Welsh Journals

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Criticism appears obvious. If the Local Authority is not to spend any money on salaries, and the government grant, large as it is, only covers the present cost of salaries, how are salaries to be increased? The position of Wales also appears somewhat different from England, it is complicated by the Intermediate Act of 1889. Unless the Act is repealed-an impossible suggestion for a Welsh Nationalist-the proposal cannot be carried out in Wales as in England. The whole financial position is one that requires careful examination but the scheme of the Secondary Associations should not be lightly cast aside. Dental We have received from a corres- Deficiency. pondent some striking facts and conclusions on the condition of teeth in Cardiganshire. He points out how close is the connection between decayed teeth and tuber- culosis, and further asserts that dyspepsia and other diseases are largely caused by them, for their secretions have most harmful effect on the process of digestion. With food improperly prepared in the stomach the tissues of the body are bound to suffer. The human body, made up as it is of millions of minute cells, can be immune from insidious attacks of noxious bacteria only when these physiological units are healthy; and it is therefore obvious that the question of dental caries is a vital one, for the extent to which it prevails is alarming. A perusal of the reports for 1911 and 1912, which Dr. R. W. Rees has submitted convinces us that the condition of the teeth of Cardiganshire children call for immediate and thorough investigation and action. Before coming to some of the figures that he cites it is well to remember that Cardiganshire experiences a death rate from phthisis which is nearly double the average of England and Wales." In the 1912 report which is worse even than the one in the preceding year we read of all matters upon which it is necessary to report, the condition of the children's teeth is the most unsatisfactory, and probably more ill-health is due to this cause than any other." Out of 976 boys examined 30.6 per cent are given as good, 36'2 per cent as medium and 33'4 per cent as bad, and of 928 girls examined only 27*6 per cent are good, 34'2 medium and 38 per cent bad. In this connection good is taken to mean not more than two teeth decayed, medium not more than 5, and bad as more than 5. From studying these reports we conclude that the two directions in which the County Education Authority should make an immediate advance are the appointment of a School Dental Officer and the education of the parents in the matter of what foods they should supply to their children. As regards the first point the experience of most Education Authorities who have undertaken dental treatment is that good results are obtained by treating children of between 6 and 8 years of age. At these ages the newly erupted teeth of the second or permanent set make their appearance, and if these are cared for. little will be required afterwards in the way of treat- ment if the mouth is regularly cleansed." What is needed is preventive dentistry and that is just what we do not find. The county dentists are far too busy pulling out teeth to save any. We are even told that the modern country girl is prouder of her new set of false teeth than she would ever be of her own. As regards the second point it is interesting to know that it is not the poorer children who suffer most from dental caries-it is caused not so much by under-feeding as by wrong feeding. In fact, we have before us figures to show that those areas having the highest percentages of bad teeth possess lowest percentages of under-fed children. It is quite likely that the rest of Wales can show results as bad as those we have been quoting from Cardiganshire. While we are on the subject of Cardigan- shire we should like to ask what is the South Wales Nursing Association doing in this county, and where is the nearest nurse or panel doctor to Llanddewi Brevi ? The Land The summary of the salient points Campaign, of the Prime Minister's speech at the National Liberal Club as published by the Morning Post on December 10th will give our readers in the shortest possible space the policy of the Government The Labourer- (1) A Commission judicial both in its character and its methods," to fix rate of wages to ensure to the labourer of average industry and prudence reasonable conditions of living, among which is included the ability to pay a commercial or eco- nomic rent for the house in which he lives." (2) If the farmer can show that this means an extra burden the Commission may consider the rent he ought to pay, taking into account whether he is fully or under-rented. (3) A survey of the rural housing conditions with a view to the provision of cottages by the State where necessary. (4) "A wider outlet and outlook," by enabling the labourer to become a smallholder, the Commission having power to fix the price of land for this purpose.