The Washington herald., 1911-12-13
OUACK DENTISTS
AIMED AT In BILL
Measures introduced Yester-
day in Both Houses.
FOR STRICT SUPERVISION
Unreliable Dentists and Firms OBJ
iect of Attack by Bills Intro
duced by Representative Webb
and Senator Oyerman-AEainst
Misleading Statements.

Aimed principally at large dental firms
which, through the size Of the estab-
lishment and the number OF operators
employed, are said to evade the spirit
of the present law, bills were introduced
in the House and Senate yesterday
which, II enacted into law, will provide
the strictest supervision over the prac-
tice of dentistry in the District Of Co
| lumbia.
| The measure was introduced in the
House by Representative Webb. of North
| Carolina, and by Senator Overman, of
North Carolina, in the Senate, and was
referred to the committees on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Advertising Restricted.
Perhaps the most significant passage in
the Webb bill reads as follows: 1T shall
be unlawful for any persons to advertise
under any other name than their own,
and that in which their license was is
sued, or to use the name Of a firm, asso'
citation, or corporation.
| 1T shall be unlawful to publish or cir
culate misleading statements as TO the
skill of the operator, the quality OF the
materials used or work furnished, drugs
or medicines used, or the methods prac-
ticed."
The bill provides that the present board
of five dental examiners shall serve
| until the expiration of their present
| terms unless reappointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners ror a period OF five
years. To qualify for the board the
candidate must have been engaged in ac-
tive practice in. the District for the nve
years next preceding his application
and shall not be connected with any
dental school or college. The Commits
| sioners are directed to assign member
| of the corporation counsel's office TO rem
der legal assistance TO the board, which
is authorized to issue subpoenas, admin
lister oaths, and require the production
of papers and documents at its hearings.
The board Is ito be supported by the
District Supreme Court in enforcing its
demands.
Must Send Photographs.
Applicants for licenses must be twenty
one years OF age, must submit papers
attesting a good moral character, and be
graduates of a reputable dental college.
| After 1912, applicants will be required
under the provisions of the bill to have
undergone a preliminary education equal
TO a four-year high school course. Photo
graphs of applicants must be submitted
with applications.
The bill provides for written or oral
tests, or both, in anatomy, physiol-
ogy, chemistry, materia medica, thera-
peutics, metallurgy, histology, path
ology, bacteriology. prosthetics, operative
chemistry, oral surgery, anesthetics. oral
hygiene, and such other subjects
as may be regarded by the board
sion is made for the transfer from
other States of licenses in the discre-
ton of the board.
According to the terms of the bill,
licenses may be revoked by the board
FOR the habltuaI use OF intoxicants or
drugs to such an extent as to render him
or her unfit for the practice of dentistry;
for fraud practiced in examinations or in
obtaining any license; for employing un-
licensed operators; for deceit or fraud
practlced upon the public or upon indi-
vidual patients, and for the violation of
any section or provision Of this law"
Appeal to Commissioners.
The bill provides for the presentation
of the charges twenty days before the
hearing and for appeal to the Board of
District Commissioners.
Another blow at large and unreliable
firms of dentists is contained in a pro-
vision which reads: "A person shall be
regarded as practicing 'cnt'strv who is
the manager, proprietor, or CCudI, tor Of
place to perform dental operations
A charge OF so for each license and 3
for each duplicate license is pro ded for,
the proceeds OF such ices % gn for the
support of the board, ..us 70 us
divided between the IS. Penal
ties Rfor violations are .t not T-Urr
than $40 fine or f. .a=' im-r's-
onment. or both, for -n 90 CEeuse and
not more than $500 rr. .I s.Tfy days
lmprosinment, or bot for zUbseqySnf Of
fenses, all prosecuti ,-T 20 he instItUs'L
in the name of the District OF Columbia.