The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-12
DR. PHILIP X. THOMAS
RR7I NOW anything about Pedia-
 M dontia?"


 words "the City Editor speaking. Never met it, thank you. How, when
 and where do you find it?"
 l It was the humble scrbe-in other I words "Dolly''-speaking.
 | I thought the answer would be: Why, | in the dictionary, of course"-but then ! that isn't the "Bosss" way; he never
 tells you how to do it, when to do 1t, or
 whom to ask, or anything; he just tells you to go do it. and I may add, you go" (and in a hnrry) for putting on your thinking cap" you at once recall the famous lad who carried "The Mes
 sage to Garcia" without asking any
 'twhys" or "wherefores," 'hows' or | "whiches," and try your best to emulate him. and this time the emulation brought me an introduction to one of the most | celebrated men ip America-Dr. Phlllp R. Thomas of Minneapolis. "the father of Pediadontia.'~ | Now, if you are like me, when you hear this word for the first time you won't know whether it's a new dye for Easter eggs or a skin disease recently discovered, so of course. when I met Dr. Thomas I at once asked him the defi- hilton of this peculiar sounding some | thing of which he is the august an cestor.
 l "Very simple" said the celebrated den tist Its Greek fcr'--
 l "Of course it's Greek to me-" I inter r,1pted .but then. most high-brow things
 are. and
 It's Greek for Childrens Teeth-their care and treatment" pr. Thomas sup piled, and then I felt very much at
 home.
 | And just here let me tell you that pr. | Thomas is today recognized as one of the greatest dentists in the world; the wis., ! ion that has come to him within the past !! three years developing into what he calls l .'Pediadontia." foreshadows revolution I in health conditions for the entire human race for, as he asserts If the care of I childrens teeth is taken in hand early | enough in life many of the ills which l flesh is heir to will be prevented "And just here let me say" pr. Thom- as continued that it is just as neces- sary to educate the mother to realize this | fact as it is the dentist for it is in her I hands that the subject rests largely. Three years ago T went from my lit r tie home town-a mining camp-up in northern Minnesota" Dr. Thomas told me- down to Minneapolis to consult with a great dentist there; I worked out this idea which I've named 'Pediadontia.' | went home, and within 30 days sold my house and lot and was back in Min- neapolis, offices opened, and at work. I So you can readily understand how the
 matter took a hold upon me from the very beginning.
 I Since then I've lectured all over the | United States before the womens clubs, ' | Dr. Thomas continued, 'on this subject persuading various civic organizations | to establish dental clinics-also the | schools-and the experiment in every case has worked out satisfactorily, especially ! in New York city schools, saving money l in any case by conserving the child S {, strength through the care of the teeth, thus enabling otherwise disabled chil- 1 dren to attend schoOl.'
 l Asked at what age child should be | sent to a dentist" T,r. Thomas replied. "The care of child's mouth should be- | gin at birth and should be carefully and | systematically carried out from that time | on. How often do mothers wonder why at tiny infant becomes fretful and re- | fuses to nurse! They take the utmost 1 care to see that all nursing bottles and rubber nipples are sterilized and the baby's food is free from contamination | and never dream that the food care | fully prepared may be a source of trou- 1 ble if the mouth is, not properly cared l for. The mouth is an ideal place for fer ! mentation to take place. Milk either from