The Washington herald., 1909-10-30
LOW AIMS CHARGED
Dentist ArraignS Modern
Professional Motives.
PREVENTIVE MEANS IGNORED
Before Union Meeting Of washing
ton and Maryland Dental AssOeia-
tions OF Patients Mouths Are Over
IOOkcd-MedicaI Degree Urged.

In a speech on the treatment Of the
prevention Of diseases Of The mouth, be-
fore the second session Of the fourteenth
union meeting OF the Maryland State
Dental Association and the District OF
Columbia Dental Society. at the dental
department OF the George Washington
University last night. DR.. d. d. Smith,
of Philadelphia, Pa. charged the present
day dental profession as acting from
selfish motives, and not in the interests
Of the people.
1T is not primarily the object Of the den
tai profession" said DR.. Smith, Ito regard
it as mercenary field. would rather
die and have the epitaph on my tomb
stone read. lie lived for the sake OF hui
manity. than to amRss wealth in foul
manner. Il seems 70 have taken hold on
the minds Of the ordinary dentists that
prophylactlcs will ultimately throw him
out of business.
DR.. Smith proceeded 10 show how the
entire profession had wronged the pub
lie. Dentistry" he continued has so
centered its efforts around holes and
filings in teeth that IL has wholly over
looked the conditions of the patients
mouth. Instead OF attending 10 the other
teeth and keeping them in a healthy
condition. dentists many times will try
to fill tooth so loose that II is actually
difficult 20 work over.
Dental Colleges Lacking.
There is also an evidence Of the lack
Of observation on the part OF dental
! colleges TO apply the proper meth
DDS in treating dental diseases. An
example OF this is manifested when den
tai surgeons apply arsenic 20 the pulp 10
allay the pain instead Of to the sensitive
| nerve. II is known that when you kill
| the pulp you destroy the tooth, but in
iuring the tooth will not harm the gum.
/ Yet this IS done every day
! That a dentist should also be q gradu-
ate IN medicine before he be allowed 10
practice was the opinion advanced by
| DR.. f w. Stiff OF Richmond. Va. "If
the foundation IS weak. the superstruc-
| ture must be weak" said DR.. Stir
! Before a man can be a specialist In any
work he must be part of the whole.
| one part OF the body naturally relates
! to any other part OF the system. and
| the dentist never knows when he VIII be
| called upon to treat a disease directly
/ influenced by dlsordered teeth. The lead
/ ing countries OF the world are blazing
/ the way 10 reunite medicine and den
/ ustry. X will not be long before the
/ plan will be adopted in this country
Commissions for Dentists.
| Claiming that II Is impossible for a pro-
fession not part OF either the army or
navy 90 be associated with military az
/ fairs. because OF the civilians lack OF
/ rank. DR.. II. A Kelley. OF Portland. he.
/ urged that dental surgeons be granted
commissions ia both OF these hran6hsS-
Before the best results can be OBJ
/ tanned" said Dr. Kelley, "the question
/ OF rank must be seriously considered. 40
| service can accomplish any ends in the
army and navy that IS isolated from
1 them"
/ Yesterday morning was given almost
wholly to clinics by the invited guests,
attended by all the members Of the Two
| societies. The members OF the Psi Omega
/ Fraternity met at luncheon IN the Airing
! ton Hotel at noon. Late In the aftsf-
noon many Of the delegates attended the
/ dinner given by the University Of Penn
/ sylvania alumni.
! The convention VIII have its closing
| session at noon to-day.