Ohio College of Dental Surgery - Alethian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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The Ohio College of Dental Surgery g3: HE OHIO COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGERY was established in Cincinnati in 1845! largely through the eHbrts of the late Dr. James Taylor, its first president. Founded at that time, it became the pioneer of Dentistry in the west, and Was the second College of Dentistry established in the world. Early in its history, the College erected its own building on College street, which it occupied continuously for nearly halfa century, sending out each year men who became pioneers and teachers of Dentistry in this and other countries. It has conferred the degree of Dentistry upon nearly 2,000 persons. In 1895 it was decided the College had outgrown its old quarters, and the school was moved to its present buining on Central avenue and Court street. In 1888 the College was afhliated with the University OF Cincinnati, assuming, in actdition to its old name that of the Dental Department of the University of Cincinnati. The Collegeis co-educational, having in I865 conferred the degree upon the first woman graduated of Dentistry. The College is situated in the center of' a densely peopled city, drawing from a population of more than half a million people for its clinical material. The clinics are made a feature of the College teaching, and the careful supervision which they have received For many years gives an inhrmary practice not surpassed anywhere in the country. The building occupies a prominent corner, ninety by one hundred feet, in a city of the first class, to which a large student population is attracted each year by the reputation of its professional schools. The Ohio Dental College shares in this good reputation and in the preparations and accommodations which are made for these students. Fu-

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DENTISTRYeIts Earlier and Later History ENTISTRY is that branch of the healing art, which has for its province the treatment of diseases and lesions of the human teeth and their replacement by substitutes when lost. e civilized nations consider their teeth the most beautiful in their natural color and form, some nations mutilate their teeth by chipping, filing and altering their form, in some cases also staining Mutilation is practiced by certain wild tribes of Africa, New Guinea, Java, and them to conform to their peculiar ideas of beauty. the Tasmanian coast of Australia, and is prompted by fashion, superstition or conformity with religious rites. Filing of front teeth to points is practiced by Abyssinians to increase the savageness of their aspect and terrify their foes. With In Indo-China and Japan, girls have their teeth stained black at the time of marriage. Early HistoryeI-Ierodotis, the Greek historian, tells of the the Malays, filing the teeth is a religious act. attention given to diseases of the teeth as well as of the eye and ear in Egypt. Belzoni and other writers claim to have found in Egyptian tombs artihctal teeth, made of ivory and wood, some of which were mounted upon gold plates. Teeth in mummies are said to have been found filled with gold and a white cement, but of this there is no positive evidence. 10 In 1884., Dr. Van Marter, of Florence, discovered in the museum of Corneto, Italy, skulls exhumed from Etrusean tombs in which Pure gold Wire was wound around natural teeth which indieated that in the spaces between where teeth were lacking, artihciai 0r passibiy human teeth had at some time been thus supported in place. Later HistoryeDuring the eighteenth century, dentistry became a subject of more critical inquiry and thorough investigation. Men of intelligence and education devoted themselves to it exclusively, and, as a result, its advancement in both literary and scientific directions during the nineteenth century has been most marked. This is evidenced by the fact that from 1800 to 1892 there were published in Europe and America some 200 volumes, treating exclusively on the diseases of the teeth. Until the latter part of the eighteenth century any advance in dentistry was confined to Europe, but since then the most rapid advancement has been made in the United States. The hrst dentist practicing in the United States of whom there is any account, Was one Le Maire, who accompanied the Frencn army in 1775-83, then came to this country. Soon after LeMaireis arrival, came an English dentist named WhiElocit. The first native dentist is believed to be John Greenwood, who began practice in New York about 1778.

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DR. JAMES TAYLOR Founder of the Ohio College of Dental Surgery.