DR. H. A. SMITH:—Drs. Harris and Taylor were the first to inaugurate
dental schools. Classical education will in time be one of the
requisites for admission to dental colleges. The three years' course is
the cause of so many students this year.
DR. M. H. FLETCHER:—Careful observers produce the best dental
literature.
DR. G. H. WILSON:—Our colleges are coming to require better previous
education. A special course for digital culture would be a good thing.
Our excellence in the latter accounts for our supremacy over German
dentists. They are all brains.
DR. J. TAFT:—Schools for instruction in the different branches, and
graded schools would be a good thing. The class of students to-day is
better than five or ten years ago.
DR. C. R. BUTLER:—The demand of to-day is for better students and
better dentistry.
DR. D. R. JENNINGS:—The trouble with office pupilage is that the
student is only taught how to master the broom, coal scuttle, dirty
flasks, &c.
DR. J. TAFT:—A student should be a man of good breeding. It has been
urged that he should be examined by an oculist before commencing.
DR. F. SAGE:—Young members should take part in societies; arrangements
should be made some time before, subjects assigned and persons
appointed to open the discussion of the same. Dental students need
habits of study, so they can grasp everything taught at the college.
Dental teaching is more to be remembered than almost any other—not any
should be lost.
Dr. Frank Hamilton of Columbus, O., lectured upon "Surgery of the
Mouth and Jaws," enlivening the same by presenting cases. He said
tumors were the most frequent cause; necessitating the removal of a
jaw or a portion of it. When the superior jaw is to be removed, a flap
is dissected back, commencing at the center of the lip and carrying
the knife around the nose and up through the wrinkle under the eye.
This leaves little disfiguration. One or two incisor teeth are next
extracted and the nasal and molar processes are severed with the saw
and the whole dislodged with strong pliers. Bleeding arteries are
caught, and it is sometimes best to ligate the carotid. Bichloride
solution is used throughout the operation.
_Discussion_—DR. C. R. BUTLER:—There will be little disfiguration if
the knife follows the natural depressions in cutting the flap.
Dr. J. Taft read a paper by Dr. N. S. Hoff, of Ann Arbor, Mich., "Your
old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions."
One person suggests a change in our laws; one that we have a home on
a high mountain in Georgia; another that we have a National Board of
Dental Examiners and a higher degree given than D.D.S., and another has
offered a dental society aid towards securing it a home. The author
suggests that the Ohio State Society, which has been wandering around,
have a home, where its sessions could be held, and connected with it a
library, a museum and facilities for clinics and lectures. Columbus,
the capitol, would be a good place, being central and having the usual
facilities of a large city. The local and district societies could be
auxiliary to it. A fund, a room or building secured with some one in
charge. All the specimens, appliances, &c., contributed by members.
Specialists should be secured to lecture at the meeting or other times,
and along with this, a dental journal devoted to its interests.
_Discussion_—DR. J. TAFT—The suggestions are not impossible and can
be carried out if all would take part and aid with money and all the
specimens and appliances they can spare.
Dr. Frank Sage, Cincinnati, O., next read a paper entitled, "Intimate
Diagnosis of Lesions Effecting the Teeth."
Idiosyncracies of persons have much to do with lesions of the teeth,
but there are often other causes also. A patient comes from some other
operator, and ignorant of what has been done, he is apt to be misled.
All causes which are not directly associated with the trouble, if first
eliminated, the diagnosis is much easier. The prejudice and ignorance
of the patient must be considered. A previous condition should be
studied, and its influence at the present time weighed that we be not
led to error. We must not be influenced by mere probabilities. Teeth
once affected are quite likely to be mistaken as the cause of trouble
again.
_Discussion_—DR. OTTO ARNOLD:—Instinct is a pretty good guide in
difficult diagnosis.
DR. R. D. JENNINGS:—Physicians know very little about the teeth.
DR. M. H. FLETCHER:—Pulp stones are often the cause of lesions very
difficult of diagnosis.