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Problem of Indian Administration

those who had funds to pay for it. The Indian Office reports that any child in need of such care can receive it regardless of whether or not he has funds to his credit.

At the schools visited by the district dentists, the hospital, if there is one, is made available for their use. In other places, temporary quarters are established. Each dentist is equipped with a portable outfit furnished by the Indian Office.

The dental service at the present time is inadequate to meet needs in the Indian schools and on the reservations. The work attempted is largely of an emergency character. No prosthetic work is done. The cheaper filling materials are used unless the patient can afford to pay for better ones.

Some of the larger schools are practically without dental service, and the appearance of the mouths of many of these children indicates the need of a more permanent service.

No dental hygienists are employed, and thus a very effective and economical preventive facility is lacking.

Dentists, like all traveling specialists, are very poorly housed on reservations, although their quarters are generally as good as are available for temporary visiting officers.

Nursing Service. The nursing service is rendered by four fairly distinct groups of nurses; the graduate or hospital nurse, the public health nurse, the traveling nurse, and the so-called practical nurse. In addition, there are field matrons who are classed with the health personnel and required to do some health work. The public health nurse, or field nurses as they are at present designated, and the field matrons are under the jurisdiction of a supervising nurse.

The Indian Office has announced the policy of discontinuing the employment of any more field matrons and practical nurses. If the new policy is carried out the hospital positions are to be filled by regular graduate nurses, and field matron positions by trained public health nurses. From the standpoint of health work, this will materially improve the situation.

The duties announced for workers in these classifications have been given as follows: To assist in medical, sanitary, and welfare work under the direction of physicians assigned to their particular sections or hospitals.

Obviously the above outline of duties is very general; therefore, for purposes of classification, each group of nurses will be considered separately.