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

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THE MIRROR History of Dentistry THERE is an Arabian maxim of much truth which says : If you are about to acquaint yourself with a man, first learn where he was born, and next how he was raised. And this good advice in sentiment might as well be given to those who are about to acquire a knowledge of the mysteries of den- tistry, namety: First learn of its origin, and next determine its progress. This short sketch and the few morals contained therein are by no means intended to consider all facts relating to the history of dentistry ; it is only meant to serve the reader as a guide, pointing out the road; then, to the faithful dental student, who is ever yearning for fresh draughts of information, every subject that pertains to the history and progress of dental art and science is fraught with the deepest interest, and probably no feature in the annals of dentistry solicit his attention sooner and merit such sin- cere consideration as does the story of the rise, fall and revival of the dental art. Dentistry is generally considered a modern science, but on care- ful investigation we find, on the contrary, that it is ancient and there is abundant evidence to show that the art is of great antiqui- ty. Of the origin of the art of dentistry no one can speak with certainty, as its early history is shrouded in the mists of oblivion, but dental operations, we learn, are recorded in very remote times. It is impossible to determine the native home of dental prosthesis, but in all probability Egypt, the most highly civilized nation of the ancient world, claims the art as a cherished creation. In the year 332 B. C. Alexander the Great founded in upper Egypt a city which he named Alexandria. Here lived and labored Herophilus, Galen, Aetius, and many others who adorn the early annals of medical science. The Egyptians cultivated the science and art of medicine at an early date, each physician applying himself to some one specialty, and there sprang up oculists, aurists and dentists. 13

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SALUTATION God bless those Surgeons and Dentists! May their good deeds be returned upon them a thousand fold. May they have the felicity in the next world to have successful operations per- formed upon them through all eternity. — Washington Irving 12

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THE MIRROR Ancient writers refer to the practice of dentistry as being coeval with the birth of medicine. The great Egyptologist Ebers has proven that in the Egyptian medical schools they had special teach- ers of dentistry upwards of 3000 years ago. The Egyptians at- tached great value to the dental organs, and one of their most severe punishments consisted in having one of the front teeth ex- tracted. I would be natural to suppose that in order to avoid sus- picion of guilt as well as to restore the loss artificial teeth were invented and substituted for the lost organs. Exhumed from the timeworn Egyptian tombs antedatin g the records of Herodotus, mouldering skeletons present arrays of gold-filled teeth, and an able authority states that the art of clasp-work was understood to some exactness. Gold work was understood by these ancient prac- titioners. A set of artificial teeth was discovered, the base being of solid gold and the teeth ivory. Bone and wooden teeth were frequently found by Belzoni in his researches in Egypt. It ap- pears that women, too, practiced the art of medicine and dentistry in those ancient days, since we find that women, being forbidden to consult with men, received services from their ov n sex. At the present time there are scores of women dentists practicing den- tistry in Egypt. Hebrew dental art is so intimately interwoven with the Egyp- tian that, aside from the Talmudical obligations, the dental art was practiced and understood by Hebrews and Egyptians alike. The ancient Hebrews were not noted for having at any period of their existence displayed any great amount of mechanical ingenuity and originality in the arts and sciences and cannot with good au- thority be accredited. These people, if at all gifted in this direc- tion, have failed to leave a lasting impression. Language and law were perhaps their great triumphs. The ancient Hebrews too well knew the worth of teeth, and the great King Solomon wisely nick- named them the millstones, and they were by his people recog- nized as the motive power of life. Moses legislated his famous law known as tooth for tooth, an edict which was altered and ex- plained in the Talmud to mean a fine or penalty. The Talmudical 14