Stalag 344

Furnishings (chair, etc.) were built by camp carpenter. Instruments were purchased at Dental Warehouses. Materials were purchased at Dental Warehouses. These included:-

"Paladon" acrylic resin denture base, artificial teeth, amalgam, porcelain and zinc cements, rubber dam, etc. Novocain, evipan and spirits were supplied by German Medical Services.

In the opinion of Captain Noakes and myself, the equipment, while limited, was adequate and of good quality, enabling us to undertake all types of work - surgical, conservative or prosthetic. Over a period of months a good stock was purchased, and the centre made independent of other sources of supply. X-ray pictures were made by arrangement with the local civilian dentist, and volcanite repairs were done by us at an Army Dental Depot.

Funds: Initial outlay was met by Camp Welfare Funds. Running expenses were defrayed by small charge for dentures. This scheme was approved by the representatives of the camps concerned.

Patients: Patients were drawn from numerous working parties in the district. They marched or travelled by train to the Dental Centre for conservative and prosthetic work and were visited in their own camps for extractions.

Conclusion: The most urgent consideration in the district was a regular dental service. The chief difficulties were:-

(1) The limited amount of work which civilian dentists could undertake (later, none),

(2) The high cost of such treatment. The sum expended was equal to the subsequent outlay (gross) on the centre.

During ten months these difficulties were largely overcome, and in December 1942 we were able to hand over an established centre to Captain Green, A.D.C., the records remaining with him. I wish also to record the help and encouragement we received from all British Medical Officers and Warrant Officers with whom we came in contact.

[The remainer of this report, written by Captain Warren, describes Marlag und Milag Nord and continues here.]

Two rooms. The conservation room is very small. The prosthetic room is of good size but it is necessary to use this room for inspections and extractions in addition so as to relieve the congestion is the smaller conservation room. More equipment and room is necessary should an additional dental officer arrive.

Instruments for conservation work are limited to bare essentials and are nearly worn out. Tools are supplied for denture work. A large supply of cement filling material from Red Cross is in stock. The supply or mercury, amalgam and local anesthetic from Red Cross has finished. The German Medical Authorities supply small amounts of the latter periodically. The German supply of dental base plate material and plaster is generous and meets requirements, but no artificial teeth have been supplied since March '42. The reason stated is that they are required for needs of the German Army.

In September and October, 1941, sums amounting to Rm 821.29 were expended by our Central Welfare Fund, on material for dentures. The Fund could have continued to bear such expenses, had not the supply from German sources been curtailed.

TREATMENT

Attendances

Extractions

General Anaesthetics

Fillings

Temporary Fillings

Scalings

Vincent's Infection treatment of

Dentures including remakes

Repaired dentures

Obturator for excised maxilla

Men rendered dentally fit.

SUMMARY OF LAST MONTHS

DENTAL TREATMENT

1,355

1,009

450

133

379

The monthly denture output varies on account of delays in renewal of has supply for heating purposes and other materials. However, this has improved since the last visit by the International Commission. A number of metal appliances and splints for jaw fractures have been cast by centrifugal force method, empty tobacco tins being improvised for casting rings.

In addition to above, a large number of eye-formers have been made and supplied for restoration of orbital tissues after removal or loss of eyes.

The present position in prosthetic dept is that artificial teeth have run out until further supplies arrive from Red Cross and work now consists of remodelling old and ill-fitting dentures also repairs.

Since arrival of teeth from Red Cross in June last year, 1,061 dentures have been made and fitted up till end of last month.

The Stalag caters for approximately 25,000 men, 8,000 in Main Camp and the remainder distributed at Working Parties in surrounding areas. The facilities for dental treatment at Working Parties vary: some attend local civilian dentists and a few to German Military Dentists.

Permission to visit the large Working Parties for operative dental treatment was obtained from the German Authorities and 18 Parties have been visited during the past year.

Men continually arrive in the Main Camp from Working Parties for supply of dentures and other dental treatment and are afforded priority treatment.

The denture question is still acute and about 1500 men require artificial teeth. The transient nature of the Main Camp does not permit organised dental inspection so that only an approximate record of those requiring dentures can be ascertained. It is regretted that dissatisfaction exists with regard to denture supply to men who have passed the Mixed Medical Commission for Repatriation.

The German Authorities do not permit supply to non-working men unless their medical condition demands it.

All men applying for dentures are inspected by the Stabsarzt who sanctions supply.

These regulations have been repeatedly explained to the repatriated men, it being emphasised that although the Red Cross supply the teeth, the German Authorities supply facilities and necessary materials and can therefore dictate the policy.

It is considered that men on heavy work in quarry and coal mines are in greater need than non-workers.

Operative treatment appears high and may be due to long waiting list for conservation treatment also limited facilities at Working Parties.

In addition to the Camp Revier of 300 beds, there is an adjoining Kriegsgefangen Lazarett of 300 beds, which is attended one afternoon per week for dental treatment of patients.

Repeated requests for additional dentures officers and accommodation have so far not met with success.

In conclusion the Senior British Medical Officer, Major S.G. de Clive-Lowe, N.Z.A.M.C., has rendered invaluable assistance and co-operation with the working of the Dental Department.

P.S. Since the drafting of the above report, supplies from England sufficient to cater for some 260 complete dentures, have been received, and normal work has been resumed.

on Dental Conditions relating to British prisoners of war in Kreis Cosel. VIII B

c) Materials - mainly purchased by P.o.W., some from Red Cross and since May 1943 from German Authorities. At present no materials of any kind are required.

Extractions

Fillings
Root Fillings

Dentures

Scalings

Visits.

283

117

503

Range of Treatment. This Dental Centre which has up to 31/7/43 been in Arbeits Kommando E/3, Stalag VIII B, caters for all British Ps.o.W. in Kreis Cosel and some in Kreis Kattowitz and Kreis Ratibor, upwards of 4000 men.

The bulk of the patients come from B.A.B.s. 20 & 21, and Arb. Kommando E/3. The various working camps send in weekly or fortnightly parties for treatment, according to their strength. The fact that men must travel of necessity cuts down their number of attendances and thus makes it imperative that all the treatments be completed at one visit, if at all possible, therefore, with the collaboration of the Medical Officers of the various Camps, all septic teeth are extracted as are all teeth with advanced paradental diseased.

Root Fillings are not attempted posterior to the Canines, behind which the pulp is either mummified or the teeth extracted according to the degree of caries.

Dentures are made according to the waiting lists of each Camp. Jacket crowns and small bridges of Palapent are made on occasions.

The first Dental Treatment for British Ps.o.W. in this area was provided by a Civilian practitioner, who did fillings, extractions and dentures, the cost being met out of Camp Funds (Canteen Profits). There is no record of the work but the total bill was 1773 Rm. The first British Ps.o.W. here being Arbeits Kommando E/3 Captains Warren & Noakes, N.Z.D.C. were posted in February and May 1942 to E/3, both bringing with them a few instruments and they obtained permission to buy materials and instruments from a private firm. They gradually equipped the Dental Centre, which consisted of a small hut, 9 ft. x 12 ft., and which served as surgery, laboratory, and in bad weather, waiting room, where conservative and prosthetic dentistry was done. Up to the time of their leaving the Camp these officers made 90 dentures with the assistance of S/Sgt. Turner, A.A.M.C. As far as can be ascertained an average monthly return of work was:-

Fillings

Extractions

Dentures

130

301

In December, 1942 Captain J.M. Green, A.D. Corps, came from Marlag and Ilag, Stalag X B and later Milag Nord, where he had been I/C Dental Centres in those Camps, and succeeded Captains Warren & Noakes. The Staff was increased by the addition of two more mechanics. More material was bought, including a Field Dental Chair and large stocks of Palapont, Paladon, wax and filling materials.

Owing to the shortage of teeth a method was evolved of making stocks of teeth from Palapont and between 50 & 60 dentures were thus made before the Red Cross supplies arrived.

Men were charged 30 Rm. for dentures, to cover all costs for materials etc., and the scheme worked excellently, the accounts being kept by the Canteen at E/3.

In May 1943 the German Authorities withdrew permission to purchase materials, etc., and paid the latest incurred, so the nominal charge of 30 Rm. has been stopped.

The Dental Centre acts as a semi-mobile unit, The Dental Officer and Staff spending 1 week of each month at B.A.B.20, or Kommando E/155 of Stalag VIII B, transport being provided by the German Authorities.

The Dental Centre moved from E/3 to B.A.B. 21 on the 31st July 1943. In this Camp the Centre occupies a large, well-lit laboratory, a similar surgery and an adequate waiting room, all three rooms with running water and the surgery with hot and cold water supply. The equipment of the surgery has been improved by the addition of an oil-pump chair and furniture given by the Wehrmacht. A second Dental Surgeon and more equipment are expected when it is hoped to organise the Dental Centre into a stationary and a mobile wing, the latter to visit the larger Kommando for 2 weeks in the month.

There are at least 330 dentures required by the British Ps.o.W. in this area, this includes full dentures and large partials, the lists are not yet completed and also include those who require their existing dentures re-modelling.

The Centre was started by the initiative of the Camp Staff at E/3 who asked for a Dental Officer and raised the funds for the initial equipment from their Camp Funds and from contributions from other Camps who received treatment.