The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-10
The Fourth Annual Session of the Etr.
Etnin State Dental Association.

The tcllowng-named gentlemen were re.
ported upon iavorahly by the Committee on
Membership. and unanimously elected: G..
VI. Wilson. Sussex county; Joseph Wood
ward, Richmondi ID. Is. Gardner, Farmyilc
w. :. Norris, Charlottesville.
On motion. the name of DR.. s. M. Shcp.
herd was proposed NJ an honorary member
and, ON motion, he was unanimously elected.
nr. Shepherd favored the Association with
some encouraging remarks, and felt highly
graliticd nj being here surrounded by what
he saw was really q hiring association.
On motion of Dr. Thompson, the reading
of the presidents annual address was post
poncd until the afternoon session.
The next report in order was that on dem
tai physiology. DIR. Wood asked the in.
duisence of the Association, and that il
might be taken up first in the morning Scs.
sion which was granted.
DR.. Thompson. chairman Of the Commit.
tee an Histology and Microscopy, presented
his report. DR.. Johnston also read Il paper
or the same subject. They were received
and discussed.
Or. Johnston thought that each member
should Use every means within his power to
study histology and microscopy.
Or. Moore thought that advocates of the
parastical theory had overlooked the fact
that if IN extracted tooth be allowed to re.
main it would at the expiration of an in,
definite number Of years bc found the same
whereas the chemico-yita theory is demon
strated by exposing the tooth to the slightest
chemical action.
Dr.. Shepherd said that he first attempted
to study the c,lllsc before he could find the
remedy. He thought the chemical theory
the true one-it was simply erosion. lie
had never seen cause to change his views.
DR.. Johnston said that the chemical theory
was not denied. but that the vital action OF
the animalcuI1 WAS in connection with the
former.
DR.. Wood thought that surely the chemi
cal action was the beginner.
DR.. Kec>ce asked, Ii the auimalcul:e were
found III the green stain and cXerted such Il
dclctcrious effect, why, then, was it thai
decay upon The Iabial surfaces were com
paralivey seldom met WITH?
DR.. Tha rkston took tho floor. He stated
that, under all circumstances where decay
was found. those microscopical animal
culG and vegetable fungi existed, and that
these acted indirectly hy holding the acids
(aS 4 spongc) in contact with the tooth-sub.
stance. True, an extracted tooth did not
change lis condition, but an extracted tooth
was diSpoSses<ed Of its vitality, and conSe,
qucntly the vital action could not in such Il
cL,e have tul play but if all the conditions
were compiled with. then the chemical vital
action was sustained. That in a perfectly.
filed TOOTH in after years, the absorp'
ton under the tlIin. would show that vital
action bad been going on.
On motion, the report WAS adopted.
The Committee on Mechanical Dentistry
offered a verbal report through DR.. Steel.
Nothing new had occurred. Rubber was
most extensively used Tor cheap plates. but
he believed that the large proportion of cases
were untlyorablc.
Dr. Johnston said that little was ia he eX-
peCted in the pcrnIancncy celuloid- -ottcp,
even in tWCnty-tour hours. the plate will
warp - it. not 10 be able to retain il in the
Mouth. He thought that the disease was
occaSinncd hy the mercury i'll the rubber.
Dr. Wood thought That the red oxide ot
mercury was inert, and that if any disease
existed it w;s> the more frequently clu@ed
by the non-conduction of the material.
DR.. Shepherd said he had used the rubber
extensively. and had not found any diff
Guilty in any disease. His patients were
wearing it with perfect satisfaction, and haC
been doing So for Il number Of years.
DR.. Thackstou said that in the use Of ccllu.
lod be had found it preferable to rubber
In tue mouth he has not observed it tC
change. warp DC.
Or. Wood thought that air-chambcrs were
desirable in tlat mouths.
A further discussion was postponed fol
the evening session.
The following hours were appointed:
to 10 A. NJ, clinics; 18 A. NJ. to , 2. NJ. and
/ to 6 L. NJ, for session. .r
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Association was called to order by the
President. Present: Drs. James f. Thomp
son. J. Hall Moore, George A. Sprinkel, Jud
son B. Wood, G.. G. DAWSON, f. A. Jeter
John G. Wayt, W. R. Dennis, james John
>ton, George q. Wayt. John w. Scribner
John Mahony, w. L. Norris, and George r
krrScc.
The subject of mechanical dentistry was
resumed.
DR.. Moore spoke Of the lining o: vulcanll6
plate. with gold SO as to prevent the non
conduction OF heat.
DR.. Wood favored where gold-plate was
used to connect the teeth with the rubber
DR.. Jelrr also spoke most tavorably Of the
same.
DR.. Sprinkel spoke of the great trouble
eyperjcnccd i'm using aIuminum-plate. HI
often found that the swedgcd plate wout
soon have holes appearing in it, which, how
ever. WAS obyia,cd by moulding the plate
aud also benefited by attaching the teeth
with rubber The secrcti0nS of the mouth
did not seem to affect the plate, and, indeed
he had often seen where diseased mouth:
fnl k,-t thn nf 1lnm1nllm.
On motion, the subject OF mechanics
dentistry was passed.
On motion, the subject of operative den.
tistrv was postponed until this "wednesday
morning. There being no report from tht
Committee OH Dental Literature on accouh,
of the illness Of the chairman, the sutJec'
was taken up and discussed by Drs. Inomp
son, Johnston, ThackstoD, Wood, ana nee
see: and in the absence OF any STANDARD
publication the pamphlet issued by Dr. l.
Jones was recommended as being mos
serviceabie for distribution among the pub
lie. The subject Was then passed.
The reading of the Presidents annual ad
dress having been postponed until the after
noon session at the request OF the AsSocEt'
fion, he then proceeded to deliver the same
hv calling attention to the grateful acknoWl'
element which was due to an ovcrrlillng
Providence for being permitted once more
10 assemble in Il corporate capacity TO pro
mote the end, and cultivate the growth und
imnroyclncnt of neces sary and benign call
inr He was clad to welcome here the old anC
honored representatives OF our profession
tho G,tbcrs of Virginia dentistry; the lead
ers who struck the rock when we were IL
tho wilderness of darkness and emplrlclSm
who lifted up the rod that the talnt mlsh,
look and again be strong; ana VINO nave az
last brought us to view OF that pfohiseo