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Organized Dentistry and the 1934 Meeting.
T h e J o u r n a l o f th e A m e r ic a n D e n ta l A s s o c ia tio n 212 East Superior St., Chicago, 111.
C . N . J o h n s o n , E d ito r N e w t o n G . T h o m a s , A ssociate E d ito r Published by the American Dental Association All expressions of opinions and all statements of supposed facts are published on the authority of the writers over whose signature they appear, and are not to be regarded as expressing the views of the American Dental Association, unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the Association. Communications intended for publication in the scientific or literary pages of T h e J o u r n a l should be addressed to the Editor. All advertising or business matter should be sent to the Business Manager. Subscription is included in the annual membership dues. The subscription rate to non members is $3.50 a year in advance, this rate applying to both domestic and foreign sub scribers. All foreign subscriptions are to be paid in United States money.
E d ito r ia ls
ORGANIZED DENTISTRY AND THE 1934 MEETING T h e g r e a te st h o p e o f th e p r o fe ssio n lie s in o r g a n iz e d d en tistry. I n th e d a y s b e fo r e w e h ad o r g a n iz a tio n s, th e r e w e r e ce rta in m en w h o s e n a tiv e a b ility ca r ried th em b ey o n d th e ran k and file o f th eir fe llo w s , and w h o se n a m es stan d o u t as b ea co n lig h t s o f d en ta l p r o g ress ev e n to th is d ay, b u t th e y w e r e so fe w in n u m b e r th a t th ey co u ld be co u n ted on th e fin g ers o f o n e hand. T h e m o m e n t th a t o r g a n iz a tio n s started to g e t u n d er w a y , the n am es o f p r o g r e ssiv e m en m u ltip lie d in e n c o u r a g in g ratio, and d en tistr y b eg a n to tak e on p r o fe ssio n a l status. F r o m th at tim e till n ow , d e n tistr y has s te a d ily a d v a n c ed in u n iso n w ith th e g r o w th o f ou r o r g a n iz a tio n s, and it is o n ly by v ir tu e o f th ese o r g a n iz a tio n s th a t th e p r o fe ssio n w i l l co n tin u e to r e g iste r th e g re a test ad van ce. B y co m m o n con sen t, th e su p r em e and o u tsta n d in g d en ta l o r g a n iz a tio n o f th is co u n try is o u r o w n A m e r ic a n D e n ta l A sso c ia tio n , and its a n n u a l m e e tin g s m a y th e r e fo r e be a c c o u n te d th e m ile p o sts Jour. A.D.A., July, 1934
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on th e w a y o f o u r p r o fe ssio n a l p ro g ress. T h e c o m in g m e e tin g in A u g u s t p r o m ise s to b e o f u n u su a l ca lib e r . T h e P r e sid e n t, D r . A . C. W h e r r y , h as b een fo r m o n th s d e v o tin g m u c h o f h is tim e tow ard co n s e r v in g th e b est in terests o f th e A s so c ia tio n , and h e lp in g to b u ild a p r o g r a m th a t w i l l be m ost a ttra ctiv e. H e h as tr a v e le d e x te n s iv e ly g e ttin g an in tim a te lin e on th e p r e se n t n eed s o f th e o r g a n iz a tio n and th e p ro fe ssio n , and h e is in e v e r y w a y q u a lifie d to in te r p r e t th ese n eed s fo r th e b en efit o f th e A sso c ia tio n . T h e o th e r officers are a ll w o r k in g to g e th e r w ith a w ill, as w e ll as th e v a r io u s co m m itte em en , th e c h a ir m e n o f th e section s, th e c lin ic ia n s, etc. I n a d d itio n to th e n a m es o f th e m e n w h o are to a d d ress th e g en er a l sessio n s as g iv e n in o u r J u n e issu e, th e P r e s id e n t h a s secu red th e a tten d a n ce o f D r . F r e d e r ic k C . W a r n sh u is, o f G ra n d R a p id s, M ic h ., as an essayist. D r . W a r n sh u is is p e r m a n e n t sp ea k er o f th e h o u se o f d e le g a te s o f th e A m e r ic a n M e d ic a l A sso c ia tio n , and an a sso cia te e d ito r o f its jou rn al. H e w i l l p rese n t th e A .M .A . sid e o f e c o n o m ic s and p ra ctic e, and h is a d d ress sh o u ld e lic it u n iv er sa l in terest. A s an in d ic a tio n o f th e a c tiv itie s a m o n g th e se c tio n ch a irm en , th e f o llo w in g sta tem en ts w ill be e n lig h te n in g : F o r th e S e c tio n on M o u th H y g ie n e and P r e v e n tiv e D e n tistr y , su ch to p ic s w i l l b e p resen ted as a sy m p o siu m on p u b lic h ea lth , c o n sistin g o f s ix tw e n ty -m in u te p a p e rs; p u lp le s s d e c id u o u s teeth — to ex tra ct, o r to tr ea t; c o n d u c tiv e a n esth esia fo r c h ild r e n , and th e d en ta l ca re o f c h ild r e n g e n e r a lly . T h e S e c tio n on F u ll D e n tu r e P r o sth e sis w i l l d e a l w ith th e b io lo g ic and te c h n ic a l p hases, as w e ll as r id g e p r e p a r a tio n , and th e v a r io u s b ase m a teria ls. T h e S e c tio n on P e r io d o n tia w i l l c o n stitu te w h a t r e a lly am ou n ts to a p o stg r a d u a te co u rse fo r th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r as w e ll as th e p e r io d o n tist, ta k in g in a ll p h ases o f d ise a se o f th e su p p o r tin g str u c tu res o f th e teeth . T h e S e c tio n on P a r tia l D e n tu r e P ro sth e sis has g a th e r e d th e best a v a ila b le ta le n t fr o m a ll corn ers o f o u r o w n co u n try as w e ll as fr o m C a n a d a an d M e x ic o . T h e S e c tio n on O ra l S u rg ery , E x o d o n tia and A n e s th e s ia , w h ic h w i l l in tere st in p a r tic u la r th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r , is ro u n d ed o u t
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b y a m o v in g p ic tu r e b y G e o r g e B . W in t e r on “ R e m o v a l o f th e M a n d ib u la r T h ir d M o la r .” T h e S e c tio n on H is to lo g y , P h y s io lo g y , P a th o lo g y , B a c te r io lo g y and C h e m is tr y w i l l d e a l m o stly w ith resea rch p r o je c ts o f p a r tic u la r in tere st at th e p rese n t tim e. T h e S e c tio n on O p e r a tiv e D e n tistr y , M a te r ia M e d ic a and T h e r a p e u tic s w i l l h a v e as its c h ie f th em e a b a la n c e d p r o g r a m in k e e p in g w ith th e m o st p r o g r e ss iv e th o u g h t o f th e h o u r on th e se su b jects by m en o f p r o m in e n c e in th e p ro fe ssio n . T h e S e c tio n on O rth o d o n tia a lw a y s co m es in fo r m o r e th an th e o r d in a r y in terest, and m a n ife stly th e c h ie f a p p e a l is to th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r , th o u g h th e n eed s o f th e s p e c ia lis t w i l l n ot b e fo r g o tten . W ith a p r o g r a m su ch as this, and also as in d ic a te d in g re a ter d e ta il in th e p rese n t issu e, th er e sh o u ld be e v e r y in c e n tiv e fo r a v er y la r g e a tten d a n ce at th e m e e tin g in St. P a u l. I t is tru e th at e v e r y m e m b e r o f th e A s so c ia tio n r e c e iv e s f u ll v a lu e fo r th e m o n ey h e p a y s in d ues, ev e n th o u g h h e d oes n ot atten d th e m e e tin g s ; b u t th e a cm e o f a sso c ia tiv e su ccess and r e c o m p e n se is a c h ie v e d o n ly w h e n ea c h m e m b e r a v a ils h im s e lf o f th e p r iv ile g e o f a tte n d in g th e m e e tin g s in p erson . T h e r e is so m e th in g m o r e th a n w o r th w h ile in th e h e a r ty h a n d cla sp s a m o n g fr ie n d s ; in th e m e e tin g o f close asso cia tes w h o h a v e w o r k e d to g e th e r fo r y ea r s; in th e w e lc o m e o f n e w r e cru its— ah, h ere is a th r ill and a p r iv ile g e in c o m p a r a b le w ith any o th er— and in th e s m a ll g ro u p c o n fe r e n c e s a ro u n d th e h o te ls and m e e tin g p la c e s, w h e r e in tim a te d isc u ssio n s a re h e ld o v e r th e v a rio u s p r o b le m s th a t assail th e p r a c titio n e r in e v e r y d a y e x p e r i en ce. M e n o f ev e r y te n d e n c y and te m p e r a m e n t m a y find a m p le o u tle t fo r th e ir im p u lse s, and a m p le rew ard fo r th e ir efforts by a tte n d in g ou r a n n u a l m eetin g s.
C o m e to S t. P a u l , A u g u s t 6 -1 0!
THE DANGER OF DEMORALIZATION T h e r e sp o n sib le e le m e n t o f th e A m e r ic a n p e o p le m a y a lw a y s be r e lie d on to m e e t any e m e r g e n c y th at co m es to th em . A s a n ation , w e m a k e m ista k es in co m m o n w ith e v e r y o th e r n a tio n — su ch seem s
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to b e th e p r o p e n s ity o f o u r p o o r h u m a n lim ita tio n s — b u t in th e es se n tia ls o f o u r in d iv id u a l and c o m m u n ity lif e , th e co r e o f th e A m e r ic a n c h a ra c ter w i l l a lw a y s be fo u n d so u n d and e m in e n tly sane and tru stw o rth y . H a d n ot th is b een true, o u r n a tio n w o u ld n ev er h a v e a scen d ed to its p rese n t p la c e in th e su n in th e p e r io d o f a cen tu ry and a h a lf. T h e test o f v ir ilit y co m es in th e p r e se n c e o f c a la m ity and tria l. P r o v id e d a p e o p le are sta b le at h eart, th e ir m o r a l fib er is m o r e c lo s e ly k n it b y a d v ersity . T h e fa b r ic o f a n a tio n ’s c h a r a c te r is, a fter a ll, w o v e n in th e w a r p and w o o f o f tr ia l and error, o f fa ilu r e and su ccess, o f b itte r d e fe a t and w h o le s o m e tr iu m p h . W ith o u t th e le a v e n in g lu m p o f e x p e r ie n c e o f a ll k in d s, a p e o p le can n ev er be raised to th e f u ll sta tu re o f n a tio n a l greatn ess. R e a l g ra n d eu r w h e th e r o f m e n o r o f n a tio n s co m es o n ly th r o u g h an a le m b ic d is tille d fr o m th e a c h in g h earts o f h u m a n ity . T h is c o u n try h as p assed th r o u g h m a n y p e r io d s o f storm and stress, and ea c h o n e has le f t its scars o f b a ttle, an d ea c h its fr u its o f g r a tify in g a c h ie v e m e n t. T o g o no fa r th er th a n th e recen t e c o n o m ic u p set, w e are b e g in n in g to v is u a liz e so m e th in g o f th e sa n ctity o f w h o le s o m e sa c r ific e ; and u n less w e h a v e a care, w e sh a ll also reap in o u r p r o fe s sio n a l ranks certain o f th e b itte r fr u its o f a d isastrou s d e m o r a liz a tio n . W it h e v e r y la u d a b le in c e n tiv e , th er e co m es th e p en a lty , or at le a st th e p o s s ib ility , o f d o in g h arm . G o o d in te n tio n s are a lw a y s p ra ise w o r th y , b u t g o o d in ten tio n s are n o t p r o o f a g a in st in ju r io u s or u n to w a rd results. W h e n th e n eed b eca m e a p p a ren t th at th e te eth o f th e in d ig e n t m u st be ca red fo r re g a rd le ss o f th e ir a b ility to p ay, a ll sorts o f p la n s w e r e p ro p o sed to m e et th e e m erg e n c y . W it h h o n esty o f p u r p ose, b u t w ith a w o f u l la c k o f v isio n , c e rta in p o lic ie s w e r e ad v o ca ted that, as fa r as th e ir en d resu lts w e r e co n ce rn ed , w e r e little sh o rt o f p e r n ic io u s. T h e first p r in c ip le o f an y d en ta l cr eed th at sh o u ld be la id d o w n in an in d u str ia l e m e r g e n c y o f th is k in d is o f cou rse th a t no p erso n , h o w e v e r p oor, sh o u ld b e a llo w e d to su ffer from to o th a ch e. T o o m a n y in d iv id u a ls h a v e b een e d u c a te d in d en tistry in th is la n d o f ou rs to m ak e it n ecessa ry to w ith h o ld r e lie f fro m p a in a sso cia te d w ith th e teeth . T h is is a x io m a tic and th ere sh o u ld
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b e no q u ib b le a b o u t it. P a r tic u la r ly in th e case o f lit t le c h ild r e n , and th e a g e d and in firm , th ere sh o u ld n e v e r b e an y q u e stio n raised as to a b ility to p a y w h e n it co m es to r e lie f. T h e im p u ls e s o f th e h ea rts o f th e d en ta l p r o fe ssio n m a y be r e lie d on to see th at no h u m a n b e in g s h a ll be p e r m itte d to su ffer p a in fr o m a ffectio n s o f th e teeth . A n d it m a y be sa id in p a ssin g th at th is has a lw a y s b een tru e ev er sin c e w e h a d a p ro fe ssio n . B u t th e r e is a n o th er sid e to th e p ic tu r e , and it is a certa in p h a se o f th is s id e to w h ic h w e sh o u ld lik e to c a ll a tten tio n at th is tim e. In d o in g th is, w e run th e risk o f r a isin g a h u e and cry o f “m a n ’s in h u m a n ity to m a n ,” b u t w e sh a ll n ot d o th e su b je c t fu ll ju stice w ith o u t at le a st m e n tio n o f th e d a n g e r o f d e m o r a liz a tio n fr o m in d is c r im in a te c h a r ity ev en in th e case o f an e m e r g e n c y su ch as w e h a v e ju st b een fa c in g . I t is a w e ll-k n o w n and o ft-r e p e a te d fa c t th at a n y th in g th a t sap s th e m o r a le o r b reak s d o w n th e in d e p e n d e n c e o f a m an o r o f a n a tio n is bad, and th e m o m e n t th a t any a b le -b o d ie d in d iv id u a l a c c e p ts s o m e th in g fo r n o th in g , th a t m o m e n t th er e b e g in s in th a t in d iv id u a l a m o r a l d isin te g r a tio n th at starts h im str a ig h tw a y to w a rd d e p e n d e n c y and p a u p er ism . N o t o n ly th at, b u t th e ab uses th a t so m e tim e s creep in to th e m o st la u d a b le efforts to a d m in iste r aid u n d er an e m e r g e n c y are so n o to r io u sly fla g ra n t th a t th e y m u st g iv e us p a u se and m a k e us r e flect on w h a t w e are d o in g . I n th e A p r il 3 , 1 9 3 4 , issu e o f th e B u l l e t i n o f th e S e a tt le D i s tr i c t D e n t a l S o c ie ty , w e see th e fo llo w in g : “T o o m u c h B r o th e r ly L o v e — P h i la d e lp h ia m a y be th e C ity o f B r o th e r ly L o v e , b ut, in th e o p in io n o f M a y o r M o o r e , it h as g o n e too fa r w ith its b ig -h e a rte d n ess. ‘I t s im p ly ca n n o t la st m u ch lo n g e r ,’ th e M a y o r to ld P h ila d e lp h ia C o u n ty M e d ic a l S o c ie ty m e m b ers at a recen t g a th e r in g to c o n sid e r th e q u e stio n o f state m e d ic in e . ‘F r e e m e d ic a l, d en ta l, and h o sp ita l s e r v ic e is b e in g d em a n d ed and r e c e iv e d b y m a n y su p p o se d ly d e s ti tu te w h o are, as a m a tter o f fa ct, b etter d ressed th an I, and so m e o f w h o m d ie and le a v e su b sta n tia l estates to th e ir r e la tiv e s !’ ” R e c o g n iz in g a ll o f th is, so m e o f o u r w e ll-in te n tio n e d b u t im p r a c tic a l p h ila n th r o p is ts o f th e re cen t p a st h a v e so u g h t to m e e t th e situ a tio n b y a d v o c a tin g th e esta b lish m e n t o f w h a t are term ed lo w fe e c lin ic s. A n d in d o in g th is th ey h a v e u n w ittin g ly in a u g u r a te d th e p o s s ib ility o f m u c h h arm . T h e p r in c ip le o f lo w fe es in an e m e r
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g e n c y lik e th is m a y b e p r a ise w o r th y , b u t th e p r o p a g a n d a is p e r n ic io u s. In th e m in d s o f th e p e o p le , th e v a lu e o f d en ta l se r v ic e b ears so m e r e la tio n to th e fe e s th at are c h a r g e d fo r th is serv ice, and to h e r a ld to th e p u b lic a fe e b ill o f su c h a r id ic u lo u sly lo w o rd er as so m e th a t h a v e b een p u b lish e d is n o th in g sh o rt o f d e g r a d in g to th e d ig n ity o f th e p ro fe ssio n . T o p u b lish th e fa c t th at as d ifficu lt an o p e r a tio n as m a y b e in v o lv e d in th e ex tr a c tio n o f a tooth, to say n o th in g o f th e in se rtio n o f a fillin g , co m m a n d s a fe e o f o n ly 2 5 cents, p a r tic u la r ly in a n y m e tr o p o lita n area, is ak in to o ffe r in g an in s u lt to th e r e p u ta tio n o f d en tistry. L e t us tak e care o f th e p oor and u n fo rtu n a te to th e best o f o u r a b ility , as w e h a v e a lw a y s b een w illin g to do in th e p a st, te m p e r in g th e w in d to th e sh o rn la m b , b u t le t us n o t d ra g th e f a ir n am e o f o u r c a llin g in th e m ir e by le a v in g the in fe r e n c e th a t w e a r e u n w o r th y o f a re co m p en se less th an th at o f a d ay la b o r e r m in u s a n y brains. A s a m a tter o f p la in fa ct, th er e has a lw a y s b een too m u ch ta lk a b o u t fe e s in o u r p ro fe ssio n , and it h as in ju r e d us in th e estim a te o f th e p u b lic . F o r a lo n g tim e, w e w e r e trea ted to a con stan t e x p lo ita tio n o f th e fe e q u estio n , and ou r lite r a tu r e w a s fille d w ith d is cu ssio n s on fe e s . In th e h e y -d a y o f h ig h fin an ce, so m e m em b ers o f th e p r o fe s sio n p r id e d th e m se lv e s on th e g r o te sq u e fe es th ey w e r e r e c e iv in g , till it b eg a n to be a b y -w o rd in th e la n d , a ll o f w h ic h re flected s e r io u s ly on th e re p u ta tio n o f th e p ro fe ssio n . N o w le t us n o t go to th e o th e r e x trem e o f b e littlin g o u rselv es by p u b lis h in g e stim a te s fo r p r o fe ssio n a l co m p e n sa tio n th a t w ill m in i m iz e an y in c e n tiv e fo r p e r fo r m in g a r e p u ta b le class o f serv ice. I f, in certa in in sta n c es, w e e le c t to w o r k fo r a m e a g e r fe e, th at sh o u ld be o u r p r iv ile g e , but le t us n o t h e r a ld to th e w o r ld a m ea su re o f rew a rd fo r o u r ser v ic es th a t is r e la tiv e ly b e lo w a m e r e p a u p e r ’s p itta n ce.
THE FINAL PARAGRAPH A su m m a ry , c o n c lu sio n s, a te r m in a l ab stract m a y n ot b e reg a rd ed as essen tia l to a s c ie n tific p a p e r, b u t it is a tr em e n d o u s co n v en ien ce, and m o re th a n a co n v en ien ce. M o st o f th e trea tises th at co m e to T h e J o u r n a l — to a ll d en ta l jo u rn a ls— are n ot su m m a r iz e d ,
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g iv e no co n clu sio n s, a p p e n d no ab stract. P e r h a p s w r ite r s reg a rd su ch as u n n ecessa ry a p p e n d a g es, ad d ed b u r d e n s to a w o r k e r a lr e a d y o v e r lo a d e d , a w a ste o f tim e. A f t e r th e la b o r o.f m on th s, c o lle c tin g , a ssa y in g , e v a lu a tin g , a p la c e to stop in th e d ista ste fu l p ro ce ss o f w r it in g is w e lc o m e . T h is is e a sily u n d er sta n d a b le. M a n y in sta n ces co m e to m in d to p ro v e th a t a su m m a ry m a y b e o f v a lu e . I n th e first p la c e , a p a ra g ra p h o f su m m a tio n w o u ld sh o w to th e w r ite r h im s e lf h o w clea r, c o n se c u tiv e , lo g ic a l h e h as been. A s a test fo r th e w o r th o f th e p a p e r, b e fo r e it le a v e s th e h a n d s o f th e a u th o r, it m a y h a v e a d isq u ie tin g o r c o m fo r tin g effect. T h e fin al p a r a g r a p h m a y w e ll say, “N o t q u ite re a d y ,” b eca u se it has p r o v e d h a rd to w r ite or, “W e l l d o n e ,” b e c a u se o f its easy statem en t. I t is sa id th a t so m e p a p e rs w i l l n o t s u b m it to su m m a ry o r abstract. T h e r e a p p e a r p a p e rs c o n ta in in g v a st t h e o r iz in g u p o n th e fr o n tie r o f so m e d o m a in . T h e y d e a l in a lg e b r a ic fo r m u la s , s h o w in g th e far w a n d e r in g o f th e a u th o r’s m in d , b u t a re u tte r ly u n in te llig ib le to th e m a jo r ity o f m en . In su ch in stan ces, i t m ig h t be th a t th e w r ite r has m ista k en h is a u d ie n c e and th e e d ito r h as s lip p e d in a d m ittin g th e p a p e r to a jo u rn a l fo r g e n e r a l r e a d in g . I t is so m e tim e s o b v io u s th a t th e a u th o r has sp o k en too soon, b e fo r e h is m a teria l h as c la rifie d to h is o w n m in d . T h e r e is no c o lle c tib le p r e c ip ita te . T h e n , to o , a su m m a ry m a y stir a d eep a p p r e c ia tio n in th e m in d o f th e rea d er b eca u se it g a th er s in to a c o m p a c t b u n d le th e fin d in gs, d e c la r a tio n s, d e d u c tio n s th at o th e r w ise h e w o u ld h a v e h ad to sea rch o u t a g a in in o rd er to fix th em in h is m e m o r y . A m an reads a p a p e r fo r th e e n jo y m e n t o f in stru ctio n , w ith a s e n se o f fillin g h is m e n ta l coffers w ith th e c o in o f so m e p a r tic u la r re a lm . I n th e su m m a ry , h e cou n ts h is g a in s and listen s to th e j in g le o f th e co in s th a t h e has g a th e r e d in h is p ock et. B u t th e a p p e n d e d su m m a ry , c o n c lu sio n s, ab stract are m o r e than a cou rtesy. I t m u st n ot be fo r g o tte n th at a ll w r itin g s are fo r read ers, are m e a n t to in c rea se in tere st in a g iv e n field . M a n y m en scan a r tic le s fo r ca tch lin e s to see i f th e w h o le m a y b e in tere stin g , sk im th e c o lu m n s fo r p h rases th at p ro tru d e, a r r e st atten tio n and assure h im th a t th e w h o le is w o r th h is tim e. H o w m u ch ea sier it w o u ld be to read th e fin al p a ra g ra p h fo r th is p u r p o s e ! C a u g h t b y th e p u n g e n t sta tem en ts th ere, th e re a d e r says, “ I ’l l read a ll o f th é
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p a p e r and see h o w th e w r ite r a tta in ed th o se c o n c lu sio n s.” T h u s, th e su m m a ry in v ite s th e rea d er to g o on a p ro fita b le jou rn ey. F in a lly , a ll a r tic le s p u b lis h e d in th e le a d in g jo u rn a ls are a b stra cted so m e w h e re. S o m e A m e r ic a n jo u rn a ls ab stract fr o m o th er A m e r ic a n jo u rn a ls q u ite fr e e ly , f o llo w in g a lo o se m e th o d o f s e le c tio n . T h e re su lt is n o t a lw a y s g r a t if y in g to th e m e n w h o w r o te th e p a p ers. A b stra c ts in o u r h o m e jo u rn a ls are n o t a lw a y s w e ll d one, fo r th e reason, p erh a p s, th at no jo u rn a l has p u t ab stracts a b ove th e ran k o f fillers. O u r jo u rn a ls do n o t ta k e thq fu n c tio n o f th e ab stra ct ser io u sly . A n d d en ta l o ffic ia ld o m h as co n sid e red it n ot at a ll. F o r e ig n jo u rn a ls h a v e th e la n g u a g e d ifficu lty to co n ten d w ith , and tra n sla tio n s m a y sh o w su r p r is in g v a r ia tio n s fr o m th e o r ig in a l text. T h e b r ie f, p o in te d c o n c lu sio n s o f th e a u th o r le n d th e m se lv e s to tr a n sla tio n m u ch m o re r e a d ily th an th e m o re c o m p lic a te d form s o f th e a rg u m en t. A su m m a ry w o u ld ease th e p a th o f th e ab stractor, w h e th e r d o m e stic o r fo r e ig n , and an ab stract m a d e b y th e au th ors w o u ld b e a b e n e fa c tio n to su ch w ork ers. S u m m a ry , co n clu sio n s, ab stracts h a v e b een u sed r e la tiv e ly in th is trea tise, n o t b eca u se th e y are th o u g h t o f as syn on ym s, b u t b eca u se th e y le n d th e m se lv e s to in d u c e m e n t o f th e reader, fin al em p h a sis, u n d e r sta n d in g o f th e ab stractor and ju stic e to th e w r iter. O b v io u sly no o n e can ab stract an a r tic le so w e ll as th e m an w h o w r o te it. T.
THE AMERICAN DENTAL FOUNDATION In p r e v io u s issues, w e h a v e c a lle d a tten tio n to th e g re a t d e sir a b ility o f b u ild in g a fo u n d a tio n in th e d en ta l p r o fe ssio n fo r th e b en efit o f p ro jects w o r th y o f th e c o n sid e r a tio n o f a ll g o o d m en. T h e o b je c tiv e s w e r e o u tlin e d in a p r e v io u s issu e (M a r c h , 1 9 3 3 ), and w h a t w e n o w h a v e in m in d is to u r g e a ll o f th o se w h o h a v e m a d e w ills (a n d a ll se n sib le m en m a k e w ills ) to add a c o d ic il in str u c tin g th e ex e c u to r to p a y o u t o f th e estate a ce rta in su m , g re a t o r sm a ll, to th e A m e r ic a n D e n ta l F o u n d a tio n . T h e w o r th in e ss o f th is p r o je c t ca n n o t be q u e stio n e d , and it is lik e ly th a t th er e are m an y o f o u r d en tists w h o w o u ld r e a lly lik e to add su ch a c o d ic il if th e id e a ev e r o cc u r red to th em . H e r e is th e rem in d er.
C . N . J o h n s o n , E d ito r N e w t o n G . T h o m a s , A ssociate E d ito r Published by the American Dental Association All expressions of opinions and all statements of supposed facts are published on the authority of the writers over whose signature they appear, and are not to be regarded as expressing the views of the American Dental Association, unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the Association. Communications intended for publication in the scientific or literary pages of T h e J o u r n a l should be addressed to the Editor. All advertising or business matter should be sent to the Business Manager. Subscription is included in the annual membership dues. The subscription rate to non members is $3.50 a year in advance, this rate applying to both domestic and foreign sub scribers. All foreign subscriptions are to be paid in United States money.
E d ito r ia ls
ORGANIZED DENTISTRY AND THE 1934 MEETING T h e g r e a te st h o p e o f th e p r o fe ssio n lie s in o r g a n iz e d d en tistry. I n th e d a y s b e fo r e w e h ad o r g a n iz a tio n s, th e r e w e r e ce rta in m en w h o s e n a tiv e a b ility ca r ried th em b ey o n d th e ran k and file o f th eir fe llo w s , and w h o se n a m es stan d o u t as b ea co n lig h t s o f d en ta l p r o g ress ev e n to th is d ay, b u t th e y w e r e so fe w in n u m b e r th a t th ey co u ld be co u n ted on th e fin g ers o f o n e hand. T h e m o m e n t th a t o r g a n iz a tio n s started to g e t u n d er w a y , the n am es o f p r o g r e ssiv e m en m u ltip lie d in e n c o u r a g in g ratio, and d en tistr y b eg a n to tak e on p r o fe ssio n a l status. F r o m th at tim e till n ow , d e n tistr y has s te a d ily a d v a n c ed in u n iso n w ith th e g r o w th o f ou r o r g a n iz a tio n s, and it is o n ly by v ir tu e o f th ese o r g a n iz a tio n s th a t th e p r o fe ssio n w i l l co n tin u e to r e g iste r th e g re a test ad van ce. B y co m m o n con sen t, th e su p r em e and o u tsta n d in g d en ta l o r g a n iz a tio n o f th is co u n try is o u r o w n A m e r ic a n D e n ta l A sso c ia tio n , and its a n n u a l m e e tin g s m a y th e r e fo r e be a c c o u n te d th e m ile p o sts Jour. A.D.A., July, 1934
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on th e w a y o f o u r p r o fe ssio n a l p ro g ress. T h e c o m in g m e e tin g in A u g u s t p r o m ise s to b e o f u n u su a l ca lib e r . T h e P r e sid e n t, D r . A . C. W h e r r y , h as b een fo r m o n th s d e v o tin g m u c h o f h is tim e tow ard co n s e r v in g th e b est in terests o f th e A s so c ia tio n , and h e lp in g to b u ild a p r o g r a m th a t w i l l be m ost a ttra ctiv e. H e h as tr a v e le d e x te n s iv e ly g e ttin g an in tim a te lin e on th e p r e se n t n eed s o f th e o r g a n iz a tio n and th e p ro fe ssio n , and h e is in e v e r y w a y q u a lifie d to in te r p r e t th ese n eed s fo r th e b en efit o f th e A sso c ia tio n . T h e o th e r officers are a ll w o r k in g to g e th e r w ith a w ill, as w e ll as th e v a r io u s co m m itte em en , th e c h a ir m e n o f th e section s, th e c lin ic ia n s, etc. I n a d d itio n to th e n a m es o f th e m e n w h o are to a d d ress th e g en er a l sessio n s as g iv e n in o u r J u n e issu e, th e P r e s id e n t h a s secu red th e a tten d a n ce o f D r . F r e d e r ic k C . W a r n sh u is, o f G ra n d R a p id s, M ic h ., as an essayist. D r . W a r n sh u is is p e r m a n e n t sp ea k er o f th e h o u se o f d e le g a te s o f th e A m e r ic a n M e d ic a l A sso c ia tio n , and an a sso cia te e d ito r o f its jou rn al. H e w i l l p rese n t th e A .M .A . sid e o f e c o n o m ic s and p ra ctic e, and h is a d d ress sh o u ld e lic it u n iv er sa l in terest. A s an in d ic a tio n o f th e a c tiv itie s a m o n g th e se c tio n ch a irm en , th e f o llo w in g sta tem en ts w ill be e n lig h te n in g : F o r th e S e c tio n on M o u th H y g ie n e and P r e v e n tiv e D e n tistr y , su ch to p ic s w i l l b e p resen ted as a sy m p o siu m on p u b lic h ea lth , c o n sistin g o f s ix tw e n ty -m in u te p a p e rs; p u lp le s s d e c id u o u s teeth — to ex tra ct, o r to tr ea t; c o n d u c tiv e a n esth esia fo r c h ild r e n , and th e d en ta l ca re o f c h ild r e n g e n e r a lly . T h e S e c tio n on F u ll D e n tu r e P r o sth e sis w i l l d e a l w ith th e b io lo g ic and te c h n ic a l p hases, as w e ll as r id g e p r e p a r a tio n , and th e v a r io u s b ase m a teria ls. T h e S e c tio n on P e r io d o n tia w i l l c o n stitu te w h a t r e a lly am ou n ts to a p o stg r a d u a te co u rse fo r th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r as w e ll as th e p e r io d o n tist, ta k in g in a ll p h ases o f d ise a se o f th e su p p o r tin g str u c tu res o f th e teeth . T h e S e c tio n on P a r tia l D e n tu r e P ro sth e sis has g a th e r e d th e best a v a ila b le ta le n t fr o m a ll corn ers o f o u r o w n co u n try as w e ll as fr o m C a n a d a an d M e x ic o . T h e S e c tio n on O ra l S u rg ery , E x o d o n tia and A n e s th e s ia , w h ic h w i l l in tere st in p a r tic u la r th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r , is ro u n d ed o u t
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b y a m o v in g p ic tu r e b y G e o r g e B . W in t e r on “ R e m o v a l o f th e M a n d ib u la r T h ir d M o la r .” T h e S e c tio n on H is to lo g y , P h y s io lo g y , P a th o lo g y , B a c te r io lo g y and C h e m is tr y w i l l d e a l m o stly w ith resea rch p r o je c ts o f p a r tic u la r in tere st at th e p rese n t tim e. T h e S e c tio n on O p e r a tiv e D e n tistr y , M a te r ia M e d ic a and T h e r a p e u tic s w i l l h a v e as its c h ie f th em e a b a la n c e d p r o g r a m in k e e p in g w ith th e m o st p r o g r e ss iv e th o u g h t o f th e h o u r on th e se su b jects by m en o f p r o m in e n c e in th e p ro fe ssio n . T h e S e c tio n on O rth o d o n tia a lw a y s co m es in fo r m o r e th an th e o r d in a r y in terest, and m a n ife stly th e c h ie f a p p e a l is to th e g e n e r a l p r a c titio n e r , th o u g h th e n eed s o f th e s p e c ia lis t w i l l n ot b e fo r g o tten . W ith a p r o g r a m su ch as this, and also as in d ic a te d in g re a ter d e ta il in th e p rese n t issu e, th er e sh o u ld be e v e r y in c e n tiv e fo r a v er y la r g e a tten d a n ce at th e m e e tin g in St. P a u l. I t is tru e th at e v e r y m e m b e r o f th e A s so c ia tio n r e c e iv e s f u ll v a lu e fo r th e m o n ey h e p a y s in d ues, ev e n th o u g h h e d oes n ot atten d th e m e e tin g s ; b u t th e a cm e o f a sso c ia tiv e su ccess and r e c o m p e n se is a c h ie v e d o n ly w h e n ea c h m e m b e r a v a ils h im s e lf o f th e p r iv ile g e o f a tte n d in g th e m e e tin g s in p erson . T h e r e is so m e th in g m o r e th a n w o r th w h ile in th e h e a r ty h a n d cla sp s a m o n g fr ie n d s ; in th e m e e tin g o f close asso cia tes w h o h a v e w o r k e d to g e th e r fo r y ea r s; in th e w e lc o m e o f n e w r e cru its— ah, h ere is a th r ill and a p r iv ile g e in c o m p a r a b le w ith any o th er— and in th e s m a ll g ro u p c o n fe r e n c e s a ro u n d th e h o te ls and m e e tin g p la c e s, w h e r e in tim a te d isc u ssio n s a re h e ld o v e r th e v a rio u s p r o b le m s th a t assail th e p r a c titio n e r in e v e r y d a y e x p e r i en ce. M e n o f ev e r y te n d e n c y and te m p e r a m e n t m a y find a m p le o u tle t fo r th e ir im p u lse s, and a m p le rew ard fo r th e ir efforts by a tte n d in g ou r a n n u a l m eetin g s.
C o m e to S t. P a u l , A u g u s t 6 -1 0!
THE DANGER OF DEMORALIZATION T h e r e sp o n sib le e le m e n t o f th e A m e r ic a n p e o p le m a y a lw a y s be r e lie d on to m e e t any e m e r g e n c y th at co m es to th em . A s a n ation , w e m a k e m ista k es in co m m o n w ith e v e r y o th e r n a tio n — su ch seem s
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to b e th e p r o p e n s ity o f o u r p o o r h u m a n lim ita tio n s — b u t in th e es se n tia ls o f o u r in d iv id u a l and c o m m u n ity lif e , th e co r e o f th e A m e r ic a n c h a ra c ter w i l l a lw a y s be fo u n d so u n d and e m in e n tly sane and tru stw o rth y . H a d n ot th is b een true, o u r n a tio n w o u ld n ev er h a v e a scen d ed to its p rese n t p la c e in th e su n in th e p e r io d o f a cen tu ry and a h a lf. T h e test o f v ir ilit y co m es in th e p r e se n c e o f c a la m ity and tria l. P r o v id e d a p e o p le are sta b le at h eart, th e ir m o r a l fib er is m o r e c lo s e ly k n it b y a d v ersity . T h e fa b r ic o f a n a tio n ’s c h a r a c te r is, a fter a ll, w o v e n in th e w a r p and w o o f o f tr ia l and error, o f fa ilu r e and su ccess, o f b itte r d e fe a t and w h o le s o m e tr iu m p h . W ith o u t th e le a v e n in g lu m p o f e x p e r ie n c e o f a ll k in d s, a p e o p le can n ev er be raised to th e f u ll sta tu re o f n a tio n a l greatn ess. R e a l g ra n d eu r w h e th e r o f m e n o r o f n a tio n s co m es o n ly th r o u g h an a le m b ic d is tille d fr o m th e a c h in g h earts o f h u m a n ity . T h is c o u n try h as p assed th r o u g h m a n y p e r io d s o f storm and stress, and ea c h o n e has le f t its scars o f b a ttle, an d ea c h its fr u its o f g r a tify in g a c h ie v e m e n t. T o g o no fa r th er th a n th e recen t e c o n o m ic u p set, w e are b e g in n in g to v is u a liz e so m e th in g o f th e sa n ctity o f w h o le s o m e sa c r ific e ; and u n less w e h a v e a care, w e sh a ll also reap in o u r p r o fe s sio n a l ranks certain o f th e b itte r fr u its o f a d isastrou s d e m o r a liz a tio n . W it h e v e r y la u d a b le in c e n tiv e , th er e co m es th e p en a lty , or at le a st th e p o s s ib ility , o f d o in g h arm . G o o d in te n tio n s are a lw a y s p ra ise w o r th y , b u t g o o d in ten tio n s are n o t p r o o f a g a in st in ju r io u s or u n to w a rd results. W h e n th e n eed b eca m e a p p a ren t th at th e te eth o f th e in d ig e n t m u st be ca red fo r re g a rd le ss o f th e ir a b ility to p ay, a ll sorts o f p la n s w e r e p ro p o sed to m e et th e e m erg e n c y . W it h h o n esty o f p u r p ose, b u t w ith a w o f u l la c k o f v isio n , c e rta in p o lic ie s w e r e ad v o ca ted that, as fa r as th e ir en d resu lts w e r e co n ce rn ed , w e r e little sh o rt o f p e r n ic io u s. T h e first p r in c ip le o f an y d en ta l cr eed th at sh o u ld be la id d o w n in an in d u str ia l e m e r g e n c y o f th is k in d is o f cou rse th a t no p erso n , h o w e v e r p oor, sh o u ld b e a llo w e d to su ffer from to o th a ch e. T o o m a n y in d iv id u a ls h a v e b een e d u c a te d in d en tistry in th is la n d o f ou rs to m ak e it n ecessa ry to w ith h o ld r e lie f fro m p a in a sso cia te d w ith th e teeth . T h is is a x io m a tic and th ere sh o u ld
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T h e Journal of the American D ental Association
b e no q u ib b le a b o u t it. P a r tic u la r ly in th e case o f lit t le c h ild r e n , and th e a g e d and in firm , th ere sh o u ld n e v e r b e an y q u e stio n raised as to a b ility to p a y w h e n it co m es to r e lie f. T h e im p u ls e s o f th e h ea rts o f th e d en ta l p r o fe ssio n m a y be r e lie d on to see th at no h u m a n b e in g s h a ll be p e r m itte d to su ffer p a in fr o m a ffectio n s o f th e teeth . A n d it m a y be sa id in p a ssin g th at th is has a lw a y s b een tru e ev er sin c e w e h a d a p ro fe ssio n . B u t th e r e is a n o th er sid e to th e p ic tu r e , and it is a certa in p h a se o f th is s id e to w h ic h w e sh o u ld lik e to c a ll a tten tio n at th is tim e. In d o in g th is, w e run th e risk o f r a isin g a h u e and cry o f “m a n ’s in h u m a n ity to m a n ,” b u t w e sh a ll n ot d o th e su b je c t fu ll ju stice w ith o u t at le a st m e n tio n o f th e d a n g e r o f d e m o r a liz a tio n fr o m in d is c r im in a te c h a r ity ev en in th e case o f an e m e r g e n c y su ch as w e h a v e ju st b een fa c in g . I t is a w e ll-k n o w n and o ft-r e p e a te d fa c t th at a n y th in g th a t sap s th e m o r a le o r b reak s d o w n th e in d e p e n d e n c e o f a m an o r o f a n a tio n is bad, and th e m o m e n t th a t any a b le -b o d ie d in d iv id u a l a c c e p ts s o m e th in g fo r n o th in g , th a t m o m e n t th er e b e g in s in th a t in d iv id u a l a m o r a l d isin te g r a tio n th at starts h im str a ig h tw a y to w a rd d e p e n d e n c y and p a u p er ism . N o t o n ly th at, b u t th e ab uses th a t so m e tim e s creep in to th e m o st la u d a b le efforts to a d m in iste r aid u n d er an e m e r g e n c y are so n o to r io u sly fla g ra n t th a t th e y m u st g iv e us p a u se and m a k e us r e flect on w h a t w e are d o in g . I n th e A p r il 3 , 1 9 3 4 , issu e o f th e B u l l e t i n o f th e S e a tt le D i s tr i c t D e n t a l S o c ie ty , w e see th e fo llo w in g : “T o o m u c h B r o th e r ly L o v e — P h i la d e lp h ia m a y be th e C ity o f B r o th e r ly L o v e , b ut, in th e o p in io n o f M a y o r M o o r e , it h as g o n e too fa r w ith its b ig -h e a rte d n ess. ‘I t s im p ly ca n n o t la st m u ch lo n g e r ,’ th e M a y o r to ld P h ila d e lp h ia C o u n ty M e d ic a l S o c ie ty m e m b ers at a recen t g a th e r in g to c o n sid e r th e q u e stio n o f state m e d ic in e . ‘F r e e m e d ic a l, d en ta l, and h o sp ita l s e r v ic e is b e in g d em a n d ed and r e c e iv e d b y m a n y su p p o se d ly d e s ti tu te w h o are, as a m a tter o f fa ct, b etter d ressed th an I, and so m e o f w h o m d ie and le a v e su b sta n tia l estates to th e ir r e la tiv e s !’ ” R e c o g n iz in g a ll o f th is, so m e o f o u r w e ll-in te n tio n e d b u t im p r a c tic a l p h ila n th r o p is ts o f th e re cen t p a st h a v e so u g h t to m e e t th e situ a tio n b y a d v o c a tin g th e esta b lish m e n t o f w h a t are term ed lo w fe e c lin ic s. A n d in d o in g th is th ey h a v e u n w ittin g ly in a u g u r a te d th e p o s s ib ility o f m u c h h arm . T h e p r in c ip le o f lo w fe es in an e m e r
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g e n c y lik e th is m a y b e p r a ise w o r th y , b u t th e p r o p a g a n d a is p e r n ic io u s. In th e m in d s o f th e p e o p le , th e v a lu e o f d en ta l se r v ic e b ears so m e r e la tio n to th e fe e s th at are c h a r g e d fo r th is serv ice, and to h e r a ld to th e p u b lic a fe e b ill o f su c h a r id ic u lo u sly lo w o rd er as so m e th a t h a v e b een p u b lish e d is n o th in g sh o rt o f d e g r a d in g to th e d ig n ity o f th e p ro fe ssio n . T o p u b lish th e fa c t th at as d ifficu lt an o p e r a tio n as m a y b e in v o lv e d in th e ex tr a c tio n o f a tooth, to say n o th in g o f th e in se rtio n o f a fillin g , co m m a n d s a fe e o f o n ly 2 5 cents, p a r tic u la r ly in a n y m e tr o p o lita n area, is ak in to o ffe r in g an in s u lt to th e r e p u ta tio n o f d en tistry. L e t us tak e care o f th e p oor and u n fo rtu n a te to th e best o f o u r a b ility , as w e h a v e a lw a y s b een w illin g to do in th e p a st, te m p e r in g th e w in d to th e sh o rn la m b , b u t le t us n o t d ra g th e f a ir n am e o f o u r c a llin g in th e m ir e by le a v in g the in fe r e n c e th a t w e a r e u n w o r th y o f a re co m p en se less th an th at o f a d ay la b o r e r m in u s a n y brains. A s a m a tter o f p la in fa ct, th er e has a lw a y s b een too m u ch ta lk a b o u t fe e s in o u r p ro fe ssio n , and it h as in ju r e d us in th e estim a te o f th e p u b lic . F o r a lo n g tim e, w e w e r e trea ted to a con stan t e x p lo ita tio n o f th e fe e q u estio n , and ou r lite r a tu r e w a s fille d w ith d is cu ssio n s on fe e s . In th e h e y -d a y o f h ig h fin an ce, so m e m em b ers o f th e p r o fe s sio n p r id e d th e m se lv e s on th e g r o te sq u e fe es th ey w e r e r e c e iv in g , till it b eg a n to be a b y -w o rd in th e la n d , a ll o f w h ic h re flected s e r io u s ly on th e re p u ta tio n o f th e p ro fe ssio n . N o w le t us n o t go to th e o th e r e x trem e o f b e littlin g o u rselv es by p u b lis h in g e stim a te s fo r p r o fe ssio n a l co m p e n sa tio n th a t w ill m in i m iz e an y in c e n tiv e fo r p e r fo r m in g a r e p u ta b le class o f serv ice. I f, in certa in in sta n c es, w e e le c t to w o r k fo r a m e a g e r fe e, th at sh o u ld be o u r p r iv ile g e , but le t us n o t h e r a ld to th e w o r ld a m ea su re o f rew a rd fo r o u r ser v ic es th a t is r e la tiv e ly b e lo w a m e r e p a u p e r ’s p itta n ce.
THE FINAL PARAGRAPH A su m m a ry , c o n c lu sio n s, a te r m in a l ab stract m a y n ot b e reg a rd ed as essen tia l to a s c ie n tific p a p e r, b u t it is a tr em e n d o u s co n v en ien ce, and m o re th a n a co n v en ien ce. M o st o f th e trea tises th at co m e to T h e J o u r n a l — to a ll d en ta l jo u rn a ls— are n ot su m m a r iz e d ,
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T h e Journal of the American D en ta l Association
g iv e no co n clu sio n s, a p p e n d no ab stract. P e r h a p s w r ite r s reg a rd su ch as u n n ecessa ry a p p e n d a g es, ad d ed b u r d e n s to a w o r k e r a lr e a d y o v e r lo a d e d , a w a ste o f tim e. A f t e r th e la b o r o.f m on th s, c o lle c tin g , a ssa y in g , e v a lu a tin g , a p la c e to stop in th e d ista ste fu l p ro ce ss o f w r it in g is w e lc o m e . T h is is e a sily u n d er sta n d a b le. M a n y in sta n ces co m e to m in d to p ro v e th a t a su m m a ry m a y b e o f v a lu e . I n th e first p la c e , a p a ra g ra p h o f su m m a tio n w o u ld sh o w to th e w r ite r h im s e lf h o w clea r, c o n se c u tiv e , lo g ic a l h e h as been. A s a test fo r th e w o r th o f th e p a p e r, b e fo r e it le a v e s th e h a n d s o f th e a u th o r, it m a y h a v e a d isq u ie tin g o r c o m fo r tin g effect. T h e fin al p a r a g r a p h m a y w e ll say, “N o t q u ite re a d y ,” b eca u se it has p r o v e d h a rd to w r ite or, “W e l l d o n e ,” b e c a u se o f its easy statem en t. I t is sa id th a t so m e p a p e rs w i l l n o t s u b m it to su m m a ry o r abstract. T h e r e a p p e a r p a p e rs c o n ta in in g v a st t h e o r iz in g u p o n th e fr o n tie r o f so m e d o m a in . T h e y d e a l in a lg e b r a ic fo r m u la s , s h o w in g th e far w a n d e r in g o f th e a u th o r’s m in d , b u t a re u tte r ly u n in te llig ib le to th e m a jo r ity o f m en . In su ch in stan ces, i t m ig h t be th a t th e w r ite r has m ista k en h is a u d ie n c e and th e e d ito r h as s lip p e d in a d m ittin g th e p a p e r to a jo u rn a l fo r g e n e r a l r e a d in g . I t is so m e tim e s o b v io u s th a t th e a u th o r has sp o k en too soon, b e fo r e h is m a teria l h as c la rifie d to h is o w n m in d . T h e r e is no c o lle c tib le p r e c ip ita te . T h e n , to o , a su m m a ry m a y stir a d eep a p p r e c ia tio n in th e m in d o f th e rea d er b eca u se it g a th er s in to a c o m p a c t b u n d le th e fin d in gs, d e c la r a tio n s, d e d u c tio n s th at o th e r w ise h e w o u ld h a v e h ad to sea rch o u t a g a in in o rd er to fix th em in h is m e m o r y . A m an reads a p a p e r fo r th e e n jo y m e n t o f in stru ctio n , w ith a s e n se o f fillin g h is m e n ta l coffers w ith th e c o in o f so m e p a r tic u la r re a lm . I n th e su m m a ry , h e cou n ts h is g a in s and listen s to th e j in g le o f th e co in s th a t h e has g a th e r e d in h is p ock et. B u t th e a p p e n d e d su m m a ry , c o n c lu sio n s, ab stract are m o r e than a cou rtesy. I t m u st n ot be fo r g o tte n th at a ll w r itin g s are fo r read ers, are m e a n t to in c rea se in tere st in a g iv e n field . M a n y m en scan a r tic le s fo r ca tch lin e s to see i f th e w h o le m a y b e in tere stin g , sk im th e c o lu m n s fo r p h rases th at p ro tru d e, a r r e st atten tio n and assure h im th a t th e w h o le is w o r th h is tim e. H o w m u ch ea sier it w o u ld be to read th e fin al p a ra g ra p h fo r th is p u r p o s e ! C a u g h t b y th e p u n g e n t sta tem en ts th ere, th e re a d e r says, “ I ’l l read a ll o f th é
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p a p e r and see h o w th e w r ite r a tta in ed th o se c o n c lu sio n s.” T h u s, th e su m m a ry in v ite s th e rea d er to g o on a p ro fita b le jou rn ey. F in a lly , a ll a r tic le s p u b lis h e d in th e le a d in g jo u rn a ls are a b stra cted so m e w h e re. S o m e A m e r ic a n jo u rn a ls ab stract fr o m o th er A m e r ic a n jo u rn a ls q u ite fr e e ly , f o llo w in g a lo o se m e th o d o f s e le c tio n . T h e re su lt is n o t a lw a y s g r a t if y in g to th e m e n w h o w r o te th e p a p ers. A b stra c ts in o u r h o m e jo u rn a ls are n o t a lw a y s w e ll d one, fo r th e reason, p erh a p s, th at no jo u rn a l has p u t ab stracts a b ove th e ran k o f fillers. O u r jo u rn a ls do n o t ta k e thq fu n c tio n o f th e ab stra ct ser io u sly . A n d d en ta l o ffic ia ld o m h as co n sid e red it n ot at a ll. F o r e ig n jo u rn a ls h a v e th e la n g u a g e d ifficu lty to co n ten d w ith , and tra n sla tio n s m a y sh o w su r p r is in g v a r ia tio n s fr o m th e o r ig in a l text. T h e b r ie f, p o in te d c o n c lu sio n s o f th e a u th o r le n d th e m se lv e s to tr a n sla tio n m u ch m o re r e a d ily th an th e m o re c o m p lic a te d form s o f th e a rg u m en t. A su m m a ry w o u ld ease th e p a th o f th e ab stractor, w h e th e r d o m e stic o r fo r e ig n , and an ab stract m a d e b y th e au th ors w o u ld b e a b e n e fa c tio n to su ch w ork ers. S u m m a ry , co n clu sio n s, ab stracts h a v e b een u sed r e la tiv e ly in th is trea tise, n o t b eca u se th e y are th o u g h t o f as syn on ym s, b u t b eca u se th e y le n d th e m se lv e s to in d u c e m e n t o f th e reader, fin al em p h a sis, u n d e r sta n d in g o f th e ab stractor and ju stic e to th e w r iter. O b v io u sly no o n e can ab stract an a r tic le so w e ll as th e m an w h o w r o te it. T.
THE AMERICAN DENTAL FOUNDATION In p r e v io u s issues, w e h a v e c a lle d a tten tio n to th e g re a t d e sir a b ility o f b u ild in g a fo u n d a tio n in th e d en ta l p r o fe ssio n fo r th e b en efit o f p ro jects w o r th y o f th e c o n sid e r a tio n o f a ll g o o d m en. T h e o b je c tiv e s w e r e o u tlin e d in a p r e v io u s issu e (M a r c h , 1 9 3 3 ), and w h a t w e n o w h a v e in m in d is to u r g e a ll o f th o se w h o h a v e m a d e w ills (a n d a ll se n sib le m en m a k e w ills ) to add a c o d ic il in str u c tin g th e ex e c u to r to p a y o u t o f th e estate a ce rta in su m , g re a t o r sm a ll, to th e A m e r ic a n D e n ta l F o u n d a tio n . T h e w o r th in e ss o f th is p r o je c t ca n n o t be q u e stio n e d , and it is lik e ly th a t th er e are m an y o f o u r d en tists w h o w o u ld r e a lly lik e to add su ch a c o d ic il if th e id e a ev e r o cc u r red to th em . H e r e is th e rem in d er.