The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-08-24
CLINICS BUILT
by EAST N A N.
NOW HEAL NAILS.
BY NORINE CLARK
United Press Staff Correspondent

NOutcu EIcSS oSaIt OuTEcSpOHucutJ
Rochester, CUP Three Of the
five million dollar Eastman dental
clinics established in Europe are
performing services never intended
by their founder, the late George
Eastman. Set up as demonStra-
ton centers to care for the teeth
Of INDECENT children, the clinics in
Rome, Paris and Brussels are now
rendering service to the armed
forces OF our enemies.
This information comes to DR..
Harvey j. Burkhart, director Of this
Rochester Dental DispenSary via
the grapevine, war having cut di-
rect communication with the vari-
Gus directors in enemy-occupied
countries. DR.. Burkhart was Mr..
Eastman'S personal representative in
the establishment of the European
clinics.
Head And Jaw Surgery
Instead Of protecting the teeth of
growing children, the clinics now per
form surgical work on the heads and
jaws Of injured soldiers. including
spin grating. DR.. Burkhart I'M
derStands some dental work is done
for adults and children in Rome, but
the Germans operate the Brussels
clinic entirely for their wounded.
A letter from an old friend of DR..
Burkharts Frenchman in Algiers.
said that the Paris clinic was tunc-
tioning about as usual. DR.. Burk-
hart said that after German occu-
patton of Paris, the clinic, fortu-
nately, fell into the hands of the
former chief of dental service in
Germany. This man, whom DR..
Burkhart had known several years,
was a member Of the international
Dental Federation. He knew the
purpose of the clinic and told its
director that as far as army regula-
tons would permit, he would try
| not to interfere with its operations.
But, he added, the German army
needed half Of the clinic, so Paris
| authorities turned 1t over.
The director sent word to DR..
Burkhart indirectly that the Ger
mans were very cooperative. How
ever, many French dentists are pris-
oners in Germany and there are
hardly enough left to care for emer-
gency adult work, much less for re-
pair and preventive dentistry for
children.
Raj Trained rs
OF the clinics in London and
Brussels, more information is avail
able. Although only one-fourth OF
the London clinic is used for dem
tistry, the Royal Free Hospital has
moved in 185 beds because the build
ing is constructed of stone and steel,
DR.. Burkhart believes. Because the
Royal Air Force wanted trained
hygieniStS for its dental work, the
clinic trained class of Is last April
and another will start training this
fall. The result of this will have
a mellowing effect on the opposition
of the British Dental Association to
hygienists, DR.. Burkhart believes,
and after the war such training will
continue.
The Stockholm clinic is having
difficulty obtaining dental materials,
but Is operating at capacity just the
same, cablegram from there stat
ed. Those Swedes know how to do
things" said DR.. Burkhart in prais-
Ing the progress that clinic has
made since its establishment in 1888.
Clinic Will Continue
AS to the future of the clinics, DR..
Burkhart stated: Many times In the
past I've guessed wrong, but know
Ing how appreciative authorities are
OF Mr.. Eastman's generosity and of
the value of the work done by the
clinics. am confident those in con-
troll and their successors will make
every effort to carry on after the
war as they did before. In addition,
I have the promise of dental organ
izations and schools In each country
that they will support clinic projects
IN every way possible. This means
caring for children's teeth without
charge, or for small fee in keeping
with the parents income, training
hygienists, and affording an oppor-
tunity for practical experience and
postgraduate work for dentists.