University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School - Mirror Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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Dedication To the Original Faculty CHAPIN A. HARRIS, A.M., M.D., U.U.S. Professor of Practical Dentistry, and Dean of the Vacuity Chapin A. Harris was born in New York State on May 6, 1806, and later moved to Madi- son, Ohio, where he studied medicine with his brother John. He practiced medicine for some years but gradually dentistry claimed his full time. In 183 5, he moved to Baltimore, where he wrote his famous textbook, which was the last word in dental teaching for several years, and then edited the first edition of The American Journal of Dental Science. He joined Hayden in the founding of the first Dental School in 1840, becoming its first Dean and second President. Dr. Harris was an enthusiastic chess player and a lover of art and literature, horses and dogs. He reared and educated nine children other than his own, being generous to a fault, and was cour- teous after the old school of polished gentlemen. He died September 29, 1860. HENRY WILLIS BAXLEY, M.D. Professor of Special Anatomy and Physiology Dr. Baxley was born at Baltimore in June, 1803, and received his education in St. Alary ' s College and the University of Maryland Medical School. In 1837 he became professor of anatomy and physiology in the latter institution, chairs which he kept on the original faculty of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. From 1842-1847, he taught surgery in the old Wash- ington University, and later moved to Cincin- nati to accept the chair of professor of surgery at the Medical College of Ohio. In 1866, he went to Europe, returning to Baltimore in 1875. He died March 13, 1876. Dr. Baxle} was a thorough anatomist, an excellent teacher, and a splendid surgeon. Among his operations was the entire removal of a lower jaw for osteosarcoma, which he reported. He is also well known as one of the principals in the famous lawsuit of Regents vs. Trustees, that disrupted the medical faculty of the University of Maryland in 1837. Page File

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Dedication To the Original Faculty HORACE H. HAYDEN, M.D., D.D.S. Professor of Dental Pathology and Physiology, and President of the College Horace H. Hayden was born on Friday, Octo- ber 13, 1769, in Windsor, Connecticut, and spent his early life in travel and the study of architecture with his father. An acquaintance with John Greenwood interested him in den- tistry, and he came to Baltimore to set up his practice. In 1805, he married Marie Antoinette Robinson, and then turned to the study of medi- cine at the University of Maryland. He left the University of Maryland faculty to found the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, with the other three men. Later, he helped found the American Society of Dental Surgeons, as well as the American Journal of Dental Science. He died in 1844. He had imagination, a poetic and artistic temperament, yet he was not imprac- tical. He was a brilliant orator and a pleasing writer, a man of charm. THOMAS EMERSON BOND, JR., A.M., M.D. Professor of Special Dental Pathology, and Therapeutics Dr. Thomas E. Bond was born in Harford County, Maryland, in November, 1813, the son of an eminent physician and clei gyman, who was one of the founders of the University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Bond, Jr., studied under his father, and it is assumed that during this time he met Doctors Hayden and Harris. Of the founding of the Baltimore College of Den- tal Surgery, Dr. Bond said: The Baltimore Col- lege of Dental Surgery was organized with the design of teaching dentistry as a regular branch of medicine, in which relation only it can be regarded as a scientific pursuit and the practice of it esteemed a profession. His activities were many and varied; he participated in politics as a member of the Baltimore City Council, in the clergy as a Methodist Episcopal Minister, and in literature as a biographer of John Knox. He died August 19, 1872. Page Four

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INTRODUCTORY LECTURE Delivered before the Class of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery At the opening of its first session, November 3, 1840 by Chapin a. Harris, M.D., Professor of Practical Dentistry In enccrinj; upon the duties ot the chair, to which I have been called, in the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, allow me to observe, that howsoever much of interest or curiosity the establish- ment of this institution — the first of the kind that has ever existed, either in this or any other country — may have awakened, it consti- tutes an era in the history of a most useful and valuable depart- ment of medicine; and if it be properly conducted, cannot be other- wise than productive of great good. Practiced as this branch of surgery too frequently has been, and in many instances even is at the present day, by individuals not having been specialty educated for it, it is little better than a wide spread system of quackery; and that under such circumstances unfavourable results should often be experienced, is most reasonable to suppose. Few facilities have hitherto existed for obtaining the necessary preparatory instruc- tion, and it has only been by unwearied industry, and patient per- severing toil, that those who have obtained respectability and use- fulness in the profession, acquired the information that enabled them to do it. But of the number now engaged in its practice, few comparatively, have thought it necessary, or had the ambition to attempt to surmount the obstacles that presented to the acquisition of a thorough and scientific knowledge of the art. Rather than do this, the majority have been content to exercise its duties the best way they could — seeming to care little, whether the principles upon which they practiced were correct, or the services they rendered their patients of value or not, but depending more, for public notoriety and favour, upon artful management, than skill; they, as in too many instances has been the case, have sought the former to the neglect of the latter. Of the qualifications necessary to be possessed by a dental prac- titioner, and the time required for their acquisition, few seem to be aware. On this subject an erroneous opinion seems pretty gen- erally to prevail. A little mechanical tact, or dexterity, is thought by some, to be all that is requisite to a practitioner of dental sur- gery, and that this could be obtained in, at most, a few weeks. The prevalence of this belief, has given countenance to the assumption of the profession, by individuals totally disqualified to take upon themselves the exercise of its complicated and difficult duties. But it is to be hoped that the day is not remote, when it will be re- quired of those to whom this department of surgery shall be en- trusted, to be educated men, and well instructed in its theoretical and practical principles. Elevate the standard of the qualifications of the dental surgeon to a level with those of the medical practi- tioner, and the results of his practice will be always beneficial, which, at present arc frequently the reverse. Require of the prac- titioner of dental surgery to be educated in the collateral sciences of anatomy and physiology, surgery, pathology and therapeutics, and the sphere of his usefulness and his respectability will be in- creased. Require of him to be thus qualified, and he will be able to contribute to the advancement and dignity of his calling, and by a zealous devotion to it, he will soon arrive at an excellence, to which, heretofore, but few comparatively, have attained, and enjoy the high gratification of knowing that he is a benefactor of his fellows. But although, among the practitioners of dental surgery, there are very many possessed of talents and education, and who, by dint of unwearied industry, have acquired distinguished, and justly- deserved high reputations for skill; yet they, by their individual exertions, have been unable to free the profession from the reproach that has been brought upon it, by the hundreds of ignorant and disqualified individuals, by whom its duties are still exercised. Encouraged, however, by wh at has been done by associated influence, and free interchange of sentiment, among the practitioners of medi- cine and surgery, they are beginning to lay aside that selfish ambi- tion, and petty jealously, which in times past have kept them apart, and are uniting their efforts to raise the standard of professional qualification — hoping thereby to secure for their vocation a confi- dence and a respectability that it has not hitherto enjoyed. That they may be successful in so commendable an undertaking, should be the ardent desire of every one; yet filled as the ranks of the profession are, with individuals who have never learned the first rudiments of science, it will doubtless require some time to effect the wished reformation, and will only be accomplished, as they shall be able to fix a line of distinction between the competent and incompetent. With a view to this and the more rapid improvement of the art, an association has recently been formed in this country under the designation of the American Society of Dental Sur- geons, with such terms of membership as will admit none, except such as are thoroughly qualified to practice the profession. If this feiture be carried out, and from its present organization, no fears need be apprehended on the subject; the association will be able to furnish to its members, credentials of competency, that will, at once, command confidence and respect, and at the same time tend to secure the community against the impositions of the unprin- cipled charlatan nd ignorant pretender. In addition to this, it will contribute in an eminent degree, to establish correct and uniform systems of practice throughout the whole country, and thus an almost incalculable amount of good may result from it. But to Maryland belongs the honor and credit of establishing the first institution that has ever existed, for the education of gentle- men for this particular department of medicine. The legislature of this State at its last session incorporated a College for this special purpose, and thus, facilities are offered for the acquirement of a knowledi e of all the branches of this most valuable art, that have never befo-e existed, and in consequence of which, the majority of those who have assumed its practice, have been compelled to do so without the requisite preparatory qualifications. Had facilities for obtaining the necessary information existed, it is probable that most of those who have thus entered the profession, would have availed themselves of them; but as there were none, they were obliged to depend upon such instruction as they could procure, but relying principally upon what they should learn from practice. Thus, from year to year have numbers been added to the profession, until its ranks have become crowded with Individuals totally disqualified to take upon themselves the exercise of its nice and critical duties. Gentlemen, the profession for which you are preparing, is hon- ourable; it is useful; it is one that will enable you to be serviceable to your fellows, to relieve much of human pain, and to mitigate many mortal woes. Though it may not require of you to combat the more violent and aggravated forms of disease that are incident to man, you will have to treat those that demand nearly or quite an equal degree of acumen and skill; and if you would possess these, it will be necessary that you devote yourselves diligently and per- severingly to their acquisition; that you faithfully employ the time that you design appropriating to your studentship, in acquainting yourselves with the structure of the parts implicated in them — their pathology and therapeutical indications. If you would be able to arrest the diseases that come within the province of the profes- sion for which you are preparing, and prevent the various evils that are frequently consequent thereupon, or, in other words, if you would be able to preserve those invaluable organs, the teeth, and thus secure to those by whom you may be consulted, one of the greatest of earthly blessings, a healthy denture, endeavour to attain the knowledge that will enable you to do it. If you would command respect, and enjoy the confidence of those among whom it may be your lot hereafter respectively to reside, let it be your persevering endeavour to deserve them. Resolve that you will not be satisfied with mere mediocral abilities in the calling for which you are qualifying. Resolve to put forth all your energies for its acquisition, that you may be able to take rank among the most scientific and skil ful. If you do not do this, the fault will be your own, and I am sure that your teachers will labour to little purpose in endeavouring to impart instruction to you, unless you strive to profit therefrom. Let one then, who will feel a deep and anxious solicitude for your success, urge you to diligence in the pursuit of the knowledge you are now seeking. Its possession can alone enable you to discharge in a correct and proper manner, the intricate and complicated duties you are pre- paring to assume. Let then, a pure and high ambition stimulate you to zealous and unwearied exertion, and be assured that you will never be reproached by the future, for time misspent, or for failing to realize to those who shall seek professional aid at your hands, the benefits which the art is capable of bestowing. Page Six