit
as practitioners. But IN England the
advertising dentist may be by PROBES
sion Janitor or plumber.
In the report II was stated that the
dental profession Is suffering from
the odium nnd dishonor east upon II
by the uneducated and unframed per
sons VII" are wandering about the
country breaking teeth. and IN some
cases cnusing deaths, through the I'M
proper use OF surgical Instruments or
narcotics
ouaeks Operate In Pairs.
Under the present condition or az
fairs the travelling dentists. who are
really nothing but quacks. go about
England IN pairs. AS rule there Is
one man who has some little knowl-
edge OF teeth, while his partner acts
rs canvHsser' working mostly among
the lnborlng classes soliciting trade for
his chief.
While the chief Is extracting sound
teeth In one home. his canvasser Is
working next door convincing others
that they need dental attention.
The result OF the malpractice IN this
profession has been widespread decay
In the teeth OF the proletariat. The
working classes In England not only
hay" bad teeth, but they actually suf-
fer from the diseases caused by lack
OF attention at the proper time. The
theory on which the travelling dentist
plies his trade Is that once u tooth Is
aching and gets beyond the bearable
stage II should he pulled"
In hundreds or cases patients suffer
Ing from an ache In one tooth have
several pulled and a set OF false teeth
put In 10 replace the sound teeth that
might possibly ache In the future. The
children Of the working classes have
AS Il result they grow w with eecayed
and crooked teeth. There IS system
OF inspection which only goes to the
point of advising dental attention. hut
makes no provision for such attention.
Reform ls Urged in Report.
An Illuminating part OF the report
is contained In the following para
graphs
"Ih" state cannot AFFORD 10 allow the
health Of the workers of the nation To
be continually undermined by dental
neglect Steps should he taken. with
ont delay 70 recognize dentistry MS
OF general Importance for prevent
INK III h"alth and every poSsihl" means
should b" employed for enIightening
the pubic as To the need Tor c"nSer-
vative treatment of diseased teeth.
THE dental profession should he re-
garded rs on" OF the outposts 81 pre-
ventiv" medicine, ana as such encour'