The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-14

IN WINTER
SESSION
Rhode Island Society Holds
Business Meeting Followed by
a Dinner and Papers Read.

The Rhode Island Dental society met
at The Crown last night. about 80 MEM
bers attending.
A business session was held at s o'clock,
and soon after the company partook OF
an elaborate dinner
President Lynch introduced DR.. Julius
F. Hovestadt of Boston, who spoke upon
The Working Of Porcelain Tips Without
The Use OF a Furnace" illustrating his
remarks with charts. Or. r. T. Moffatt
OF Boston and Dr. Charles A. Bracket
OF Newport discussed the subject.
Dr. James r. Power, assistant dental
surgeon Of st. Joseph's hospital and ex-
tern OF the dental department OF the
Rhode Island hospital. read a paper upon
Errors of Diagnosis" using several
stereopticon slides to illustrate his points.
DIR. Power said: Having selected as
our life's work the alienation of the suf-
fering OF men in any OF it's various forms.
our frst obligation is care in diagnosis.
Thus we obtain a solid foundation on
which TO base our treatment. and can
thereby apply our knowledge ard skill
intelligently. II we possess the requisite
qualifications and for any reason fail TO
apply them. we are guilty of negligence:
and negligence whore the welfare OF our
patient is concerned Is criminal; negli-
standpoint OF Justice. and most blameful
from the standpoint OF professional
pride. II the attending practitioner.
whether he be physician, surgeon or
dentist, overlooks any important step I'M
the care and welfare OF the patient, he is
guilty Of crime. This should not be over
looked in cases where consultation is for
the benefit of our patients"
The doctor referred 10 three cases. all
victims OF improper diagnosis, which
came TO his attention.
DR.. Brackett. professor OF pathology at
Harvard. discussed DR.. Powers paper.
He said that he was somewhat OF an old
fogey in still believing. while admitting
the value OF the specialist, that the dem
tist should be in a sense a general prac-
titioner. He should not dodge respon-
sibiIities in serious cases Especially
should this be followed In smaller cities
and towns-an equivalent 10 the value of
the country physician. But only should
difficult cases be treated, except with
warranted self-confdence and the maxi
ing OF no rash promises.
In respect to non-paying patients II is
worldly wisdom TO look 10 the future, but
the accumula ton OF dollars is not the
only ideal In life. The conscientious dem
tist should not turn away a sufferer. no
matter how serious or repulslve the case
or how remos the possibilities OF remun-
GRAFTON. Dr. Bracket dwelt at length
upon the necessity OF the greatest care
not TO diagnose until all proper means OF
rea sonable Investigation are exhausted.
DR. Moffatt followed with remarks per-
tinent TO the subject and DIR. Power dis
played two more views 10 show his the
ories in regard to the cases which were
described I'm his paper. There was some
discussion upon this point and then the
meeting adjourned.
The officers OF the society are: Presi-
dent, Dr. J. A. Lynch. Providence; vice
president. Dr. p. y. Whitmarsh, Provl-
dence: secretary. Or Clarence A. Carr.
Newport: treasurer. Dr. n. ". Gillette,
Newport; librarian. DIR. r. r. Keefe,
Providence: executive committee. DR.
James r. Power. Providence: Dr. L. A.
Wilbur. Pawtucket Or. John Stearns,
Providence.