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Obituary: R. Walter Starr (1864–1939)
T h e Journal o f the A m erican D en ta l Association
986
With the beginning of the fall term for 1939-40, the Membership Committee is ambitious to enroll a larger proportion of eligible juniors than ever before. The type of men who are now entering dentistry is such that they should as early as possible find their niche in dentistry to the end that they may not only contribute to the advancement of the profession but also become qualified to benefit in full measure from all that dentistry offers to the novitiate.
OBITUARY R. WALTER STARR (1864-1939) R. W a l t e r S t a r r was born in Phila delphia June 30, 1864, of Irish-Quaker ancestors; ,a descendant of two genera tions of dentists. Elmer Jefferies, his maternal grandfather, was a prominent dentist of Wilmington, Del., and Eli T. Starr, his father, a practicing dentist of Philadelphia, and a prolific inventor of mechanical aids to dentistry. Dr. Starr’s early education was ob tained in the Friends School of West Philadelphia and in the Hastings Acad emy. He entered the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1883, and from this institution he re ceived the D.D.S. degree. He was in advance of the average graduate because of his early interests and the influence of his father and grandfather. The year following his graduation, he introduced to the profession the first removable bridge with telescope crowns.1 Dr. Starr taught privately and in den tal colleges, his students coming from nearly every section of the country. He gave many clinics in Europe, notably in Berlin, Bremen, Paris and London. From 1891 until 1897, Dr. Starr was demon strator of crown and bridge work in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He was one of the principal organizers of the Dental Department of the MedicoChirurgical College in 1897, and served 1. D . Cosmos, 28:209, April 1886.
as the first dean and professor of crown and bridge work. He resigned this posi tion the following year, as the college work interfered with his large practice. On reorganization of the faculty of the Dental Department of the MedicoChirurgical College in 1906, Dr. Starr was induced to accept the chair of clin ical dentistry, orthodontia and crown and bridge work, a position which he held for ten years, until the college was taken over by the University of Penn sylvania. He was a teacher of the highest order and an unusually talented cli nician. To those who had the privilege of witnessing his work, it seemed little short of marvelous. Dr. Starr had a genial and generous personality and a delightful sense of humor, and was blessed with rugged health. In his younger days, he took an active interest in a number of sports, boxing, wrestling, golf, marksmanship and boating. He was the first commo dore of the Corinthian Yacht Club at Cape May, N. J., holding this office from 1912 to 1915, and a member of the Union League of Philadelphia. and the Philadelphia Country Club and various orders of Masonry. Dr. Starr was married to Cora Sin clair, of Kennet, Pa., who preceded him in death. His death occurred on Wed nesday, April 5, at his home, 1812 Pine Street. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Carl B. Rauterberg, a son, Dr. R. Walter Starr, Jr., and three grandchildren.
COUNCIL ON DENTAL THERAPEUTICS T h e dental profession’s interest in sulfanilamide prompted the preparation and publica tion of the informative article by Kanthak and Pickering.1 Since the time of this publica tion, the enormous amount of work done on sulfanilamide has necessitated certain revisions of views on the properties and actions of this drug. The available evidence in the dental literature is still apparently insufficient for determination of the usefulness of sulfanilamide in dentistry. The following status report on sulfanilamide, prepared by the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry and its consultants,2 has been adopted by the Council on Dental Therapeutics as representing an accurate appraisal of this drug on the basis of available evidence. The Council has authorized publication of this report with due acknowledgment of its appreciation to the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry. H a r o l d L. H a n se n , Secretary.
SULFANILAMIDE* a c t io n s a n d u s e s
Originally, it was reported that sul fanilamide acts against Lancefield’s group A strains of the hemolytic streptococcus by virtue of an apparently specific effect on these organisms. More recent clinical evidence suggests that the action of this chemical may affect other organisms, es pecially certain gram-negative cocci. The evidence suggests that its action may be antibacterial. Experimental evidence in dicates that at least one action of sul fanilamide (and possibly the only one of importance) is to render serum, spinal fluid, urine and other tissue fluids un favorable as mediums for supporting the active multiplication of susceptible bac teria. In consequence, tissue invasion by these organisms may be prevented, pro duction of toxic substances reduced, and the antibacterial mechanisms of the host *See New and Nonofficial Remedies 1938, p. 450.
1. K a n t h a k , F. F., and P i c k e r i n g , P. F.: Sulfanilamide: Review of Clinical and Ex perimental Work on Its Therapeutic Proper ties. J.A.D .A., 25:1474, September 1938. 2. J .A .M .A ., 112:733, February 25, 1939. Jour. A .D .A., Vol. 26, June 1939
are permitted to complete the recovery from infection. Sulfanilamide has been used primarily in infections due to beta-hemolytic strep tococci, especially in the treatment of puerperal fever, erysipelas, hemolytic streptococcus septicemia, streptococcic sore throat and surgical infections with the hemolytic streptococcus, and in the prevention or treatment of complications of these diseases, notably streptococcic meningitis, peritonitis and suppurative arthritis. Present studies indicate that this drug is useful in the treatment of gono coccic infections. In some cases, the results have been most striking, while in others the drug has not proved especially ef ficacious. In this connection, it is well to note that the reactions following the administration of the drug are at least occasionally of a serious nature. (See be low.) It has also been used in the treat ment of gonorrheal vulvovaginitis in young girls, but recovery from the con dition has not always been permanent with this agent. The literature also in dicated usefulness in meningococcic infections and possibly gas bacillus infec 987
986
With the beginning of the fall term for 1939-40, the Membership Committee is ambitious to enroll a larger proportion of eligible juniors than ever before. The type of men who are now entering dentistry is such that they should as early as possible find their niche in dentistry to the end that they may not only contribute to the advancement of the profession but also become qualified to benefit in full measure from all that dentistry offers to the novitiate.
OBITUARY R. WALTER STARR (1864-1939) R. W a l t e r S t a r r was born in Phila delphia June 30, 1864, of Irish-Quaker ancestors; ,a descendant of two genera tions of dentists. Elmer Jefferies, his maternal grandfather, was a prominent dentist of Wilmington, Del., and Eli T. Starr, his father, a practicing dentist of Philadelphia, and a prolific inventor of mechanical aids to dentistry. Dr. Starr’s early education was ob tained in the Friends School of West Philadelphia and in the Hastings Acad emy. He entered the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1883, and from this institution he re ceived the D.D.S. degree. He was in advance of the average graduate because of his early interests and the influence of his father and grandfather. The year following his graduation, he introduced to the profession the first removable bridge with telescope crowns.1 Dr. Starr taught privately and in den tal colleges, his students coming from nearly every section of the country. He gave many clinics in Europe, notably in Berlin, Bremen, Paris and London. From 1891 until 1897, Dr. Starr was demon strator of crown and bridge work in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He was one of the principal organizers of the Dental Department of the MedicoChirurgical College in 1897, and served 1. D . Cosmos, 28:209, April 1886.
as the first dean and professor of crown and bridge work. He resigned this posi tion the following year, as the college work interfered with his large practice. On reorganization of the faculty of the Dental Department of the MedicoChirurgical College in 1906, Dr. Starr was induced to accept the chair of clin ical dentistry, orthodontia and crown and bridge work, a position which he held for ten years, until the college was taken over by the University of Penn sylvania. He was a teacher of the highest order and an unusually talented cli nician. To those who had the privilege of witnessing his work, it seemed little short of marvelous. Dr. Starr had a genial and generous personality and a delightful sense of humor, and was blessed with rugged health. In his younger days, he took an active interest in a number of sports, boxing, wrestling, golf, marksmanship and boating. He was the first commo dore of the Corinthian Yacht Club at Cape May, N. J., holding this office from 1912 to 1915, and a member of the Union League of Philadelphia. and the Philadelphia Country Club and various orders of Masonry. Dr. Starr was married to Cora Sin clair, of Kennet, Pa., who preceded him in death. His death occurred on Wed nesday, April 5, at his home, 1812 Pine Street. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Carl B. Rauterberg, a son, Dr. R. Walter Starr, Jr., and three grandchildren.
COUNCIL ON DENTAL THERAPEUTICS T h e dental profession’s interest in sulfanilamide prompted the preparation and publica tion of the informative article by Kanthak and Pickering.1 Since the time of this publica tion, the enormous amount of work done on sulfanilamide has necessitated certain revisions of views on the properties and actions of this drug. The available evidence in the dental literature is still apparently insufficient for determination of the usefulness of sulfanilamide in dentistry. The following status report on sulfanilamide, prepared by the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry and its consultants,2 has been adopted by the Council on Dental Therapeutics as representing an accurate appraisal of this drug on the basis of available evidence. The Council has authorized publication of this report with due acknowledgment of its appreciation to the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry. H a r o l d L. H a n se n , Secretary.
SULFANILAMIDE* a c t io n s a n d u s e s
Originally, it was reported that sul fanilamide acts against Lancefield’s group A strains of the hemolytic streptococcus by virtue of an apparently specific effect on these organisms. More recent clinical evidence suggests that the action of this chemical may affect other organisms, es pecially certain gram-negative cocci. The evidence suggests that its action may be antibacterial. Experimental evidence in dicates that at least one action of sul fanilamide (and possibly the only one of importance) is to render serum, spinal fluid, urine and other tissue fluids un favorable as mediums for supporting the active multiplication of susceptible bac teria. In consequence, tissue invasion by these organisms may be prevented, pro duction of toxic substances reduced, and the antibacterial mechanisms of the host *See New and Nonofficial Remedies 1938, p. 450.
1. K a n t h a k , F. F., and P i c k e r i n g , P. F.: Sulfanilamide: Review of Clinical and Ex perimental Work on Its Therapeutic Proper ties. J.A.D .A., 25:1474, September 1938. 2. J .A .M .A ., 112:733, February 25, 1939. Jour. A .D .A., Vol. 26, June 1939
are permitted to complete the recovery from infection. Sulfanilamide has been used primarily in infections due to beta-hemolytic strep tococci, especially in the treatment of puerperal fever, erysipelas, hemolytic streptococcus septicemia, streptococcic sore throat and surgical infections with the hemolytic streptococcus, and in the prevention or treatment of complications of these diseases, notably streptococcic meningitis, peritonitis and suppurative arthritis. Present studies indicate that this drug is useful in the treatment of gono coccic infections. In some cases, the results have been most striking, while in others the drug has not proved especially ef ficacious. In this connection, it is well to note that the reactions following the administration of the drug are at least occasionally of a serious nature. (See be low.) It has also been used in the treat ment of gonorrheal vulvovaginitis in young girls, but recovery from the con dition has not always been permanent with this agent. The literature also in dicated usefulness in meningococcic infections and possibly gas bacillus infec 987