New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-26
DENTISTRY NOT MEDICINE.
THE PROFESSIONS WHOLLY DISTINCT.

DISCUSSING THE ADvrsABnIrY or FORMING
SECTION OF THE MEDICAL CONGRESS.
There Is q determined agitation going among tho
Leading dentists q. this country with reference 10 the
attitude that their profession shall formally assume
toward me Heal profession especially In view OF the
Invitation when has been extended dentists form
section OF the international Medical Congress which
will meet In Washington next September.
DIR. Norman W. Kingsley. the president OF the Dental
Society Of the state Of New-York. who is well known
among the dentists of this country determined and
pugnacious man Ia matters affecting the dental pro
fesson has declared against the acceptance OF the nvi-
taton AMI many fellows in his views that
the dental profession Is distinct and should not
In the fag-end other end OF the medical
profession movement mas hesn put on foot there
fore for International Dental Congress- with the un-
DERIVING total Reputation OF Identification
with the medical profession more than with any other
At the last meeting OF the First District Dental Society,
Dr. Kingsley discussed the relations Of dentistry and
medicine under the heading" Dentistry Is not speciality
medicine" and his position. forcibly expressed was
received with applause which indicates the views of
Oh dental profession this subject He wholly repq-
dated the idea that for dentistry to be regarded as
specially OF medicine gave any additional character or
dignity. Dentistry was profession, Tor one reason
because it was vocation OF benefcerce. In this
country as Dr. Frank II. Hamilton had once stated,
dentistry had been brought from simple mechanical
srt to the rank of scce and established for itself
lust claim to the title OF learned profession II
entitled this rank because tho mastery OF 1t as
science or art involved a considerable knowledge or
many other and its IN equal degree
nearly all tina arts.
In the daily practice of dentistry roud found
omsts, physiological pathoo2ists, nstoogsts, bioo-
gists mcroscopts chemists. boanists biologists and
metsllurgists. Dentistry not mechanical trade
Rec the dentist not the servile mitator OF
pattern but he constantly called upon TO apply
established principles to entirely new conditions; his
judgment and inventive faculties must be in active ex-
Yet that which removed further than all else
combined from medicine was its mechanical methods;
its cornerstone and foundation we're mechanics applied
by knc sedge OF the various sciences yet required
natural faculties and acquirrnens entirely Distinct rom
those "A ice OF medicine
As an Indication Of what dentistry embraced. Dr.
Kinssley said that If all he workers IN WOODS, metals
and clays mOuders porcelain wo ksrs and decorators,
painters aud sculptors were suddenly ana siuit*
neo:sy ar SG e1nSts in every
or them; aud II In tue same grand catastrophe an
scientists OF certain classes were cut o. inc same
sciences could be fully taught by dentists" DR..
Kingsley combate the IDEA mat dental students snoud
study medicine first; be woulI dental schools
wholly distinct from edicne and nave dentists stu
Inediane II they wished after they had become dentists
-As for tho Invitation dentists 10 or section OF the
International Medic Congress, DR.. Kingsley said; Az
Independent profession We nave no business mere
section OF G's oral tue void who want
section al to Themselves by all means let them nave *;
Dut hitch dentistry to the end OF the tail OF the
medical kite 20 give 1t ballast for higher fight From
more than source | have heard THIS Illuminating
argument in It's favor: We ought 10 form this section
because it will give sucu excellent opportunity 70
OBTAIN recognition Do those who talk rscognton 10
this connection realize hat the word inyolvcsf In
pain Language IL means that condition, hereofors
has or DeriOrty and abasepen but ~ joining
sucn congress shall Immediately, by some sort or
prestidig be lifted into very grand and innu
ential place -,
Dentistry in America needs no recognition ;hat med
cal congress give. The only recognition wnch We
need that from all classes OF the community, rsc1s
milton that we are pretend 10 be- dement, ana
necessity TO The health and comfort OF the community
ANY other recognition from a medical congress, even II
filled with compliments, would be as empty Is sounding
brass II we strong enough 10 form section when
will q dentistry America, we are strong
enough in the not faI future wnoe coneress
all 20 ourselves AID when that day arrives the eyes
the whole world Will be centred upon u.s. We Snail mol
be sgamped in the multitude Of specaltes IN medicine
like the poor relatives who invited to tue feast ous
find then selves sitting at the second table,