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

Page 23 text:

J. BEN ROBINSON, D.D.S., F.A.C.D. Dealt of the School of Denfistrv 19

Page 22 text:

to medicine for the year 1821 records the following item, Instruction in dentistry given in the University of Maryland. (c) About 1904 Mr. William Mozart Hayden presented to the Dental Department, University of Marj ' land a series of lectures represented as those used by Dr. Hayden when he lectured in the School of Medicine. This manuscript was lost in razing the old Dental School Building. The Catalogue of the Dental Department, University of Maryland, had from its beginning in 1882 given the dates of the first dental lectures as 1837, but in 1904 and for the years following, the catalogue carried the following information: In 1821-22 the first dental lectures in America were delivered in the University of Mar yland. This was written by Dean Gorgas and because of its abrupt appear- ance indicates some new and convincing evidence which he had recently discovered. (d) Dr. Samuel C. Trippe, Royal Oak, Maryland informs the writer that he for- merly had in his possession notes of lectures delivered by Dr. Hayden. These were taken in class by a relative of his. Unfortunately, the manuscript was lost in a fire that destroyed his library. However, he gave the name of the relative as Dr. Nicholas Hammond who graduated from the University of Maryland in 1823. (e) Dr. Willis H. Baxley writing from London to Dr. R. B. Winder refers to the subject as follows: Dr. Horace H. Hayden delivered to a few medical students of the University of Maryland some lectures on Dental Physiology and Pathology. was one of his class. Were Dr. Baxley a student in his senior year, these lec- tures were given in 1824, that being the year he graduated. From this evidence we may reasonably conclude that Hayden lectured in the medical school for the period beginning 1821 and ending 1825. This course of lectures is the first elTort at institutional dental teaching in America and was an expression of the high ideals and zealous interest of Dr. Hayden in promoting higher standards in dental practice, and marks the beginning of a struggle for dental educational opportuni- tiees which culminated in the founding of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. These lectures were interrupted in 1825 by the deplorable state of internal strife in which the School of Medicine was plunged. Discord and dissension among members of the faculty precipitated a legal battle between the Regents of the University and a newly created Board of Trustees which was continued until 1837. This legal fight between the regents and trustees was carried on until 1837, when the board of regents had their rights restored in a ruling by the Court of Appeals of the State of Maryland, at which time the Regents regained control of the University and, it is said, Hayden resumed his lectures. In striving to elevate the standards of dental practice, Dr. Hayden was ably seconded by the distinguished Dr. Chapin A. Harris, who came to Baltimore about 1830, then a young man twenty-four years of age. Dr. Harris joined with Dr. Hayden in founding the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and was largely responsible for the tremendous success of autonomous dental education. Much has been written concerning the appeal to the School of Medicine. Uni- versity of Maryland to create a chair of oral surgery, pointing out the individuals responsible for such an effort. But most of it is highly speculative and because of the lack of evidence, may be thrown out. There has been spirited discussion as to who first proposed the dental college. That is beside the point. The important thing is that Dr. Horace H. Hayden ' sTife work personified the ideals of scientific dentistry recognizing at every point all of the elements which go to make up pro- fessional integrity based on maximum values to be found in scientific education, and the culmination of his resolute ideal was the founding of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 18

Page 24 text:

M, 20