The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-21

meeting Of the Florida State Dental
Society. The distinguished honor you
have conferred on us by accepting an
invitation to meet in our Deep Water
City is most highly pleasing. 1 trust
this meeting will be as productive of
good as has been our previous meet
ings. They have been productive of
good not onfy from the standpoint of
the clinics given and the scientific pa
pers presented, but from the sociability
Of its members as we'll. For what gives
one more pleasure and imbues one with
more enthusiasm in his work than to
grasp the loyal hand of his co-woriers
and discuss with them the successes
and failures in their respective prac-
tees? Practical ideas emanating from
these men attending our meetings and
the successful application of these
ideas. will result in good and the ad-
vancement Of our profession.
Army Dentists.
There are some matters Of import
ance for us to consider and I would
respectfully and briefly call your atten-
ton to some of them without any
claim to originality. One of the most
important subjects of today before the
dentists of our country is the effort
that Is being exerted to raise the
standard of the army dentists. The
highest rank now obtainable, Is that
equal to first lieutenant. The desire is
to make 1t possible for the army dem
fist to be of three grades, equal in
rank to that of first lieutenant, captain
and major. There is now before con-
gress bill to this effect but it is being
met with strong opposition. I trust
every dentist present will have sufh-
Client pride in his profession as to aid
in every way possible this laudable eff
fort.
New Dental Law.
It might be Of interest to mention
| that the committee on legislation found
| it necessary to have a new dental law
passed by the legislature recently ad-
journed. The old law was defective
and would not stand before the courts
! The present law relates to the appoint
ing of the Florida State Board Of Den
tai Examiners by the governor, the
prescribing of the duties and powers
of the board and its members the re-
| Quiring of an examination of all ap-
| plicants to practice dentistry; to regu-
| late the manner Of issuing certificates.
| Also to regulate the practice of den
| tiStry in the state of Florida and to
declare the practice of dentistry with
! out first having obtained and having
recorded such certificate, to be a viola
| ton of the law. Much credit is due
| this committee for having obtained one
| of the best dental laws in existence.
| To prevent Objectionable amendments,
it was necessary for a member of this
committee to be in frequent attendance
at our state capitol during the passage
of the bill
Closer Relationship Urged.
At our last meeting, there was ap-
! pointed a committee to devise some
way in which there may be brought
| about a closer relationship between
| this society and the National Dental
Asso I trust this committee
! has devised a basis whereby this So
ciety will bring It's members in a closer
| relationship with this honored organ
| iZation, giving 1t strength numerically,
| ethically and professionally.
| The southern branch of the National
Dental Association, recently convened
| in Atlanta, has proved itself truly in
terested in public welfare by urging
the Importance of public education as
| to the care of the teeth and by pledging
| it's aid to this vital work.
Public Health Department.
The creation of a public health de-
| partment by the government and the
education Of the public in the care of
| the teeth and the mouth were urged by
| the president in his address. He said
| the necessity of using every means
known to science to conserve the
health, happiness and well-being Of the
future generation, would seem TO make
| 1t imperative that the government es-
| tablish a department Of health in the
near future. I trust the members of
| this association will use every means,
collectively and individually, to infiu-
ence favorable action by the next con-
| gress. While it may not be possible to
have dentistry specially recognized in
such a measure before congress, the
| inevitable fact remains that the de-
! partment. once established, would soon
| be compelled to take cognizance Of the
necessity for the collaboration of the
dental hygienist with other depart
ments of research and public instruc-
ton. This recognition has already
been accorded by the department of
public health in the state Of New York
| and must inevitably follow in other
state and city health departments"
Campaign of Education.
| The representative dentist Of the
present day, like the representative
physician, is seeking to reach through
public intelligence ills that were for
| merly left to individual ministration.
Many of the dental associations
I throughout the country are trying to
arouse the public to an adequate con
| ception of what neglect of the teeth
means, Of the long train OF evils to
| which it gives rise. The question nat
| uraily arises. What are we doing? Let
us not be idle and lag in this great
movement. I hope the time is not far
distant when the public schools OF