The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-07-21
DENTAL LEGISLATION

In view of the bill now under the
consideration of the Legislative AS
sembly, it may be interesting to take
q cursory view of the dental profes-
sion, past and present, its evolution
from an itinerant trade to an acknow-
lodged speciality of medicine, and to
point out few of the injuries aris-
ing from an indiscriminate license al
lowing quacks and charlatans to tam
per with one of the most important
functions of the human economy.
The first educated dentist to visit
the United States was Mr.. John
Woolfendale, from England, in 1866.
He practiced in New York and Phil
adelphia, but returned to England in
1853. Joseph Lemair, French den
fist, undertook to interest two or
three persons in the profession of
dentistry. This may be considered
as the origin and commencement of
dentistry in America. The names of
Hayden, Flagg and Greenwood stand
out prominently in those early days
as men of large natural and acquired
ability. Through their personal in
hueDce and extensive writing, a de-
sire for larger scientific attachments
and more thorough preparation for
their work was felt by dentists,
which called into existence the first
dental societies, quickly followed by
the first dental college in the world,
the Baltimore Dental College, in
1897.
The effect upon the public of
sending out from these centers of
influence men, who by a four years.
course of special training had begun
to realize a little the incalculable
value to the individual and to his
posterity, of the dental organs Of the
body, has been to arouse them to
sense of the danger they had hitherto
endured, in entrusting these great
interest to the care of men who had
spent bat few weeks or months in
the laboratory of some dental Office,
and had little or no mental prepare
ton for SO grave responsibility. The
first official recognition of this pro-
gress In public sentiment was the
passage of an Act by the Legislature
of the State of Alabama in 1S41,
Regulating the Practice of Dental
Surgery" By this law, any person
desiring to practice dentistry in that
State must pass satisfactory exam
nation before a medical board ap.
pointed by the State. For every
offense against this law the offender
must pay fine not exceeding $50.
Then followed similar law in New
York, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, until now all the
States and most Of the territories,
not excepting little Oklahoma have
dental laws, each with restrictions
and penalties. In Minnesota even
these must pass a rigid examination
before Dental Board appointed by
the Governor, and a dentist is not
allowed to move from country to
country without breaking up his
Office, and taking out new registra-
ton papers in the country to which
he moves.
Thls excludes the itinerant dentist,
who having no fixed abode, and thus
not being held to strict account by
the people of any one place, tempted
and in the majority of cases yields to
the desire, to get the most out of the
pnhlic by giving the least skill, care
and thought.
Following the wise leading of the
United States, England and almost
every civilized land of the earth, save
the Hawaiian kingdom, has adopted
more or less stringent dental laws.
Is there anything peculiar in the
conditions of our society that should
render it less necessary for the Gov
eminent of Hawaii nei to protect its
citizens from the ravages of the
quack dentist? AS a matter of fact,
there is not a place in the civilized
globe where such vigilant scientific
knowledge is so continuously needed
to save the sick and guard the we'll.
But it may be asked: Are the re-
suits of malpractice of dentistry
sufficiently alarming and serious to
require legislative Interference? Let
us see. The dental profession of to-
day claims for itself all the rights
and means of protection by law that
have been so long conceded to medi-
cine and surgery. That it is but
speciality of medicine was affirmed by
the unanimous vote OF the National
Medical Congress of the United
States, granting to the grad
yates of Dental Colleges the
sames rights and privileges In
their societies as are accorded
to their own members. The reason
for this unanimous concession on
their part is not hard to find. 1t is
not until recently that the medical
world has become aware of the rela-
tons which the mouth bears to dis,
ease in general, and its great import
auce in protecting the system from
the inroads of disease. It has also
become known that, if not properly
cared for, there is not in the whole
system any such culture bed for the
propagation and extension of dis
ease. The uneducated dentist, know
ing nothing of and caring little fol
the scientific facts, works carelessly