Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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I ' lti iiiiliiiiliilni| Frank E. Beube L.D.S.. D.D.S. Assoc. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry Saul Schluger, D.D.S Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry A. Themann, D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry L. Hirschfeld .B., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Periodontal Disease — as old as man Robert Gottsegen A.B.. D.D.S. Asst. Prof, of Dentistry Ellen Hosiosky D.M.D., D.H., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Melvin L. Morris B.S., M.A., D.D.S. ;.s . in Dentistry Periodontoclasia existed in almost every race of prehistoric man. Its history has been traced to the Old Man of La Chappelle aux Saints, of the Neanderthal race — some 35.000 years ago. A study of the skull reveals that he suffered severely from this disease which resulted in loss of the molar teeth. The earliest known written work was found in the Egyptian manuscripts (1500 B.C.) which listed remedies for strengthening the gums. Later civilizations recorded the use of alum, mit-gall, urine and vinegar as mouth washes for the relief of bleeding and spongy gums. The removal of local deposits around the necks of teeth was a great stride forward. The Arabs fashioned variously shaped scalers and they are credited as the first to treat periodontoclasia by instrumentation. The first classical description of the disease was written by Pierre Fauchard. Dr. John Hunter in 1771 wrote an erudite description of the disease in his book The Natural His- tory of the Teeth. In that era, thoughts as to the etiology of the disease were divided. Followers of John Riggs felt that periodontoclasia was due to a local condition, while others like Chapin Harris thought it was due to systemic factors. Insofar as successful treatment of any disease presupposes to an essential extent the knowl- edge of etiologic factors, therapy for the one disease was applied by two separate schools. There was instrumentation as opposed to the use of systemic drugs. The use of vaccines, oxygen inhalation and emetine, popular at the time, have been proven ineffectual. Our present day knowledge of this one in the many of periodontal diseases is far from complete. Emphasized is the role of local fac- tors, with an attempt to understand, analyze and correlate such concepts as physiologic and pathologic occlusion, oral habits, nutrition and local resistance. Thus history reveals that the techniques are not new, therapy is not new, some of the concepts involved are not new — and the dis- ease is as old as humanity. 15

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Stomatology Diagnosis — a modem concept Prior to modern dentistry the early barber dentists and physicians were skilled men, to be sure. That the origin of a disease and its diagnosis were of any significance in the treat- ment of that disease was unappreciated by them for the most part. Not until John Hunter ' s treatise on oral diseases did the physician-dentist realize the basic relationship between etiology, diagnosis and therapy. Much later, in 1895, a paper was read before the Physico- Medical Society of Wurzburg by a brilliant German physicist. It was read by Wilhelm Roentgen and he described his dis- covery of the rays which bear his name. Lewis R. Stowe. D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry Edward V. Zecarelli A.B., D.D.S., M.S. Assoc. Prof, of Dentistry Diagoosis and Radiology Joseph A. Cuttita A.B., M.S., D.D.S. Asst. Prof, of Dentistry Jack Budowsky, D.D.; Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry F. A. Tuoti. D.jM.D. Instr. in Dentistry G. Minervini A.B., D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry W. Halpert, B.S., D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry John D. Piro, D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry Evald Linder Inst, in Radiology Ida M. Golomb. D.D.S. CUn. Asst. in Dentistry 14

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Joseph Scheoff B.S.. M.D. D.D.S. W illiain Carr Prof, of Oral Surgery Oral Surgery Robert C. Devine B.S., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Stanley L. Lane B.S., M.D., D.D.S. Inst, in Oral Surgery bavoy Wm. J. Sa B.S., D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry Morris Kavelle B.S., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Fred Rothenbers; M.D.. D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Morris Fierstein, D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry M. Bundrant, D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Boaz Shattan. A.B.. D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Oral Surgery — the advent of Prior to the advent of anesthesia, surgery in general was a therapeutic measure to be utilized only as a last resort. Surgical pro- cedures had to be hastily carried out, result- ing in severe trauma to the patient ' s psyche and surrounding tissues. The efforts of a group of courageous pio- neers brought about a miraculous change. Dr. Horace Wells, a dentist, attended a demon- stration of Laughing Gas given in a carni- val atmosphere by Professor G. Q. Colton in 1844. A volunteer from the audience was partially anesthetized and allowed to dance drunkenly about the stage. Wells noticed that this man inadvertently barked his shins on a chair during his euphoric escapade. On ques- tioning him shortly after, Wells was aston- ished to learn that the man knew nothing of his accident. anesthesia The very next day Wells had one of his teeth extracted while under the influence of Colton ' s nitrous oxide. This was the first re- corded painless extraction in dental history. Dr. William Morton who had witnessed Wells ' extraction, substituted ether for the nitrous oxide and repeated this amazing ex- periment. Publicity of these successful dental anes- thesias led Dr. John Warren, Dean of Boston surgeons to attempt the removal of a tumor on a patient under the influence of ether anes- thesia. At the conclusion of the operation Dr. Warren turned to his colleagues and solemnly pronounced, Gentlemen, this is no humbug. The introduction of anesthesia made sur- gery a practical form of therapy. Patients could now be treated for disorders other than amputations and incisions — and most impor- tant, painlessly, safely and efficiently. 16