Editorial, Etc.
Editorial, Etc.
University of Maryland, Dental Department.—The fourth Annual session of this institution opened with a much larger number of matriculates than ever before in its history, and the number is so rapidly increasing that the present class of seniors and juniors bids fair to be larger than any preceding one.
The reputation of this school has never been sullied by the graduation of students for fees irrespective of professional ability, and the consequence of such a course as has been steadily pursued since its organization, has been to give a professional standing to its diploma which that of no other dental school excels. The present class consists of representatives from all parts of this country, and also Germany, France, South America, Canada, and even Turkey. Many states of this country are largely represented, such as New York, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Maryland especially, and also the New England states, while nearly every other state is represented.
Students who have passed a session at other dental schools have entered on a second session at the University of Maryland, Dental Department, to complete their course of study and receive its diploma, and not one of the hundreds of students who have attended a course in this institution, has ever gone elsewhere to graduate. In matriculating the present class, the resolutions adopted by the National Board of State Dental Examiners have been strictly adhered to, and many applicants of this country and Europe have been refused admission who desired to make their attendance obligatory on graduation afterONEsession's attendance.
The Infirmary and Laboratory practice is not excelled in size if equalled by that of any other dental school, and the records will show hundreds of gold fillings credited to the individual practice of students for both the regular winter and summer sessions. No other school can offer greater facilities for practical instruction, nor present more complete equipment as to building and appliances than this Dental Department. Dental practitioners are cordially invited to visit the University and inspect the specimen work of its graduating classes deposited in the museum. Large and valuable contributions from all parts of this country and also from Europe are almost daily being received for the Museum, which will compare favorably with that of any other dental school for valuable pathological specimens, which are also utilized for illustrating the lectures of each course.
Correspondence.—The following letter was received from a prominent dental practitioner of Georgia for publication:
Augusta, Sept. 30th, 1885.Editor "Am. Journal of Dental Science":Dear Sir: According to my knowledge of the proceedings of the organizations known as the "National Board of Dental Examiners," and the "National Association of Dental Faculties," it was determined that no dental school would be regarded as reputable that did not after June, 1885, requireTWO FULL SESSIONS OF FIVE MONTHS EACH IN SEPARATE YEARS FOR GRADUATION. The only exceptions made being those who after graduation in medicine had passed one year in the study and practice of clinical dentistry, and also those who had attended a previous session at a reputable dental school. I believe that the American Dental Association also adopted the same rule. Am I not correct? I therefore ask how it is that the dental school of Vanderbilt University is permitted to offer graduation at the close of but one session, to a student of this city who has passed one session only, and that very irregularly, at the Georgia Medical College? I also ask how the same school can offer similar inducements to #/it has done, and yet be declared reputable? Was it for the purpose of permitting such violations of the rules adopted by the different organizations referred to, that the "National Association of Dental Faculties" allowed the dental school of Vanderbilt University to abstain from becoming a member of that Association for the present year, and accorded to its Dean the privileges of the floor at its late meeting in Chicago? I cannot see why some schools should be compelled to conform to a rule that others may violate with impunity, and I think that the State Boards of Dental Examiners of both my own state and South Carolina should investigate the matter and act accordingly.Respectfully, &c.,"Justice."
Augusta, Sept. 30th, 1885.
Editor "Am. Journal of Dental Science":
Dear Sir: According to my knowledge of the proceedings of the organizations known as the "National Board of Dental Examiners," and the "National Association of Dental Faculties," it was determined that no dental school would be regarded as reputable that did not after June, 1885, requireTWO FULL SESSIONS OF FIVE MONTHS EACH IN SEPARATE YEARS FOR GRADUATION. The only exceptions made being those who after graduation in medicine had passed one year in the study and practice of clinical dentistry, and also those who had attended a previous session at a reputable dental school. I believe that the American Dental Association also adopted the same rule. Am I not correct? I therefore ask how it is that the dental school of Vanderbilt University is permitted to offer graduation at the close of but one session, to a student of this city who has passed one session only, and that very irregularly, at the Georgia Medical College? I also ask how the same school can offer similar inducements to #/it has done, and yet be declared reputable? Was it for the purpose of permitting such violations of the rules adopted by the different organizations referred to, that the "National Association of Dental Faculties" allowed the dental school of Vanderbilt University to abstain from becoming a member of that Association for the present year, and accorded to its Dean the privileges of the floor at its late meeting in Chicago? I cannot see why some schools should be compelled to conform to a rule that others may violate with impunity, and I think that the State Boards of Dental Examiners of both my own state and South Carolina should investigate the matter and act accordingly.
Respectfully, &c.,"Justice."
We can only reply to the above letter by stating that several students who as we had learned from their preceptors, intended to matriculate in the Dental Department of the University of Maryland, on discovering that they would be required to attend two sessions in the institution, had, we are informed, been induced to go to Vanderbilt by the promise of graduation on one session's attendance.
Editor of "Am. Journal of Dental Science."