A FALSE TOOTH EPIDEMIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2719, 26 January 1910, Page 2

A FALSE TOOTH EPIDEMIC.

TUAEANGI INMATES AY ANT NEW MOLARS.

The father of the Tuarangi Old Men’s Home, at Ashburton (says the “Lyttelton Times”), must be nominally, if not actually, Mr. C. J. Harper, a mixture of business and benevolence, the indulgent go-between of the ancient inmates with the Charitable Aid Board, which administers the Home; and of which he is a member. He it is to whom all the ancients carry their joys and sorrows—and complaints—not a few, and they are always treated, be it said, with courteous seriousness that must go a long way towards oiling the macliinerv of the administration.

'Mr Harper, at the lasi meeting of the Board, figured rather heroically in a sense. He had been buttonholed hv an octogenarian with a demand for dental inspection, “and I Iliad to inspect his mouth,” said Mr. Harper. The inmate in question complained that he had “nearly lost all hist teeth,” and, being a smoker, was afraid of cancer in the mouth by continuing to gum it. Me wanted a set of teeth, and had even' obtained an estimate of £3 3s for them. Mr. Harper explained that there was a good deal of indigestion caused by had teeth, and all the inmates had now got the craze for false teeth. “Some of these old fellows,” lie said, “will never be satisfied until they have tried them, although they may not use them afterwards, but what are we to do?” “AA’e discussed this before,” said Air. J. Henderson, ‘and found that it would require £3OOO to fit them all with new teeth.”. “And that is saving nothing about new wigs for baldheads,” said another member. “I cannot go through the building,” continued Air. Harper, “without being set upon. They want to show me their mouths, and 'the-'- want a tooth there and a-tooth there.” The chairman (Air. F. Horrell) raid that although his sympathies were always with the poor and distressed the application was one that could not he entertained af. any price. To start at Ashburton would mean finishing it at the AVoolston Home, where all the old women would want false teeth. There was a cheaper remedy. They could be given soft food that thev could masticate. “How many ratepayers,” he asked, “are contributing towards the Hornes who cannot afford) false teeth for themselves? And many live to a ripe old age without teeth. They, l became ‘gnnimv’ and live all right.” It was suggested that the matter should be left to- the incoming Board, hut Air. Harper insisted on a reply to the letter lie- held, and it- was resolved that the application could not be entertained. Air. J. Ingram subsequently explained that thei inmates could have their teeth extracted without charge at the hospital.