The times., 1899-08-27
DENTISTRY FOR WOMEN
Still Another LucIat Profession
Adapted to the Sex.
Physical and Moral Strength Are
Required 10 Meet the CompIica-
tions That Constantly Present
Themselves, Buf Success Has
Heen Attained by Clever Girls.

Il
AT hrst view dentistry might seem to ba
one OF the professions especially suited To
! the capabilities of women The nice ma
nipulation and the minute attention 10 de-
tails which IL requires. the opportunity
which IL AFFORDS OF relieving pain and rem
edying the decay OF nature with
out mourning. apparently. In the
more serious responsibilities which
attend practice In the field OF
medical science, where issues OF life and
death are involved; and the remuueratfve
nature Of the occupation would seem TO
make 1t peculiarly appropriate for the cIev-
er and energetic girl with a practical turn
Of mind. a good deal of mechanical inge-
| nuity, orderly and methodical habits. ami
something OF the desire TO relieve suffering
and TO improve upon nature, which is in
born in every woman But even such girl
would do well to give much thought to the
subject, and to consider 1t in all its various
/ aspects before finally making up her mind
to become a dentist. In the arst place she
| must assure herself that her physical
strength viii be sufficient TO meet the de-
Inands that will be made upon it IN the
ordinary practice of the profession To
stand six OF eight hours a day at an operat-
| ing chair. occupying much of the time
strained positions. and expendiag much
muscular strength in the various opera
tioDs performed. taxes the endurance. dsu-
fists say, even OF a strong man The wrist
must be strong and suppies the touch sure
and firm. The eye must be quick to per-
ceive an unexpected development In some
apparently simple case. and the mind full
of resources for every emergency; for. ow-
II - .lI.~sr
| OF dental science. developments will pre-
sent themselves for the exact treatment OF
which the practitioner viii find no tested
rules laid down In the books. and which
she must deal with guided by little other
| light than that of her own judgment and
| experience.
| She must, too, have good share of both
| physical and moral courage to enable her
TO meet with co0lness and seIf-possession
the more serious complications which viii
present themselves in the course OF the
\ dentists practicable prolonged insensi
! hility OF a patient from weakness Of the
heart or whatever ether cause. after the
administration of an anaesthetie; a sudden
| hemorrhage following the extraction OF a
/ tooth; blood poisoning. resulting from
/ some of the various forms OF abcesses
caused by bone decay. All this she must
regard as part of the profession which
she should feel within herself the latent
POWER TO deal with before she resolves to
enter 1t, unless. indeed. she Is content 10
/ practice IL merely as the assistant or the
! junior partner. so 20 say, OF a dentist OF
the stronger sex.
So many and so various. indeed, are the
drawback to the dentists profession. Is
| one for women that an experienced wonlaH
practitioner in the city declares that she
could not conscientiously advise any wou1-
an to enter it, unless with the intention Of
| practising It only as the assistant or part
ner of a male dentist
| But having made UP her mind TO enter
the profession what are the first steps 10
be taken by the young woman who de-
sires to qualify herself for its practics9 II
she desires to acquire thorough mastery
of the profession she must undoubtedly
enter some one CT the dental colleges that
have in recent years opened their doors
to women OF these there are -wo OF excel
lent standing In Philadelphia. city which
offers, besides. many advantages to the
| student Chief among these Is the facility
/ Of obtaining board at a very moderate rate
/ from 81 to IS week-in private fami-
ly of respectability. where some Of the
/ comforts of a home will be enjoyed
To enter either CT the colleges referred
to. the Philadelphia Dental College and the
Pennsylvania College OF Dental Surgery.
good common-school education Is required
The course OF studies will be more or less
the same in both.
A glance at the curriculum Of one OF
/ these eolieges-let us take the Phtladel-
phia Dental CoIlege-wili show that dent
lists diploma is not to be obtained without
hard work. The course covers period OF
| three years. in addition TO which intend
\ ing students are advised to pursue course
| of preliminary reading extending over one
| or two years. which may. however be
| followed at home, guided by a syllabus Of
I - xIr H., -
will be furnished by the college. on appIi-
! cation.
The first year of actual college work
will be given to practical work in the
technics of the profession and the study
of anatomy and surgery. including dissec-
| ton. physiology. materia medica, and an
aesthesia and work in the astrological and
meteorological laboratories
During the second year practical work
in technics is continued. accompanied with
| chemical laboratory work. practice in the
study of chemistry. pathology. and thera-
peutics, anatomy. surgery. physiology.
materia mediea. anaesthesia, histology and
bacteriology.
The third year is given TO general in
firmary practice; continued practical work.
chemistry. metallurgy. and dental pathoI-
ogy and therapeutics. The work in all
these various departments of science is
| thorough. and such as forms the fouada-
tion of a medical education
| In materia mediea. the origin and chem
| ical composition of drugs. the modes of
preparing them. their physiological ae-
ton. therapeutic uses. poisonous effects.
and antidotal treatment" are taught In
anaesthesia the lectures include the "his-
tory chemistry. manner of preparation.
physiological action. and toxicology of all
general and local anaesthetics." together
with consideration of physical dag
nosis and modes of resuscftation. The lee
lures on physiology -reat OF the fOrma-
tion. functions. and peculiarities of the
cells. tissues. and organs OF the body;
their changes and their relation TO one
another, together with the laws that gov
ern them
The expenses of the college course will
be Sf15 each year for tuition. about s12
for books. and SIS for instruments. The
fnaI examination fee will be $50
Art fn Trimming "a Dish.