The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-24
CITY NTRLLA sNCR.
MORE DENTISTS.

The eighth annual commencement of the Pal
ladelphia Dental College took place to-day at
noon, In the Academy of Music.
large audience had assembled In the build
ing at eleven o'clock, t. listen to musical pro-
gramme performed by to- G,r1 ia or 'hestra
under the leadership of Carl Sentz. II noon
the graduates took positions on the stage, on
which also the trustees and faculty of the col
lege occupied seats.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by
Rev. b. L. Agnew, after which Rev. Richard
Newton, ID. D., conferred the degrees.
On the completion of the performance by the
orchestra of a selection from TTdUidtd, Prof. d.
b. Smith, d. d. s. delivered the address to the
graduates, of which we present full abstract.
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATES BY PROFESSOR d.
d. SMITH, u. d. s.
gentleman Graduates: :-Custom is frequently the
antecedent OF law, and law controls action. In
compliance with the law which custom has estab-
tons of learning, it now becomes my duty, but no
less privilege because 1t Is duty on beha1 OF the
faculty briefly to address you. Probably no events
Of life are called remembrance with greater plea
sure than the times OF receiving deserved honors
queptly expressed by those who have been debarred
such privileges point with marked significance to
the desirabeness and great value OF the systematic
training Of the college course as preparation for
Let me ther, gentlemen, extend to you most
hearty gratulaiOns on the occasion OF this your re-
gular and auspicous entry into the dental profess
sion. You have not, as many have done and as
still doing, like thieves and robbers climbed
np some other way, but you have come honorably ia
at the door and been publicly recognized
amidst the kindly sympathes of these
which an attendant upon the instructions OF our
dental colleges enjoys over one whose privileges are
limited to private tutorship are discoverabe from
every point Of view. SO patent has 1t become to
thinking men that no practitioner is fully qualified
without the instruction afforded by Institutions
that no preceptor whose teachings are of value will
longer receive students IN dentistry without the pro-
vision for attending college, and every year wit
nesses the spectacle OF men seeking these advan-
tages who have enjoyed the confidence and respect
OF the community as practitioners for five, ten, ir-
teen, or even twenty years.
Incredible as it may appear, yet there are those in
cessty for dentistry is an outgrowth OF dentistry
rather than that dentistry is an outgrowth of the
necessity many VINO seem 10 believe that the bus
disease, aid that it is maintained, partially at least
by misery and ruin Of its own working. In view OF
this, but with no intention OF offering 1t as
Bwer TO such falacy may be OF interest to glance
at what we should infer from the little really known
as to the condition of the human teeth in past ages
and as to the necessity for dentistry coeval with
civilization.
In Solomons song the Church is perso nided as
the daughter of ZiOn." A portion OF the descrIp-
ton OF this perfection OF beauty is given thus
from the washing whereof every one beareth twins
and there is not one barren among them."
A finer description OF sound aud beautiful set Of
teeth 1t would be difficult to conceive-white as q
flock of sheep just from the washing: they IN
pairs, and not one is broken or useless. This is
evidently designed to teach two things: first good
teeth free and clean from destructive agents. are the
most pleasing ornaments it is possible for young
set OF teeth was chosen rather than gold jewels,
not alone because they We're more fitting ad0rn-
beauty, but in oo1tradistnotion to the imperfect
ones which then existed. several operations upon
the teeth; win "a view TO their preservation were
Christian era by one CELSIUS OF Rome, and the Latin
poet Martial presents incontrovertble evidence that
teeth In his time were not only decayed aud lost,
but that ~ ti6cal ones were used. He writes
''If teeth like lady we would display,
With purchased bone ana horn OF India
Our mouths we must array"
And again.
''Thais has teeth SO black, Lucana white
Seek you the cause? Lucanta's teeth are bought,
While That's wears her own"
China has crude efforts to repair the wastes OF
decay Ia human teeth as far back among preceding
generations as we are able to trace her history Thus
we may infer that teeth have suffered from
disease In the past as they do to-day and sho ould
we more closely pursue our investigations we would
find that disease has not only e1istd but that 1t has
uBcontrolably destroyed, resulting in pan SICK
and death, and Is Dentistry only and tnat OF
single effective barrier TO the ravages OF this fell de-
strOyCr. Educated American dentistry of to-day
has completely tbrottled the diseases of the human
teeth that it STANDS pre-emInent and unchallenged
among the specialtie5 OF medicine. The question Is
OFTEN started Mny WITHIN lew years mas den,
the door OF recognition so fast opening to her among
the liberal professlons?" We answer in the single
The dement's conferred by dentistry are so imper-
feoty understood that comparatively few think
our science susceptible OF any definition except
such an one that given by Noah Webster. In
one OF the latest editions OF his Dictionary we
read "Dentisry is the art practice OF Dentist"
and 'denst is one who cleans ills repairs or ex.
tracts teeth The man who wrote that definition most
certainly was the victim OF just such dentist he
describesa cleaner. filler, repairer and an eX-
tractor but principally tie latter l have never
consulted Mr.. Webster to ascertain what M edicine
Ia, but from this definition OF dentistry Judge
medicine to be the art or practice OF physician,
and physician to be one who administers calomel.
masses OF the medical profession have ignored dem
tlslry, affecting to despise its mechanics: SO per-
sistently, indeed have medical men set their faces
against recognizing the just claims OF true dentistry
that only since 1t began TO shoot its own separate
roots 'nto the soil of science, seek
Ing that which general medicine never
has and never can furnish, and to appear itself as
tree laden with healing for the suffering. have they
In any sense seen this as branch OF the mother
science. The question is even yet asked dentists
and dental students, Why do you:not attend m ed-
Cal college for NJ D., instead OF dental college
fullest extent that an education In general medicine
Is lnperatvely the best preparation as an introduc
the possession OF such Information more qualities
for the practice OF dentistry in any direction than
graduating In agriculture qualities for the practice
OF law. Nor is it a matter of boastiDg. The vast
Held OF research opened by dental science compels
hgSIatu1e ana system OF educatlon OF lts own.
You are to-day welcome to the ranks OF a
liberal profession second In importance and
usefulness to no speciality In medical
science Devoted concentration is fast
Wrestling from the hands Of ncompetency, and urg-
Ing II TO position OF influence. Concentration OF
kingdoms, overturned empires crushed the power
OF despotism, and raised the standard OF civiza-
1t shall not fat OF its object when directed to the
elevation OF bealipg art. Educated, recommended.
be men, 10 claim companonshp in effort With 6ose sSe
who are steadily moving on this work; aud thus
shall II move on, and your innaenee extend with
theirs, until ev rywhere on the civilized earth den-
tstTy shall rise up TO relieve suffering, minister com
kind.
After the conclusion of DIR. Smiths address
the programme was then DrOceeded with as fol