440 TRUMAN W. BROPHY 



ivory, following the models assigned, and practically perform- 

 ing all of the operations required of a dentist, but using as 

 their patients models upon which are mounted either human 

 teeth which have been extracted, or ivory teeth which they 

 have carved. During the first year, the student not only 

 studies the forms of teeth and the characteristics of the differ- 

 ent classes, but also the pathological conditions involving the 

 root canals of the teeth, and is instructed in the various 

 methods of treatment. 



From a college course of two sessions of four months each, 

 without any preliminary educational requirements, to a course 

 of three sessions of eight months each and with a requirement 

 of the completion of the first two years of a recognized high 

 school course for admission, it will readily be seen that the 

 graduate dentist of to-day has had opportunities for perfecting 

 himself for the work of his profession far beyond the dreams of 

 those who organized the first college of dentistry. 



But there have been other influences which have had a 

 great deal to do with the advancement of American dentistry. 

 While perhaps the college has been the principal influence in 

 its development, the organizing of dental societies and the 

 rapid growth of dental literature have also had great influence 

 for good. The first dental association was known as the Amer- 

 ican society of dental surgeons, organized in New York city 

 on the 18th of August 1840, and among its officials we have 

 the names of Horace Hayden, M. D., and Chapin A. Harris, 

 M. D., who were also the founders of the first dental college. 

 The organizing of this society was followed by the first state 

 society, known as the Virginia society of surgeon dentists, or- 

 ganized in 1842. In 1844 the Mississippi valley society of dental 

 surgeons was organized, and in 1845 the Pennsylvania society 

 of dental surgeons. Then comes the society of dental sur- 

 geons of New York, organized in 1847. The first alumni as- 

 sociation of dental colleges was organized in 1849 and was 

 known as the alumni society of Baltimore college. From this 

 time on, the organization of state and district dental societies 

 was very rapid, and there is no doubt but that the quick devel- 

 opment of American dentistry is very largely due to the meet- 

 ing together of the various members of the profession in these 



