SOLDIERS' TEETH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3995, 30 July 1915, Page 7

SOLD IERS' TEETH.

DENTAL OFFICERS’ WORK. GOO]} SERVICE RENDERED. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, July 29. Ah in foresting statement on the. medical and dental services with the New Zealand Army at the front has imen forwarded to the Defence. Minister by Colonel Ksson, .Q.M.G., with niir force. ‘The campaign so far,” Colonel Esson writes, ''‘has amply demonstratea the wisdom of attaching dentists ■•o an expeditionary force, especially one from New Zealand, where artificial dentures arc the rule and not the exception. While it is fully admitted by the dentists themselves that we have not had full value for -jur rnonev and. that some or their nunioer have not conscientiously discharged their liability to the country, a lot of good work lias been done and many men have been made lit for service, while a lot of repairs, etc., have been effected without which numbers '•onid not have kept the field. The weakness which manifested itself in -•ma particular branch, is common _to most new organisations and one which ’■an only be overcome by experience and training and, above all, discipline. It is iust as necessary for the professional men in an army to be trained and disciplined as for the regular soldier. They cannot be expected in war time to suddenly develop ffio.se qualities which are just as essential «us professional knowledge. The professional man suddenly imported into -s. militarv force, be he chaplain, suryeon. or dentist, very often turns -air. m. more difficult proposition than an attack on a defensive position. Tt is easy to decry red taco methods of recording cases and filling in •innv forms, which have been brought vita being as the result of many years practical experience and the necessity tor which has been rather painfully expressed upon many of us in tracing the-rush of casualties which oc--uirred iu the recent heavy fighting in the field, in tiie trenches, and in the hospitals. However, the Territorial surgeon iias behaved like a hero antl v.-orhcd like a galley slave, for which love him. and it is perhaps the greatest compliment that could bo 3>m<l the New Zealand Medical Corps wnen I add that our men are always most anxious to ho attended to by one of our own medical officers when 1!1 or wounded.”