Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-06-26

High.
A shocking condition of affairs has
been called to public attention in Eng
land by report recently made by a
committee appointed year ago to in
vestigate the extent of the evils con-
nected with the practice of dentistry
by persons wholly unqualified to prac-
tice that profession.
1t will be hard for Americans, who.
for many years, have had wonderful
advantages in the care of the teeth,
to realize how dentistry Is practiced In
England. There are few laws and
government acts controlling the prac-
tice, but they are so lenent that al
most anyone, from a boiler maker to
q fugitive bartender, can go out into
the provinces and. with practically no
training ut all, perform surgical opera
lions on the teeth and jaws, admins
tering anesthetics and carrying on
general practice. America has quack
dentists of the advertising variety but.
as a rule. they have had some college
training or, mt least, some little merit
as practitioners. But in England the
advertising dentist may be by profess
sion q jantOr or plumber.
In the report it was stated that the
dental profession Is suffering from
the Odium and diShonor cast upon it
by the uneducated and unframed per-
sons who are wandering about the
country breaking teeth, and in some
cases causing deaths. through the I'M
proper use Of surgical instruments or
narcotics.
ouacks Operate In Pairs.
Under the present condition OF ar
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
as canvasser, working mostly among
the laboring classes soliciting trade for
his chief.
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
have 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 tooth Is
aching and gets beyond the bearable
stage it should be pulled"
In hundreds Of cases patients suffer
ing from an ache in one tooth have
several pulled and set of false teeth
put in to replace the sound teeth that
might possibly ache in the future. The
children OF the working classes have
very little attention in the schools, and
as result they grow up with decayed
and crooked teeth. There is a system
of inspection which only goes to the
point of advising dental attention but
makes no provision for such attention.
Reform Is Urged in Report.
An Illuminating part of the report
Is contained in the following para
graphs:
"The state cannot afford to allow the
health of the workers of the nation to
be continually undermined by dental
neglect. Steps should be taken, with
out delay, to recognize dentistry as
OF general Importance for prevent
ing i'll health, and every possible means
should be employed for enlightening
the public as to the need for c0nSer-
vative treatment of diseased teeth.
"The dental profession should be re-
garded as one of the Outposts of pre-
ventive medicine, and as such encour-
aged and assisted by the state. Treat
ment should be rendered available for
all who need 1t. The present anOma-
lous position. in which an uneducated,
unframed person can practice rs den
fist, performing surgical operations, Is
doing untold injury and casting unde-
served -dishonOr upon the profession"
Registered dentists have not increas.
ed in numbers in England during the
past Is years, and no increase in the
registration is likely while the profess
sion Is debased by incompetent indi-
viduals and companies.
The exorbitant charges for dental
work in England also have had bad
effect on the general welfare. The
most prominent dentists In London are
those who have had training in Ameri.
can dental colleges, and they make
much capital on their American train.
ing.
There are a few real American den.
lists in London, but they are over
worked, and their prices are well nigh
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