The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-31

|
! DED.
The following gentlemen applied for
membership, and were elected by unani-
nous uipa Uoce vote: DR.. A. G.. Burton,
Baltimore, Md; James Johnston, Staun-
ton, Va. William A. Mills, Norfolk, Va. I;
j. B. Woral, j. Ii. Moore, j. G.. Wayt,
John Mahony, George F. Keesee, r. N.
Hudson, William B. Peasants, F. A..
Jeter, Richmond Va. !; John w. Scribner,
Charlottesville, Va; L. b. Legare, Orange
burg, S. c.; G. G. Davidson, Lexington,
Va. DR.. Robert Farley, of Lynchburg,
Va, was elected an honorary member.
The President announced that DR.. j.
Hall Moore, of Richmond, Va, was dele
gate from the Virginia State Dental Society
| to the Association.
On motion of DR.. Grant, committee of
three was appointed to examine and report
upon new appliances and inventions that
may be proposed to the notice Of the pro-
fession.
The chair named the following gentle
men as the committee Drs. James Johns
ton, Staunton, Va. Il. Floyd, Fayetteville,
N. c., and +. A. Jeter, Richmond, Va.
DR.. Samuel A. White, chairman of the
committee on publication, sent in the re-
port of his committee. The manner in
which the proceedings of the last annual
session of the Association were printed is
condemned by the committee, who consid-
er that the report should not be accepted
as truly rejecting the transactions of the
body. The report Of the committee was
received and adopted.
A report from DR.. j. p. II. Brown, of
Georgia, chairman of the committee on
dental education, was read by the secre-
tary. The doctor, after regretting his nee
essary absence and his failure to hear from
other members of the committee, gives his
views of the necessity of higher grade of
education, both general and special, in the
profession. The report was received and
adopted.
Professor F. J. S. Gorgas, of the Balti-
more Dental College, being called on, said
that he was sorry that neither dental edu-
alton nor the facilities for such education
in the South were what they should be.
His own college had been struggling for
years under manifold difficulties, and was
just now getting clear ofsome of these.
President Clark temporarily vacated the
chair and took the floor to give his ideas on
the subject under consideration. He said
the matter was too important to be passed
over lightly. He would call attention par
ticularly to the ease with which dental di-
plomas were obtained. The dental schools
acted with the lights before them, but a
higher standard should be erected, and he
thought this should be done by the State
Dental Societies. Honorary diplomas
should not be given but upon the certificate
of a State Society, and he thought that the
Society of each State should select some one
school and bestow its whole patronage and
recognition upon that. He would prefer
that this school should be attached to the
University of each State.
Professor Gorgas said that his college
had adopted the rule to confer no honorary
diploma or degree, except in cases where
one had done distinguished services in the
profession, though he would be willing, and
he thought his colleague also would be, to
grant diplomas on the certificates of State
societies. rsE .,.
The report on histology and microscopy,
by DR.. s. P. Cutler, of New Orleans, was
read by DR.. Ford, corresponding secretary.
The venerable and distinguished DR..
Robert Arthur, of Baltimore, here entered
the hall and was welcomed by the ASsocia-
ton rising. l. ..., l..
DIR. W. Leigh Burton, of this city, was
unanimously elected member of the As
ISOLATION. DR.. Burton, upon invitation,
exhibited tooth which had been fractured
in the mouth of child, and had subse-
quently united its fractured parts, and ex-
planned the process of such union. -
DR.. Clark propounded the theory that
the destruction of the teeth was caused by
animalcule or parasites, and not by the
acids of decaying vegetable or other matter
lodged about them-although he allowed
that acids did have an injurious effect to
some extent on the enamel. .ayr
Adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.
THIS MORNINGS PROCEEDINGS.
The Convention was called to order at
ten o'clock by president Clark, and the
Rev. DR.. Hoge, of the Second Presbyterian
church delivered prayer.
The chair announced that in accordance
with a resolution passed at yesterdays ses-
sion, the subject of operative dentistry
would now be taken up, and that DR..
Robert Arthur, of Baltimore, in pursuance
of the invitation, would explain the system
or theory advanced by him in treatise re-
Gently published. i
DR.. Arthur, who is an old and expe-
rienced dentist, rose and said that the sys-
tenn or theory of operative dentistry adj
vanced by him was subversive of the pres
ent fundamental principles of the science.
He said that it was preventive rather than
curative. lie would prevent the decay of
the teeth, and not stand upon the absurd
and foolish etiquette or notion that cavities
must be produced by the march of decay
before the skill of the dentist shall be APP
piled. He would prevent decay by sepa-
rating and filing the teeth. If the file is APP
piled on the first indication of decay, the
tooth cannot only be saved, but restored to
perfect health. He said the effect of the
present accepted system of practice was to
| destroy, not to save teeth and he was sor-
ny to confess that the profession as prac-
ticed was, in his judgment, doing positive
evil to mankind. The doctor exhibited and
| explained the use of certain dental instru-
ments, recently invented, and cited cases
wherein his theory and these instruments
had been applied with most astonishing and
gratifying results.
Several members who had read DR.. Ar
thurs recent work on operative dentistry,
gave it their unqualified approval. Dr..
Thackston, of Virginia, regarded it as the
most important contribution to the science
of which he had any knowledge, and paid a
high compliment to its author. lie believed
with him that decay Of the teeth might be