The practice of the second class, more completely admitting the easier life, with perhaps the same financial return, has proven a constant snare and temptation into which the majority of those practising dentistry have fallen. That the majority rules is never more manifest than in the formation of public opinion. Therefore, in as much as those who by numbers appear to be dentistry's exponents, represent it as a mechanical art applied to the insertion of fillings and artificial dentures, with the occasional extraction of teeth, the public grudgingly accords only a moiety of that respect due to a highly scientific remedial profession.

Is it any wonder that uncultured patients ask for, and often receive from tooth carpenters, bids for staying the ravages of disease in their dental organs; and that such people expect to contract for the job in the same way as they would with house carpenters, though they do not ask their physicians for estimates of the cost of a cure and recovery from injury to a limb, or of an amputation. In what lies the difference in combatting disease of varying forms in the human system? In nothing! Why then the dissimilarity in public opinion? The neglect of general organized association on the part of those numerically in the minority and want of exercise of the powers within them. Whose influence, though quietly asserted, really has made the literature of the profession, sustained its education, and kept it from absolutely losing its title as the exponent of a profession. Who have made it possible for the majority to labor under a doctorate. If a small portion of the intellectual activity of this scientific class was unselfishly devoted to the guidance of the organizations, it would expose to the public the emptiness of the others and force them to become full or retire.

Yet in the face of this, the true condition and position of dentistry, we of both classes are willing to-day to rest in the possession of a title which was only won by the spirited aggression of our professional predecessors, and stifle our consciences with the vain and childish flattery that this title in itself fools and dazzles the public into the belief of our respectability as members of a learned profession. The day the title was secured, not fifty years ago, made a separation in the ranks of those calling themselves dentists; and the title then meant a high distinction, in that those who wore it, deserved it, and prized it, and filled it with all the capabilities of their natures. Alas, that it has lapsed—that it means any less to-day!

The day of the establishment of the doctorate in dentistry was

It

a day of revolution, out of which came the birth of higher things. The time is now again apropos, and the voice of the spirit of that former revolution calls for the manifestation of a true progression, side by side with what has taken place in the rest of the world. demands a thorough sifting of the intentions of those who hold the title to-day, as well as of those who in the future shall attempt to hold it, to the elevation in every instance of the interest of the profession above personal interests. It calls in stentorian tones for a solid, firm organization of the posessors of the title, on a broad, learned, professional foundation, that shall banish everything like the barter of a service for personal gain, and which shall establish both a conservative love for the general interests of the profession, that will sacrifice self if need be; and a fraternal love for each individual devoted to this portion of the healing art, that will jealously protect another's interests as one's own.

The lack of such confidence in each other's abilities and attendant esprit de corps, made it possible for one man recently to make it appear that he had cowed a room-full of representative men from various parts of the country, and that they knew nothing practically of the science of histology or of microscopy.

How long shall such opinions of us prevail in the minds of scientific men and of the general public? How long shall it be before a change be made in their attitude toward dentistry? The call is for action and the hour is at hand.

L. A. F.

DEAR DOCTOR:

GORRESPONDENCE.

NEW YORK, March 20, 1886.

You are probably aware that suits of great importance to our profession will soon come to an issue in Connecticut, embracing the validity of letters patent for tooth crown and bridge work.

If those patents are declared valid in those test cases, as they probably will be, unless a thorough and earnest defence is made, the entire profession will most likely be made to pay tribute to the owners thereof for many years to come, if crown and bridge work are done.

Many of the witnesses whose testimony is deemed important to a proper defence reside in distant places, and the expense attendant upon taking their testimony is great.

A vast amount of time and labor have already been spent in collecting the material for and preparing such defence.

With a single exception, the defendants in the suits are totally unable to bear even a fraction of the necessary expense incident to such a controversy.

It would be most unfair for one member of our profession, even if able, to bear alone such a burden for the good of all.

It would be far cheaper for such a person to submit and pay the exaction demanded.

Under these circumstances a committee has been appointed to solicit funds to aid the immediate defendants in making such a defence as will enable the court to do justice, by having the facts before it.

The real defendant in these causes is the dental profession of the United States.

Will you contribute in aid of this most important matter such sum as your interest in the result prompts you to give, for you may be assured "it is now or never."

Contributions may be sent to Dr. A. L. Northrop, No. 44 West Forty-Sixth Street, New York City, who will acknowledge their receipt.

Very truly yours,

A. L. NORTHROP, Chairman.

Frank Abbott,

E. A. Bogue,

William Coir,

J. Band Littig, D.D.S.,

TO THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

Committee appointed to solicit funds.

At a meeting of the Chicago members of the American Dental Association and of the Chicago Dental Society, called to ascertain the views of the profession here March 17th, the following resolution was adopted by a vote of twenty-seven out of thirty-two present:

Resolved, That it is the sense and desire of this body that the next meeting of the American Dental Association should be held in Chicago, and that we extend to the Association a most cordial and hearty invitation to meet with us.

We the undersigned desire to repeat and emphasize the above invitation. The reasons urged, one and all, why the Association should not meet in Chicago this year do not exist.

If we are favored with the meeting we shall do all in our power to make it a grand success: T. W. Brophy, E. D. Swain, L. L. Davis, P. J. Kester, A. W. Harlan, J. A. Swasey, F. H. Gardiner, W. J. Martin, W. B. Smith, Louis Ottofy, J. G. Reid, B. L. Rhein, W. B. Ames, J. W. Wassall, D. M. Cattell, G. V. Black, C. R. E. Koch, C. F. Hartt, Geo. F. Smith, Amos J. Nichols, Garrett Newkirk, B. S. Palmer, O. D. Swain, R. H. Kimball, J. F. Davenport, C. A. Kitchen, W. G. Stowell, E. C. Timmerman, C. P. Weinrich, C. Stoddard Smith, E. H. Hamilton, E. L. Graves, W. W. Curtis, T. B. Wheeler, F. M. Celley, C. R. Baker, Geo. H. Cushing, C. Matteson, A. E. Matteson, J. J. Taylor, W. C. Dyer, J. N. Crouse, J. E. Hinkins, W. A. Stevens, H. A. Costner, W. W. Lazear, J. H. Kennicott, W. E. Hall, J. H. Woolley, G. H. Bentley, B. D. Wikoff, C. H. Wachter, G. S. Salomon, C. H. Thayer, J. F. Thompson, H. Wetterer, C. N. Johnson, J. Dittmann, J. L. Clapp, G. A. Christmann, I. Deschauer, M. B. Johnson, J. C. Mann, E. M. S. Fernandez, L. F. Dayan, C. T. Barnes, E. Honsinger, Edmund Noyes, P. I. Lawrence, G. D. Sitherwood,-members of the Chicago Dental Society.

The Chicago Dental Society numbers 88 members. The above names represent 70 of the number, with two exceptions, and these are members of the American Dental Association. All other resident members of the American Dental Association are members of the Chicago Dental Society, hence their names do not appear separately. Of the remaining number several were either absent. from the city, ill, or otherwise inaccessible.

CHICAGO, April 16, 1886.

To the Members of the American Dental Association :

The votes of nearly all the members have been received. A majority of the votes cast are in favor of Chicago over all other places. A very large majority pledge their attendance if the meeting shall be held in Chicago. But in deference to the minority and for the sake of harmonizing all differences, as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Committee of Arrangements, I hereby, with the consent of my colleagues, announce the next place of meeting to be at Niagara Falls, August 3.

later.

Information concerning hotel and railroad rates will be given

2101 Michigan Avenue.

J. N. CROUSE,

Chairman of Executive Committee.

CHICAGO COllege of Dental Surgery.

The Fourth Annual Commencement exercises of the Chicago College of Dental Surgery were held at the First Methodist Church, Chicago, on Wednesday afternoon, March 31st, 1886.

The class valedictory was delivered by Robert E. Moon, D. D. S., and the address to the graduates by W. L. Copeland, M. D., C M., M. R. C. S., Professor of Anatomy.

The number of matriculates for the session was eighty-one, an increase of thirty-one over the previous course.

The degree of D. D. S, was conferred on the following graduates by Dr. James A. Swasey, President of the Board of Directors: Harry Fenn Carson, Illinois; Emory Melvil Cheadle, M. D., Oregon; Louis Clusmann, Illinois; Joseph Grant Emery, Illinois; Gilbert Walter Entsminger, Illinois; Frank Eshbaugh, Illinois; Ernst August Hinxmann, Illinois; Henry Fredrick Marcoux, Illinois; Joseph Perry Mertes, Wisconsin; Theodore Felix Molt, Illinois; Robert Ellsworth Moon, Indiana; Otto Henry Staehle, Illinois; James Stewart, Illinois; Thomas Benton Wheeler, Illinois; Ellsworth Otis Whipple, New York; Alfred Rogers WilCox, Illinois.

DENTAL SOCIETIES.

THE DENTAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY

LAND.

The Annual Commencement of the University of Maryland, Dental Department, in connection with the seventy-ninth Annual Session of the University School of Medicine, was held at the Academy of Music, Baltimore, on Wednesday, March 17th, 1886. The reading of the mandamus and the announcement of the graduates by Professor Ferdinand J. S. Gorgas, Dean. The degree of D. D. S. was conferred by Hon. S. Teackle Wallis, L. L. D., Provost of the University, upon the following gentlemen, all of whom had attended two full sessions of five months each in separate years: Emil Amend, Germany; Frank A. Baden, Maryland; Horace E. Basehore, Pennsylvania; Emile Brugeille, France; Thomas W. Bookhart, South Carolina; William W. Bruce, West Virginia; Oscar J. Campbell, Virginia; Augustus H. Chafee, South Carolina; John S. Diehl, Pennsylvania; Joseph G. Emerson, Brazil, South America; Charles Luff Furman, New York; Elly A. Gasque, South