Temple University School of Dentistry - Odontolog Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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MATTHEW H. CRYER Ml).. D.D.S. Matthew H. Cryer «1849-1921 . was a student of and lalcr assistant to Dr. James E. Garrelson. and l ecame known throughout the world as an authority on cranial anatomy. His accurate knowledge of the anatomy of the face and cranium fitted him for the most delicate surgical operations which he performed in these regions. I)r. Cryer devised numerous improved methods of sectioning the jaw for the correction of prognathism. He also became widely known for operations which had been so successfully taught by his predecessor. Dr. Gar-detson, for the removal of tumors in and about the oral cavity. Dr. Cryer became Professor of Oral Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 18%. which position he held until a short time before his death. He was the author of a l ook on “Facial Anatomy which is today the most authoritative textbook on the -uhject. The chapter on anatomy of the face and jaws in Cray’' Anatomy” is practically a product of Dr. Cryer’s efforts. Dr. Cryer was horn in Manchester. England, in 18-10. MARSHALL II. WEBB D.D.S. Dr. Wehh (.1811-1883). was horn in Chester County. Pennsylvania. October 28. 1814. Although he died at a comparatively early age. being only thirty-nine years of age at the time of his death, he attained a national reputation as an expert gold operator which has been equaled by very few in the annals of dentistry. He received his professional education in the Philadelphia Dental College and practised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Early in his professional career he developed an utter contempt for amalgam, which he discarded entirely as a filling material, and began filling with gold all classes of cavities, no matter how difficult or inaccessible. Dr. Webb’s success in the field attracted nation-wide attention, and in his contemporaries commanded the greatest admiration ami praise. His biographer and professional colleague said of him: “No man toiled harder than Dr. Webb, ami probably no one has done so much to elevate the standard of dentistry. Ilis operations were faultless in point of execution and there was an elegance almut their finish that was truly fascinating. The skill which he attained gave him the prominence in his profession surpassed by none and, though dying so young, he fairly was entitled to rank as one of the most distinguished of American dentists.” 11

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Thus far some change had taken place in the personnel of the faculty each year but one. During the succeeding eight years no change occurred, hut in 11178 Professor Garretson resumed his chair of Anatomy and Surgery, and Dr. Henri I. Dorr was made adjunct professor of practical dentistry. In 1879 the chair of dental pathology and therapeutics was established and Professor Flagg was chosen to fill in. Owing to the lamented death of Professor McQuillen during this year, some changes in the chairs were made necessary. Professor Stellwagen succeeded Professor McQuillen in the chair of physiology and his former chair of operative dentistry was united to that of mechanical dentistry. At the same time a new chair of clinical dentistry was established and Professor 11. 1. Dorr was chosen to fill it. In 1881 Professor Smith resigned and Dr. S. H. Guilford was elected incumbent of the chair of operative and prosthetic dentistry. In 1889 Professor Dorr’s chair was changed to that of practical dentistry, anaesthesia and anaesthetics. From then until the death of Professor Garretson in October. 1895- -a period of fourteen years—no changes occurred, hut after his death Dr. H. C. Boenning was elected to the chair of anatomy and surgery, and Dr. M. H. Over, for many years the assistant of Professor Garretson, was chosen adjunct professor of Oral Surgery. In January. 1896, Professor S. II. Guilford was elected Dean of the faculty. In the spring of the same year Professors Dorr and Flagg resigned, owing to ill health. Dr. I.. Greenbaum was thereupon chosen to succeed Professor Dorr, and the chair changed to that of materia mcdica, anaesthesia and odontotechny. Dr. II. H. Burchard was chosen to fill the place of Dr. Flagg and made special lecturer on dental pathology and therapeutics. In October, 1896. Dr. Crver resigned to accept a position in the dental department of the University of Pennsylvania. Few changes have occurred in the deanship of the institution. Professor McQuillen held that position from the establishment of the institution until his death in 1879. He was succeeded by Professor Smith, who held the office for two years. 10

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Professor Garretson assumed the office in 1881 and retained it until his death in 1895, after which Professor Guilford was elected to the position. In 1905 Dr. Leo Greenbaum was elected assistant dean. In June. 1906. Dr. Guilford resigned the office of dean and Dr. Greenbaum resigned the office and Dr. Guilford was re-elected dean. The college has experienced few changes in the presidency of the board of trustees. The first incumbent was Rev. Richard Newton. D.D. At his death he was succeeded by the Hon. James Pollock. LL.I)., ex-governor of Pennsylvania, who retained the office during the remainder of his life. General James A. Beaver. LL.I)., ex-governor of Pennsylvania, was elected to the office after the death of Mr. Pollock. The federation with Temple University, in the spring of 1907. caused a change in the board of trustees and Russell H. Conwell was elected to the presidency. At the time of the incorporation of the Philadelphia Dental College there were but three other dental schools in the country—one in Cincinnati, one in Baltimore and one in Philadelphia, with a combined attendance of less than one hundred pupils. Today there are in the United States more than fifty institutions in which dentistry is taught regularly, with a total yearly attendance of between four and five thousand students. In the forty-one years of its existence the Philadelphia Dental College has graduated no less than 3.000 students. Along with other schools it has advanced from a two years’ course of four months each to a three years' course of eight months, with supplemental spring and fall courses covering two months more. From an annual curriculum that required but thirty-four lectures from each professor, it has developed until more than one hundred didactic lectures are given annually by the incumbent of each chair. In addition to this the clinical facilities have been enlarged year by year, giving to the students opportunities for the attainment of manual dexterity undreamed of years ago. One of the most prominent advances in recent years has been the establishment of technic courses in the freshman and junior years, cultivating not only the hand, but the eye and brain, as well as adding immensely to the symmetrical development of the pupil. The Philadelphia Dental College was the first to introduce into it curriculum a course in oral surgery, and the first also to establish a hospital for the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity. The late Professor Garretson was the first to make a special study of such diseases and to constitute their consideration a part of the 12