Philadelphia Dental College - Class Book Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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4 see the progress and advancement of the institution which sends us forth, we can never let the memory of the old place fade en- tirely from our minds. It is now .my privilege, but sad function, to say farewell to our beloved friends, the Professors of our college, who, since we first placed ourselves under their guidance and instruction have most nobly and faithfully discharged their duties to- ward us. To them we owe much of our future career, and when we go forth to begin our labors their words will ring in our ears, their images will be before our minds and the sterling principles of dental science which they inculcated, will buoy us up and guide us to the surest and safest road to success. And now, gentlemen, it seems that our present re- lations are about to be dissolved, that we will sit no more in the lecture rooms and listen to the eloquent and impressive dis- coveries on Anatomy and Surgery with which Prof. lioenning has electrified and held us spell-bound: to the careful and accur- ate directions for successful practice coming from Prof. Guilford, or to watch Prof.. Burchard as he forged each link and fastened it to the chain in his discussion of Pathology and kindred Sciences. We will not hear again the broad, deep, and com- prehensive truths of Physiology as presented by Prof. Stellwagen or see Prof. Greenbaum quietly induce a blissful suspense of animation while an offending member is removed and hear him discuss the methods of manufacturing and administering the various reliefs which his branch embraces, nor will we again hear and see demonstrated by Prof. Howell the doctrines of that knotty science Chemistry, which under his magic touch is made so simple. We say to you, however, that though we leave you now, the lessons you have taught will go with us, the seed which you have sown will bear a bountiful harvest. In many nations and many climes, those whom you have watched over with a father's anxious care, whom you have labored with early and late, that they might be a 'credit to themselves and to you, will look back on you and murmur fervent benedictions on you and yours with the sincerest wishes for your future honor and success and 244

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look, a last word and except by rare chance, they pass from our sight for years or it may be forever. Even those who remain will be scattered throughout the length and breadth of this glorious country. But let him live where he will, in this country or another, he has the professional journals as a medium of communication. The mail steamers will bring tidings of his efforts and successes and if his love for his Alma Mater, his appreciation of the hospitality of his American brethren, or respect for tl1e Hag which for three years has Hoated over him, the emblem of the liberty and equality which it so well represents, will make him feel that he must hear from his old friends again and he knows that they, in turn, are think- ing as earnestly of him. In reviewing our college course, we are impressed by the number of changes which have taken place in the board of in- struction and in our college surroundings. I During those three years we have seen Profs. Garretson, Dorr and Flagg, retired from their chairs, one by death. and one by ill health and one by age, and while we deeply regretted their loss and missed their kindly words of advice and cheer,yet we feel that a good fortune has been watching over us and given back, in even a greater measure, what it took from us, by sending to our assistance such worthy and able men as Profs. Boenning, Creenbaum and Burchard. We have been transported from those murky, gloomy, ill ventilated lecture rooms and from those poorly appointed labora- tories where we began our course, to a building which is prob- ably the finest and most eapaeious structure devoted to the study of dentistry in all our land. A building which contains every modern appliance known to the profession and which has been planned in every department for the comfort and con- venience of the student. But in after years,when memory takes us back to our college days, there will still linger about those old buildings some fleet- ing reminiseences of happy hours spent within their walls, of friendship formed there and of incidents which may have ex- erted a lasting influence on our life and while we are pleased to 243

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an eternal and peaceful repose to your spirits when they have quitted their tenement of clay. VVhen we came here, most of us strangers to the city, your earnest welcome and friendly grasp assured us that when trouble came we knew where to turn for aid and we have not been dis- appointed. It is not in the heart of man to be unmindful of or ungrateful for the many favors which we have received at your hands and once more let me say that, while we leave you with reluctance and regret, yet we know that in the future as in the past the same welcome greets us as Alumni of this college and the same magnanimous spirit is ever ready to befriend us as occasion may demand. Before leaving we must speak a word with our friends in the laboratory and operating rooms, who, with a patience worthy of job, have listened to our oft related tales of worry and failure and with an encouraging word and a few deft strokes have sent a ray of sunshine through the blackest cloud. VVhen we had exhausted all methods. with no success, we went to Dr. Dolman, who like an inexhaustible storehouse had something new which made our way clear and straight, or to Dr. Moffitt who gave us the benefit of his large store of experience, or to Dr. Cardwell when that plate would not stay up. Wllen trouble arose downstairs we made life miserable for Dr. Inglis or Dr. Magee and drove Dr. Rothwell to distraction because he could not give us all patients at the same time. How often have we caused Dr. Boom to sigh for foreign shores, when after one of his careful explanations of a reaction the only precipitate we produced was that of the test tube on the floor. At all times and under all circumstances we found them the same, always gentlemanly, pleasant, willing and considerate, and it will not be the least of our pleasant' memories to recall their faces, their kind words or to think as we make use of some time-saving scheme who it was that taught it. A few short hours and this memorable dav will be gone, a few more words and T have finished the last talk that T probably will ever have with the Class of '98, as a whole. Let us re- member the teachings we have received. Let us go forth full 245 i