The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04
A NINE YEAR old COLLEGE.
Practical Dentistry at the Indiana Dem
tai College.
An Eminent Man in the Profession-Gradu-
ating Exercises at Plymouth
Church.

The ninth annual exercises of the graduating
class of the Indiana Dental College will take place
on next Wednesday evening. at Plymouth Church,
and the event will be one of much more than or
binary interest not merely to the college, its
students and their friends but to the public at
large This college was established in the sum-
mer of 1873. and its first term began the follow
October, with six students, of whom three grad
uated. The second term had but ten students.
In 1881 the college moved from the Thorpe
Block into the Etna Building, where it has
since occupied the entire third and fourth floors
of that building.
The college authorities have conducted their
business quietly and have made no attempt to
advertise what they were doing, beyond the
holding of clinics where all manner of operations
in dental surgery conducted, more than
half of which of purely gratuitous
character, and have been of great benefit
to poor people in this city. The
college class has increased until it for several
years has shown an average Of thirty members
This membership is drawn from section of
country extending from Michigan on the north,
Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas on the west. Mis-
sissipi and Louisiana on the south and New
York and Massachusetts on the east-all the
States in this territory having furnished
students Some of these students come from
the East and pass over four or five of the Oldest
and !wealthiest dental colleges in the world.
The Indiana Dental College has paid particu-
lar attention to practical dentistry. and the
suit to greatly extend its patronage. This
college has the reputation OF being able to teach
young that they are able TO begin
creditable and efficient practitioners, in one
term-that is those who show any ability in
that line. This work is largely a labor OF love,
the money that is in it being no inducement to
the gentlemen who carry on this college
successfully. their object being the eleva
walton of their profession through the education
of the young men who enter it. These gentle
men have met with strenuous opposition-an
opposition that. at times has been almost ma
hcious in Characterization the profession in
some of the surrounding States, where they had
examiners who exercised al censorship and who
tried to shut out graduates of the Indiana
Dental College. The college has overcome all
this opposition, and last September was not
only admitted to the National Association of
Dental Faculties, but DR.. j. e. Cravens. as
representative OF this college, was made secre-
tary of the national organization. which, of
course. settles the whole question as to the ter
ritory in which the diplomas of this college
will GO
There used to be special principle
tended for by this college, and in this contest
the Indiana Medical College has at length won.
The old college system recognized five years
practice as equivalent to one term at
college. This. with one term at college,
was considered sufficient to admit
student to graduation. This college
took the ground almost from the beginning that
no term OF practice could be relied upon as
educational feature suitable for all cases. The
education received by man in what is called
regular practice may be all wrong and damage
10 the student all his life So the Indiana Dent
al College has required the same attendance
and number of terms of all comers and
previous advantages are regarded except attend
ance at other dental or medical schools. This
principle, in establishing which the Indianapolis
Dental College is the pioneer, has come to be
recognized by every dental college in the United
States.
One of the features of the graduating exer-
cises next Wednesday evening, at Plymouth
Church, will be the lecture by DR.. VIM. II. At
kinson, of New York city. DR.. Atkinson is the
most eminent man in the profession, and his
reputation is as great In Europe as in America
His name Is familiar one in dental
literature. and his teachings have been fol-
lowed by practitioners everywhere. He is
the father of the hand-mallet used in filling
teeth and the author of contour. the restoration
of the form of teeth with gold. He has received
the largest money compensation of any person
that ever lived for dental services. His patients
are from among the millonaires of New York
and the nobility of Europe Nevertheless, he is
a man who cares little for money. and his time
has much of it been given without compensa-
ton to the interests of his profession and to
dental education which latter fact will account
for his presence here and his lecture, the sub
ject of which will be Progress of Dental Edu-
cation" 1t is an interesting fact that Dr. At
kinson gave his first public dental clinic in the
city of Indianapolis nearly thirty years ago, at
the Office of DR.. P. g. c. Hunt, whore he dem
onstrated the restoration of the contour of teeth
by means of cohesive gold, his instruments on
that occasion being constructed from pair of
old files found in the Doctors Office. He is a
scholarly gentleman, and clear. forceful and
interesting lecturer. DR.. Atkinson, though
youthful in spirit is quite patriarchal in appear
ance. Those who hear his lecture-and the in
vitation to attend is general-will be amply re-
paid Cor their attendance.
In addition to DIR. Atkinson's lecture brief ad-
dresses will be made by others. Dr. Henthorne
will make address to the students; Dr. Reis-
kel1, president of the college, will confer the de-
grees. and DR.. j. n. Hurry, as secretary of the
e. j.
present junior class Prof. Robert Newland
will preside at the organ. and other vocal and
instrumental music will be given. There will
be a number of distinguished members of the
medical and dental professions from outside the
city and number from outside the State.
The trustees of the college the following
well-known practitioners: W. L. Heiskell pres
dent. Indianapolis; s. T. Kirk, vce-president,
Kokomo; Merit Wells, treasurer Indianapolis;
E. j. Church. La Porte; T. S Hacker. Indianap-
oils; Robt Van Valzah, Terre Haute; j. N. Hur-
ty. Indianapolis; S B. Brown. Eft. Wayne: j. E.
Cravens. secretary, Indianapolis. The faculty is
follows John II. Oliver. professor of anatomy,
oral pathology and surgery; Junius e. Cravens
professor of operative dentistry and develop
ment. pathology of the teeth; Leroy s. Hen
thorne professor of physiology; John N. Hurry,
professor of chemistry, and materia nedica;
Thomas S. Hacker, professor of mechanical
dentistry.
Fast Time to Kansas City.
On and after Monday, March 8, the l. D. q