New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02

DIR. MARGARETA A. STEWART GIVES
SOME VALUABLE ADVICE.
MUCH TO BE DONE BY THE WOMAN WHO PRO-
POSES TO FOLLOW THIS LINE OF WORK AS
A MEANS OF MAKING A LIVING.

eyebrows IN surprise Wnen IL comes IN contact
with her younger sister, the woman dentist
Nevertheless the latter has arrived. and bids fair
TO rival her elder sister in the success of her
career.
Upward of twenty-five years ago Professor c. ~
PIERCE, dean Of the Pennsylvania College of Dental
Surgery, after well-fought battle with his col
leagues succeeded in throwing open the doors Of
his college to women Since that time other dental
colleges have opened their doors and women are
received into their classes.
In 1892 the New-York Dental School char
tered by the Regents. and organized on the CO.
educational basis. In the latest catalogue OF that
school find this announcement:
Our experience In the training of women for the
profession OF dentistry has been such as to recon-
mend them to enter II. Glasses are increasing
and applications are abundant. We are not only
willing but glad to have them
This institution bids fair to become the popular
dental college with women students not only be-
cause OF the facilities which New-York City offers
for practical experience TO students In the profess
sion but because of the perfect freedom from
any of intrusion with which women may
avail themselves of the privileges OF the institu-
ton, Without doubt, this profession Is one
peculiarly adapted to the "woman's sphere
IL is work that can be done In her own home
may be confined within regular hours, and It's held
of operation is largely devoted 10 women. surely
the peculiar graces of womanhood must come TO
be appreciated here. If anywhere; the sympathetic
nature, the gentle touch, and, Wltnal, the kluly
word Of encoura cement.
The dental chair as all know. is in the ma
jorty of minds the synonyme for torture, because
do good work and render efficient service IL mas
been necessary 10 innict pain But the days OF
painful surgical operations are passed ana per-
haps 1t would be interesting to my lay sisters 10
know that the greatest boon which has come 10
suffering humanity within this century, and which
has made the triumphs of modern surgery pos
Observation-Disclosures brought to II through the
dental profession by the efforts of dentist TO
overcome the pain incident to the extracting OF
teeth.
| But this was in the days when dentistry had
tust emerged from swaddling clothes in the par
| ber's chair and the only thing to be done with
troublesome tooth was to extract 1t and replace II
with an artificial one. To-day the dentist is able
to save teeth from the forceps. and the painless
way 70 do this will be sure 10 follow
Dentistry as the profession is now known TO be,
| is distinctly of American birth. and is yet In Its
infancy 1t is only little more than nifty years
! since the first dental college in the world was
! founded at Baltimore Since that time there has
| grown great system Of colleges embracing tne
civilized world and there has developed hterature
e o no SCIENTIFIC rosses on dental subjects together
with current literature 81 upward OF sh,rty
w Nor has the birth of modern dentistry been pre-
mature. for with the march Of civilization the
| teeth of the human race are yielding TO the gen
era neuroc tendency SO manfest on eyery si1s
! observers: Are We to become a toothess rae
| helOVcd America, winch mas heNtIOl'eu
the highest type of civilization in the world we see
the rapid degeneration of our beautiful teeth;
! which contribute more than any other feature 10
the health Of the human organism
DENTISTRY A NECESSITY
Strange. as 1t may seem the medical profession
would not and does not to-day recognize the I'M
portance of this special feature Of medical science;
| consequently dentistry as a separate profession
became necessity Nevertheless. without broad.
general education in the science of medicine. it Will
sell N no
successfully cone with the situation. Even then
the remedy must be largely educational. Millions
! Of teeth sacrificed because of ignorance. The
| masses do not appreciate their Importance and
| value and know nothing of the possibilities of
dental science. AS the generations pass the bad
| heredty contingent upon this ignorance is aug
menting the deadly work 81 tooth destruction
Here as elsewhere, II we would do effective work
in reform. must begin. as the late Dr. Oliver
Wendell Holmes so wisely said. with the grand
parents. The children Of to-day are the grand
parents Of the future. An enlightened public spirit
| has introduced hygiene and physiology into the
| curriculum of the public schools
Why not extend this department of public in
| structon sufficiently to teach these subjects In
their practical application to the Of the teeth?
| Such a course would be of inestimable value 10
| the wards of the Nation, and Its effect would be
| seen in the marked Improvement of a condition
which is to-day our characteristic National phySi-
! cal delect-bad teeth.
Woman is the natural educator Of The race and and
| attention Of a woman ambitious for distinguished
or success IN snv cangthe ca
| pacity for conscientious. painstaking work ana
| more promising prospects for a woman than den
tistry--not the more popular one Of medicine.
tSous nG denss in the United states many cam
not make iher profession Rronfane 0 %he k tne
! fifty thousand dentists comfortably employed This
| eating dentists has run far ahead Of the education
of the people in the importance Of caring for their
| teeth.
| Although it is the infant among the professions.
an is k IS Mh me hs Gbe sae
ards in preliminary education as well as more time
students in the special requirements Of the pro-
In the State of New-York these, requirements are
| now hxed BY law, and the students of the pro-
| LESSONS an equal footing.
TO ENTER THE PROFESSION
The preliminary requirements for entering either
| law. medicines or dentistry are equivalent to a
New-York high school education. These pre-
| limnary requirements vary somewhat in the differ
| ent States. The Regents control the issuing of
certificates for matrculation in this State students
who matrlculate prior 10 January ]. 1@o-the date
for the law take full effect-may obtain certif-
Gates on a modified scale of the required number
| OF counts Candidates should apply to the Ex
| animation Department University OF the State OF
| New-York. Albany n. Y. for full particulars as to
| these notifications.
| For the woman who proposes to take up the
study and practice Of dentistry in NeW York the
first step should be 10 secure thlS certUcHte tne9
| to consult her bank account If she Is so fortunate
az TO have a hitherto useless diploma tucked away
among her belongings ii is treasure. the value
OF which she will never appreciate. II she has not
| and must secure her certificate. either by
| aminatons evidence Of equivalent work, the
test OF her ability TO succeed In her chosen pro-
| fession is upon her at the very outset II she sue
| ceeds crossing this Rubicon without satisfac-
tory diploma to bridge. It. though her bank ac-
| count be at zero. she will manage that also
COST OF PREPARATION.
| The time required TO complete the course of
| study is three years and the fee for the entire
| course amounts to about 500. This does not in