The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-07-04

A shocking condition Of affairs has
been called to public attention in Eng
land by a report recently made by a
committee appointed a 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 a few laws and
government acts controlling the prac-
tice, but they are SO lenient that al
q fugitive bartender, can go out into
the provinces and, with practically no
training at all, perform surgical opera
lions ON the teeth and jaws, admins
tering anesthetics and carrying on q
general practice. America has quack
dentists Of the advertising variety but,
as a rule. they have had some college
training or, at least, some little merit
as practitioners. But in England the
advertising dentist may be by profess
sion a janitOr or q 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.
IONS 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.
Quacks Operate In Pairs.
Under the present condition Of at
| fairs the travelling dentists, who are
really nothing bort quacks. 60 about
| England in pairs. As a 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.
While the chief IS extracting sound
teeth in one home, his 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 a tooth Is
aching and gets beyond the bearable
stage it should be pulled"
In hundreds of cases patients suffer
ing from an ache In n tooth have
several pulled and a 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 a 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 10 Urged In Report.
An Illuminating part of the, report
IL contained In the following para
graphs:
1.-THE state cannot afford to allow the
health Of the workers of the nation tt
be continually undermined by denta
neglect. Steps should be taken. with
out delay. to recognize dentistry a.
Of general importance for prevent
ing Ill health. and every possible means
should be employed for enlightenint
the public as to the need for conser
vative treatment of diseased teeth.
"The dental profession should be- re
garded as che OF the outposts Of pre-
ventiye medicine. and as such encour
aged and assisted by the state. Treat
ment should he rendered available TO
all who need 1t. The present anoma
lous position. In which an uneducated
unframed person a practice as a den
fist, performing surgical operations. I
doing untold injury and casting unde
served dishonor upon the profession.
Registered dentists have not increas
ed In numbers in England during tn
past Is years, and mo increase in tn
registration is likely while the profes
sion is debased by incompetent ind
yiduals and companies.
The %exorbitant charges for denta
work In England also have had a ba,