Evening star., 1901-07-13

twenty-five to be filled by the examining
board A certain provision of the act was
so worded as to allow five men now serv-
ing in the Philippines to receive appoint
ments as contract dentists These men
are all graduates Of dental colleges. but
had previously enlisted in the hospital
corps Of the army as privates. They have
been serving regularly lately as dentists,
however, and. being qualified as bona flde
graduates and having performed one year
Of service in the army. they were deemed
eligible to appointment without the for
mality OF an examination. The total num-
ber of positions to be filled from civil life,
therefore, was reduced by five from that
which was at first quite generally thought
to exist.
Just eighty-seven men have been ex-
amined up to this time, and the last class
to be admitted to examination is now be-
fore the board Each applicant is allowed
two weeks within which to undergo the
retical examination and the second to prac-
teal or prosthetic dentistry. The latter
includes tests in the making Of artificial
teeth, crowns, bridges and interdental
splints and the like, and otherwise the fol-
lowing subjects are enumerated as being
included in both examinations: Anatomy,
physiology, histology. physics. metallurgy.
dental materia medica and therapeutics.
dental pathology and bacteriology, ortho"
dontia. oral surgery, operative and pros
thetic dentistry, theoretical and operative
Every convenience for a thorough exam
ination is provided at headquarters on g
street, and each applicant has been and is
being put through a most rigid test. After
successful examinations the board has Sc
cured the appointment Of the applicants
by the Secretary of War and has then fur
nished the dentists with outfits Of instru-
ments and placed them upon the way to
their new field Of labors. The board ex-
poets to adjourn by August l. after which
it will reconvene subject to the call Of the
Secretary Of War.
DR.. Marshall's Views.
In speaking Of the work in view by the
new establishment and its needs, DR..
Marshall. who is chairman Of the exam
lining board. said to a Star reporter this
morning:
.'The innovation will. in my judgment.
prove to be one of the most acceptable that
has ever been made In the history OF the
army. There is certainly a great need for
dentists there, and their presence will fill
a long felt want. It will work two-fold
benefit. In the first place. 1t will save time
Of the army, and. second, it will assist the
pension bureau in thee adjudication of
claims for pension bounty arising out Of in
Juries received In the neighborhood Of the
teeth.
Dentists have all along been looked upon
as a Godsend by the army. The estab-
listment of just such q branch as this has
been prayed for BY the officers and and. men; men,
been trying for forty years to obtain recog-
milton Of their profession in the army.
The government has placed some ne iimi, as
by the dentists under the new system. All
ordinary filling will be furnished free OF
charge. This will include such materials
gutta percha. The War Department win
see that. a plenttude of such materials Is
furnished our dentists for use in filing the
military teeth, but If an officer or enlisted