The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-16
WIZ GlNzA DENTAL 4ssoCIArIo1lna
- = = lEgI- :
FIRST DAY.

DR.. W. w. II. Tbackston, Of FarmyiIle,
/ president; DR.. George r. Keesee, secretary.
/ On calling the roll, IL was sascertained that
nearly oil Of the city dentists were present,
with fair representation from other parts of
the State.
The Committee on Membership reported
favorably on the following pames, and they
were unanimously elected: Drs. W. L. Co.
wardip, W. L. Burton, G. A. Mercer, Rich
mond; George H. Cooke, Louisa, and
Thomas L. Sydnor, Salem. j..
The president introduced to the Associa-
tion Dr.. Reach, professor Of operative den.
tdstry in, the Maryland College Of Dental
! Surgeons, and welcomed him to seat in the
body. DR.. Reach acknowledged the COM
pliment in a neat speech, bringing greetings
from the Monumental City, and giving in.
| formation Of the recent. organization Of q
! and District of Columbia. y 80
DR.. r. N. Hudson, having retired from
the practice of dentistry, was elected an hon.
orary member.
An invitation was extended by Drs. John
g. and George G. Wayt to the members to
| witness an exhibition of the electric engine
and the application Of steam to the Morrison
engine, at their Office, which was gratefully
accepted.
The report on dental histology and micro
scopy was read by DR.. Wood, accompanied
BY diagrams, and was an interesting and In
structive document, and from which the
| writer deduced the following: That the den-
tai pulp Is composed Of fribrillB more or less
branching. The organ extends to, sur
| rounds, and closely invests the pulp. Hard
dentine is calcified dentine. The portion re-
naming uncalcified we call dental fbrilla.
There is no interfbrille substance whatever.
Fresh dentine, therefore, has no tubuli, but
has uncalcified fibri!a. That the difference
between dentine and the fbrilla is simply
one Of mineral element. Enamel and den-
tine are not vitalized tissues as far as the CAL
CITED portions are concerned. Enamel pro-
per and dentine proper are amenab'e to
physical and chemical laws only, and there.
fore any sensitiyeness in dentine is in virtue
of Its fibrila and Of their organic continuity,
with the terminal nerve.fbres in the pulp.
DR.. Thackston agreed in the main with
the writer, but stated that he had not &C.
counted for the extreme sensitiveness often
found on the line between the enamel and
dentine, he believing that the connecting
medium must be vascular one, DR.. Woods
theory being that the sensitiveness arose
from the terminal ramifcations OF the fibril.
lac. ,.-.
DR.. Thompson thought the report covered
the entire accepted theory Of the present
day. and was sustained by microscoplcal re-
searches. a..st
DR.. Tbackstop, in proof of the views ex.
pressed by him, stated thatlf the source OF
supply and nutrition which existed between
the dentine and pulp was severed that the
dentine would eventually darken and be.
come dead substance.
The president delivered his annual address,
extending to all the members Of the Dental
profession a hearty welcome, and announced
as bis theme, "The obligations of Dentists
to society, to the profession, and to each
other" The progress of the profession was
satisfactory, and our success most encourag-
ing and gratifying. Dental surgery furnishes
many examples Of individual dignity and
elevation of character, many conscien.
tious and faithful observers Of all the
duties and obligations provided by the most
rigid and eXacting Of ethical codes. Mem
bers we have who instinctyely and from an
innate sense of personal honor measure up
in all their acts and transactions to that
standard of moral and professional excel
lence that seeks no improper or selfish ad-
vantage. nor stops short Of the talhlment OF
every moral and professional obligation. We
are required to be prompt IN answering the
calls and meeting the demands OF our
patients, to be tender and humane IN
our practice and ministrations, discreet
and gentlemanly in our department., giving
TO our patrons the benefit Of our highest
skill. In no pursuit or profession OF life IS
demanded higher or more rigid Illustration
of all the qualities that distinguish Vlrtu'
Gus, refined, and elevated gentleman than
/ mt <,f fha
tai surgeon with bis patrons and patients.
urlimited space forbids more extended
notice ofthe doctors elegant and cbastely writ
ten address, filled, as it was, with high and
lofty sentiments, and enforcing with COM
mendable zeal the maxim 'FDo unto Others
as you would have them do unto you."
AFTERNOON SESSION.
DR.. Henkel read very carefully prepared
and interesting report on dental physiology.
This subject had been In the past looked upon
as of but little importance. So great has
been the desire for active mechanical opera
ting that it is feared that many have by ne
elect of all physiological signs, SO often met
with in everyday practice, placed themselves
altogether on mechanical platform, and only
able to look at their patients mechanically,
closing their eyes to the physiopathologica
fruit before them tempting them to pluck,
and digest mentally, thereby awaking out OF
the physiological sleep into which they have
fallen. The report urged that more rigid
study of physiology be required OF the den
| tai student. a.a
The report (os which we have only been.
able to give the concluding sentences) was
discussed by Drs. Thackston, Wood, Moore,
and others. -"
DR.. Thompson next read an admirable re.
mort on dental chemistry. That part OF It
| which elected the most discussion was re-
| ference to two important chemical agents
| which, though of themselves old, were yet
| in their application new and highly usetulln
operative dentistry namely: Wood creosote
and acetate of lead. -.
DR.. Wood advised trial of the acetate Of
! lead as recommended in the report. +.
DIR. Jeter believed that Wood creosote
| was very different article from the cr eosote
ordinarily used.
Or. Thackston stated that creosote Of COM
merce was only common carbQ3ic acid.
DR.. THOMPSON advised the use Of alcohol
as an antidote for the escharotic effect or
creosote. =,
swer the purpose.
:. Dr.. Keach gave in detail an account Of the
application to the nerve of the sponge satu.
rated in acetate of lead.
DR.. Thackston said acetate of lead was
astripgent, and as it combined with it refrid-
Grant and sedative qualities, he hoped that
the members would try it.
| DR.. Moore had not been believer In CAP.
ping nerves with oxychloride, but now
thought he saw some hope by the use Of
acetate of lead. -
DR.. Wayt considered it we'll worthy the
| trial. and wondered that II had not occurred