University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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rfllffqqu K Six Q-il DENTISTRY A MISSIONARY ,a m z . i . E TERFRI S E. Q D - In CQ:.i:,I f . ' . 'E'b--f .1 p- je .' ', H' '-'- l' l' l' - WE' mL H, M f N one's way down to Futzi Miao, early in the morning before many are up and ready for the day's work, occasionally we sec a few apparently well trained citizens standing outside their doors vigorously brushing their front teeth. They apparently spend no time on the teeth that do not show, being much like a child or a careless house wife in that respect, only putting a high polish on those that must stand constant inspection. Some, however. do take fairly good care of their teeth which makes us wonder who has told them that they should keep them clean. D0 they have their own dentists? If so, what is their place of business like and what kind of methods do they use? XVe wonder what kind of treatment the Chinese get when they go to their own dental Craftsmen today, Some modes of dental work are very old in China For instance, they Were the first ones to invent a method of extracting tG0t'l1Q this was by means of forceps made of lead. if the tooth was strollg enough U' l'0SiSt the twist' and pull of the lead forceps it was good 0'10Ugh to SWF' ill but if it came out by the strength of the lead forcep it should come out, whethgr the tooth was healthy or not, Futzi Miao is filled with dental shops. One could l10t llllSt2LliG them for any other on account of the gaudy paintings of artificial teeth decorating the windows, which are not much unlike those displayed by the llllethical dentist at home Their trade mark is still further carried out by having on display in their window as much of tll0lI' Cflulllmellt as they Cflll Sllow, together with specimens of their ability in crown and plate work. l65l

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64 COUNTRY PEOPLE youngsters poling about in some of these small boats, reminding us that boys are the same the world over. Again, men, with their flat-bottomed boats overflowing with all manner of green vegetables, poled leisurely along the canals, stopping to display their edibles before the mud homei which fronted directly upon these water-ways. Even the ponds, which were scattered generously between the canalS, were put to economic use. Some supported ducks and geese. I Many, we have since learned, are periodically stocked with fish. And all were made to serve as reservoirs. Frequently the surface of these ponds were covered with the huge leaves of the lotus plant, the roots of which constitute such an important item of diet. Many times we noticed adrift in the center of some pond, a woman or child seated in what appeared to be P- large wash-tub and engaged in pulling up the tangled growth which covered the surface, to pluck something from the roots. Later we learned that they were gathering water-chestnuts. These ponds were also used to irrigate rice fields, which at this season were in the process of being flooded. At times, for long stretches, we seemed to be rushing through vast level plains of water farms,'l above whose placid surface the boundaries of the fields alone rose to zigzag their way into the distance. Scattered here and there were small islands, in the midst of which stood the low-thatched homes of these farmers. In the distance, pagodas dotted the horizon. At one time I counted twelve of these outlined against the sky at the same instant. Often in one of these fields submerged under two or more feet of water, could be seen a farmer plowing with his water buffalo When not working, these animals might be seen standing stolidly in this Held of water or browsing along the margins. Frequently a small boy would be sprawled at full length on the broad back, head pillowed on his arms and toes digging ,deliciously into the furry sides. Off in the distance- ' ' Just here a man selling papers came through the car. We were nearing a station. He asked if I were through with mine, took itg 'and after gathering other papers which had been discarded, sat down in a corner to smooth them out. These he promptly resold to new arrivals. In the meantime the scenes outside had shifted. We passed several small round shelters under which one blind-folded donkey or water buffalo plodded faithfully round and round, grinding' grain between two' large flat QC'ohcluded on page 1343

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66 DENTISTRY The vulcanizer usually occupies first place in the windowjprobably because the cost was much more than that of other equipment, and also givGS evidence to -the passing public that the dentist can do plate work. In the second place we see a little glass cage displaying artifical dentures, gold crown work mounted on plaster casts with colored stone facings, and usually a large pile of extracted teeth. The larger the pile is the better, for it indicates a number of years of experience- if the man in the shop pulled them all himself. Somewhere in view is at pile of old plaster of paris impressions, whose advertising value is the same as that of thG extracted teeth. Inside the shop a foot engine stands beside the chair which iS made inviting by having a fur rug for upholstery. On the walls hang large colored sectional drawings of the head showing the anatomy of the mouth and jaws. These serve as a sort of diploma while in reality they are practically the sole source of the dentistls scant knowledge. 'Forceps and impression trays also hang onthe walls. Some of these shops are very neat and clean although there is no sign of a sterilizer for they know nothing of ascepsis or cleanliness by sterilization. We see the dentists working in the ways that are the best they know, doing good in some cases but in most cases probably doing harm. It is this which causes us to realize the field there is for dentists to teach at least a few the better way. At the Gu Low Hospital here in Nanking as well as in the other Mission Hospitals the nurses are required to take four years of training before graduating from the course and during this time they are given good courses in physiology, anatomy, bacteriology, materia mediea, etc. A few of those who wish to do so can take a two year course in dentistry after finishing the nursingeourse. Thus a graduate dentist should be very well qualified since during the two years of dental work much practical work is done on clinical patients besides the technical studying. The course here could almost be compared to the den al course in New York State which requires four years of medical study with two years of special dental training. One student was graduated from such a course last year. He has proved himself to be a very skilled and able workman. It is only through the training of Chinese that we can hope to do any extensive good for the people in general in t-he way of better dental service.