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

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ing dentistry as a regular branch of medicine, and in order to denote the phenomenal progress of the old Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, start at the time of its birth; when there were about 1200 practitioners of dentistry in America, more than one-half of whom were ignorant, incapable men, whose knowledge was composed of a few secrets which they had purchased at fabulous prices from other charlatans, and who con- sidered three or four weeks ample time in which to attain all the knowledge necessary to the successful pursuit of the calling, and contrast the requirements of that time with those of the present day. This is the sixty-third year of the career of the Col- lege with its prospects for usefulness brighter than ever. It has added to its Faculty and clinical corps strong and active men, and is better equipped to carry out the purpose of its inception than at any period of its existence. The results of its work in sixty-three years are world-wide in their influence upon dentistry. Over twenty-two hundred graduates have gone from this College into practice, and these are scattered all over the civilized world. They are located in nearly every city of Europe. They lead the profession in all the great centres of civilization and have won emi- nence in England, France, Russia, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. They have carried the honors of the insti- tution into Asia, Australia, and the land of the pyra- mids, while in every State of our Republic, and in all parts of Canada they have demonstrated their own worth and the excellent training afforded them by their Alma Mater. They have met with signal honor abroad, nearly every court dentist in Europe being a graduate of this institution. Such in brief is the history of our dear old College, our beloved Alma Mater, where we are now seeking a training which will not only bring distinction to, and benefit us personally, but which shall instil nobler ideas into our minds, and so broaden our characters, that we may become better citizens, and better able to fill our allotted place in life, whatever it may be. And may we ever prove an honor to the calling in which we are about to engage, and to our best friend, the Balti- more College of Dental Surgery.

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the profession, the outcome of which was the forma- tion of the American Society of Dental Surgeons. This outcome was chiefly due to the labors of Dr. Harden, and he was unanimously chosen President of the society and re-elected each year until his death. Until the illness which terminated his life Dr. Hay- den continued to exercise the duties of his profession and to lecture to his class. He died on the 26th of January. 1844, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. We have already stated that the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery is the oldest institution of its kind in existence, and for this reason we might say that Balti- more is really the cradle of dentistry and of the dental profession. A remarkable feature of dentistry, a feature com- mon to no other profession, is that, although it is one of the most prominent professions to-day, its evolu- tion is embraced within the span of one human life. The practical inauguration of the new college pre- sented a difficulty well known in America, when pro- fessors often outnumbered students. At length five legitimate students of dentistry were found to covet the honor of the new title D.D.S., and the first course of instruction was given in the winter of 1840-41. The didactic lectures were delivered in a small room, pub- licly situated, but the teachings of practical anatomy demanded privacy, and other prudential considera- tions also suggested the use for that purpose of a se- cluded stable loft, the prejudice of the community against dissection having shown itself some years be- fore. Dr. Bond, in his valedictory to the graduates, at its first commencement exercises, March, 1841, says: You have been taught that dental surgery is not a new art separate from, and independent of, general medicine; but that it is an important branch of the science of healing. You have seen and traced out the exquisitely beautiful machiner y by which the human organism is everywhere knit together ; you have care- fully examined the phenomena of health and disease, as they are manifested in the dental arch, its connections and relations, and you have been taught to regard the human body as a whole, united in all its parts, and pervaded everywhere by strong and active sympathies ; and your principles of practice have been carefully formed on a sound knowledge of general medicine and it is therefore that you must be thoroughly educated in the fundamental branches of medicine as the medical man himself. The college was organized with the design of teach-

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Introduction. EVERYONE derives pleasure from the knowledge that his efforts in behalf dT a worthy object are appreciated. And what higher encomium can be bestowed upon one than that of having the results of his labors handsomely recorded for the pleasure and benefit of his friends. Then assuredly I, little, micro- scopically little I, glorifying in the most scientifically correct name of Spirillum Jocorum Academics Chirur- giaz Dentium Baltimoriensis, with the suffixed letters N. P., meaning Non Pathogenicum. have every reason to rejoice. I am that little undiscovered mysterious bacterium that has lived and toiled within the walls of the dear old College from the day of its establishment, striving ever to lighten the monotonous routine of work of its sons and daughters and who, during the vacation period and at other times, has followed these favored mortals to the uttermost parts of the globe, casting, at frequent intervals, a ray of sunshine across their paths of duty, strewn with the rocks of worry and discour- agement. As a dutiful child I have ever essayed to abide by the instructions given me by my mother, who, at the moment of my birth, for I was indeed a preco- cious infant, sent me out upon my life ' s work. My child, quoth she, a new profession, that of dentistry, has been inaugurated, a worthy son of its mother. Medicine, for whom I have labored long and faithfully. As my time is so completely occupied with the ever-increasing cares of my position, take thou charge of this weakling, and see to it that thou and thy progeny nurture it, encourage it, and when it has reached its majority, keep it ever young, strong and buoyant. Is it egotism that prompts me to declare that my efforts in behalf of dental education has resulted in placing it upon the elevated position which it at present occupies ? No, no, rather believe that it is the spirit of self- assertion, which has remained dormant, patiently awaiting the proclamation of Truth, but which has be- come so restive as to have found it necessary to give utterance to its imprisoned feelings. Ye learned men of science, ye wise-acres with all your ologies and isms, your philosophies and theories, how much longer would I have had to linger in seclusion before your supposed omniscient powers would have dragged me forth as the real and only true imitative of healthful jollity? Do not offer any explanations, I pray you, for they are as