December I, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



149 



Dedication of the Forsyth Dental Infirmary. 



THE dedicatory services at the Forsyth Dental Infirmary in 

 Boston ini November 24, marked the realization of the 

 dream of the late Janus Bennett Forsyth, as brought to 

 consummation by bis brothers, the late John Hamilton Forsyth, 

 and the last surviving brother. Thomas Alexander Forsyth, all 

 well known in the rubber trade as members and officers in the 

 Boston Belting Co. This infirmary constitutes a lasting monu- 

 ment to thi memorj bf tl rs, and a philanthropy 

 unique in history. 



As has been 

 previously told 

 in this journal, 

 the institution 

 has for its ob- 

 ject the correc- 

 tion and cure 

 of dental and 

 oral defects in 

 the school chil- 

 dren i 'i Bo ton 

 It will care not 

 only for tooth 

 troubles, b u t 

 also related 

 oral conditions, 

 including defec- 

 tive palates, 

 adenoids. etc. 

 All work, of 

 whatever na- 

 ture, will be 

 performed at 

 the nominal 

 price of five 

 cents a treat- 

 in cut. thus 



raising the 



institution out of the categor} of a distinctive charity. 



The services last Tuesday were in the great infirmary room 

 on the second floor, a room nearly 60 feet wide. 170 feet long 

 and 27 feet high. Here was assembled a company which taxed 

 the seating capacity. Man;, State and city officials, professional 

 men. philanthropists and members of the medical and dental pro- 

 fessions were present. The opening prayer was by Mgr. Splaine, 

 the benediction by Bishop Lawrence. Between these were ad- 

 dresses by David I. Walsh, Governor of Massachusetts; James 

 M. Curley, Mayor of Boston, and President Emeritus Charles 

 W. Eliot of Harvard University, after which Mr. Forsyth, in 

 bis quiet, modest way spoke, as follows: 



"Mr. chairman, ladies and gentlemen : It seems fitting that 1 

 should say a few words to you in regard to the origin and per- 

 fection of this new undertaking. 



"The idea of providing an institution for the care of the teeth 

 of the children of Boston and its vicinity was first conceived 

 by my brother, James Bennett Forsyth, who died in the year 

 1909. In carrying out his wishes, my brother and myself desired 

 to erect the infirmary in memory of our brothers, James Bennett 

 and George Henry Forsyth. The building is therefore essentially 

 a memorial foundation. While the consideration of its direct 

 uses was constantly before our minds in its planning and con- 

 struction, the idea that it was also a memorial has never been 

 lost sight of. The building on this account embodies many ar- 

 tistic features usually lacking in buildings intended solely for hos- 

 pital purposes. 



Tin Forsyth Dental Ixfirm.vry, 1 



"In the construction of this institution we have entered a new 

 field. No other building of this character is in existence. I be 

 problems we have faced have been encountered for the first 

 time, and for their final solution I have to thank our Building 

 littee of the trustees, who have given generously of their 

 time, their thought and of their expert knowledge. To their de- 

 VOtion the building owes its evoluti' extraordinary per- 



n of its pi ' detail. To the mayor and city coun- 



cil of Boston thank- are also due for their judicious foresight in 



thi purchase of 

 the land be- 

 tween the in- 

 firmary and the 

 art museum. 

 Such pro 

 tude as they 

 have shown in 

 this connection 

 cannot fail to 

 act as a spur to 

 other gifts to 

 the city. 



"It has been 

 my wish that 

 the infirmary 

 should be as a 

 hi ime to the 

 children, beauti- 

 ful and i 

 ful ; a protector 

 heir hi abb. 

 a refuge in their 

 pain. By mak- 

 ing them health- 

 ier and happier 

 J be ipe it may 

 make them 

 to be better citizens of our beloved Boston. If this is 



mplished, as I believe it must be, with the cooperation of the 



dental profession, I shall feel that the gift has been well bestowed." 

 The kej oi the building was then presented to Mr. Forsyth 

 by the architect. Edward T. I'. Graham — symbolic of the cora- 

 pletion of the building and its transfer from the builder to the 

 donor and Mr. Forsyth in turn handed it to Dr. John F. Dows- 

 ley, D.D.S.. President of the State Board of Registration in 

 Dentistry, as tin i 'presentative of the Board of Trustees of the 

 Infirmary. Dr. Dowsley accepted the key with a brief, appro- 

 reply, alter which addresses were given by Milton J. 

 Rosenau, M.D., Professor of Hygiene, Harvard University; Don- 

 ald M. Gallic. D.D.S., of Chicago, President of the National 

 1 lental Association : Edward McSweeney, Trustee of Boston Con- 

 sumptive Hospital, and William J. Gallivan, A.B. M.D., Com- 

 missioner of Health, Boston, and Chief of Bureau of Child 

 Hygiene. 



Interspersed in the program were several chorus selections 

 given by children from the school in Roxbury (a portion of 

 Boston) where the four Forsyth brothers received their early 

 education. 



After the formal exercises, the building was thrown open for 

 inspection, and during the remainder of the w-eek thousands of 

 persons visited the institution, praising the beautiful building and 

 the philanthropic spirit which prompted its creation. 



The building is wonderful, well worthy of its setting near the 

 Art Museum, in the Back Bay Fens. The beautiful colonnaded 



