- Email: [email protected]
Southern society of orthodontists
Orthodontia and for Childmm (All
reserasd)
riglbts
-22.~ VOL.
1.935
FEBRUARY,
21
-z-.--
No. 2 -zzY
Original Articles PRESIDENT’S SOUTHERN
ADDRESS
SOCIETY OF ORTHODONTISTS”
N. F. MTJIR~ D.D.S.: ROANOKE,
VA.
it is my privilege to address you, as you have assembled here A T forTHISthe time thirteenth meeting of the Southern Society of Ortho&mtists. This privilege is extended me by virt,ue of the fact that you have selected me for your presiding officer, an honor which I deeply appreciate. The Southern Society, which is so idealistic and altruistic in its objectives, was organized by a few thoughtful men who recognized the neoedvgty of so&al intercourse and cooperative interest among the orthodontists in a rapidly growing section of our count.ry. The noble deeds of these pioneers who e the idea and put thought into act.ion have been mentioned many times bef&e, but I should have a feeling of ungratefulness if I failed to express my perser.&l regard for t.heir inspiration and example. Their interest has not wmed w&h the years, and their enthusiasm lights the road of endeavor which. we hope to follow. Almost all of them are with us today, and t.he success of this meeting can be ascribed in a full measure to their influence and effort. We are always in a receptive mood, eager to draw aside the veil of em&icism and view any bit of knowledge that has been unearthed. Laqely ba;eoaplrst! of the work done by some of our progressive members along the lin and physiologic research and perfecting technical procedure, an in ber of orthodontists and scientists of allied professions fram all try have been attracted to our midst.. Some of t.hese men have become a or honorary members of our group, and we are greatly ‘pleased whenever they can attend the meetings. *Read
at
a meeting
in Hot
Springs,
Va.,
July 111
18. 1934.
112
N. P. Muir
It is with sadness that we record the loss of Dr. Martin Dewey, one of our honorary members, who died in May, 3933. The place left by Dr. Dewey in both the dental and the orthodontic world will be hard to fill. He will long be remembered by the Southern S0eiet.y whose meetings he attended for years and to which he gave freely of his time and talents. It has been about, a year and a half since this organization held its last meeting. The general economic condition of the country was responsible for postponing the last meeting of the American Society of Orthodontists, Ohus necessitating a postponement of our meeting. Blthough the change caused some confusion at the time, it, has proved in t,he end to be a happy solution, for this . is a very desirable time to meet here. Almost all of us abtend each year the meetings of our district and state associati?ns, our sectional orthodontic societies and the American Society of Orthodontists. Besides these, we may attend meet.ings of other sectional sociIt has been eties as well as the meetings of the American Dental Association. suggested that if all the sectional societies could arrange to meet. one year and the American Society of Orthodontists meet the next year and cont.inue in this way, meet.ing biennially in alternat,e years, we should be relieved of the great expense of attending so many meetings. This is but one phase of a proposal which will be presented to you later through other channels. The sectional SOcieties will be asked to consider the advisability of becoming components of t.he American Society of Orthodontists. If the component. plan can be worked out on a cooperative and amicable basis, it. would cerbainly be desirable from an economic standpoint. On the ot.her hand, I would oppose anything that would jeopardize the integrity and freedom of the Southern Society. It has grown to be a very pot.ent institution for the presentation and disctission of orbhodontic problems and nothing should be perniitted to change its course. Ii’rom the time of our last meeting we have experienced unusual conditions. In bot.h our social and professional activities we have b&en introduced to novel met.hods and changed procedures. The New Deal has accentuated the already growing idea of services for t,he masses, of state dentistry or some similar alternabive. Surveys have been made exposing t.he number of children in need of dental attention, and through the Federal Emergency Belief Administration the government int.ends to help the great army of indigents. According to adietisements, the laboratories are diagnosing dental anomalies by model and treating the cases by mail. Since coll@ve action rather than individualism seems to be the order of the day, we should give serious and constructive thought to the Sol&ion of these vital’problems %ith which we are confronted. In unity there is strenqth; therefore, t.he more completely we are organized, the more effectively we e@n promote desirable enterprises and eliminate things that are not for the co&mon good. A Ijiogra$her of famous English writers once said that we are prone to maghify the virtues of our heroes. Likewise in the field of orthodontia we may find ourselves attached to some pe6 theory or’ method of practice which may become an obsession and exclude from our minds all that is new and progres.
SOW. ~IIUXSOT~ warns us against such a course when he says: “,4 foolish eon. sisteney is the hobgoblin of little minds. Speak what you think novv in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today. There will be an agreement in whatsoever variety of actions so they be honest and natural in their hour.” In recent years it seems that almost, all our accepted theories and principles have been either refuted or challenged. We believe that a knowledge of etiology is necessary for a proper diagnosis and treatment of our cases. In years past, almost every so-called inherited cause or factor was discredited by an argument favoring some influence of environment. Today there are very few local causes that are given credence. In fact, some o-f our most conscient,ious authorities are unable to ascribe any definite causes for uialoctclusioii. (Who.dontic experience offers many inferences! and from our observation we recognize contributing factoq however inconstant they may be. Our field of operation is an integral part of the whole body, and since our problem is one of growth and development, WC must realize that findings in the dental field are interdependent upon condit~ions existing within the entire organism. It has been demonstrat,ed that, growth periods and tissue variations of one part are correlated to similar conditions in other parts of the individual. The influence exerted by the hormones, that of the calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and that of the vitamin pot.ency all have a profound effect upon bone formation and development. ,4 clearer understanding of their application will help solve some of our problems. Every day we realize the neces5it.y for a closer contact with the internist, t,he endocrinologist., and the pediatrician. The! should be able to help us from the standpoint of both d.iagnosis and treatment, At our last, meeting we were reminded of the unscientific or unproved concepts of orthodontia as they exist.ed and were advised to look in the dire&ion of heredity to find a solution of our problem. At this meeting we are going to follow up many of the invest,igations which were unfimshed at. t.he last session and try t.o elucidate some of the mysteries with which we are confronted in our work. A perusal of the printed program reveals the. splendid array of papers: case reports, and clinics to be presented. The majority of essayists and clinicians are from outside our society, some of them traveling quite a distance and contributing generously of their time and knowledge for our enlighten, ment. On behalf of the SocieQ I want t.o thank them, for vve owe them an enormous debt of grat,itude. To those members of the Society who have contributed 6o the program we are also grateful. To the members of t,he program committee, Oren A. Oliver, Clinton C:. Howard and Aj7. A. Clarke, I wish to express my deepest appreciation. The entire credit for selecting the material and arranging the program belongs to them. I wish to thank the commibtee on ladies’ entertainment for their splendid pmgram, also H. C. Shotwell for his efforts in securing many handsome golf prizes. The donors of these prizes should receive our recognition. I want to thank our secretary, Wm. P. Wood, Jr.? for the very effieient~ manner in which he has performed the duties of his office.
114
N. P. Muir
To the members and guests who have come to t.his meeting, I am especially grateful. This is the first t,ime the Southern Society of Orthodontists has met in Virginia, and I am exceedingly proud, along with my confreres in this sbat.e, to have the honor of being your host. It is my sincere hope that your sojourn here will be a happy one and that when you depart. it will be with a feeling of benefit. and satisfaction.
reserasd)
riglbts
-22.~ VOL.
1.935
FEBRUARY,
21
-z-.--
No. 2 -zzY
Original Articles PRESIDENT’S SOUTHERN
ADDRESS
SOCIETY OF ORTHODONTISTS”
N. F. MTJIR~ D.D.S.: ROANOKE,
VA.
it is my privilege to address you, as you have assembled here A T forTHISthe time thirteenth meeting of the Southern Society of Ortho&mtists. This privilege is extended me by virt,ue of the fact that you have selected me for your presiding officer, an honor which I deeply appreciate. The Southern Society, which is so idealistic and altruistic in its objectives, was organized by a few thoughtful men who recognized the neoedvgty of so&al intercourse and cooperative interest among the orthodontists in a rapidly growing section of our count.ry. The noble deeds of these pioneers who e the idea and put thought into act.ion have been mentioned many times bef&e, but I should have a feeling of ungratefulness if I failed to express my perser.&l regard for t.heir inspiration and example. Their interest has not wmed w&h the years, and their enthusiasm lights the road of endeavor which. we hope to follow. Almost all of them are with us today, and t.he success of this meeting can be ascribed in a full measure to their influence and effort. We are always in a receptive mood, eager to draw aside the veil of em&icism and view any bit of knowledge that has been unearthed. Laqely ba;eoaplrst! of the work done by some of our progressive members along the lin and physiologic research and perfecting technical procedure, an in ber of orthodontists and scientists of allied professions fram all try have been attracted to our midst.. Some of t.hese men have become a or honorary members of our group, and we are greatly ‘pleased whenever they can attend the meetings. *Read
at
a meeting
in Hot
Springs,
Va.,
July 111
18. 1934.
112
N. P. Muir
It is with sadness that we record the loss of Dr. Martin Dewey, one of our honorary members, who died in May, 3933. The place left by Dr. Dewey in both the dental and the orthodontic world will be hard to fill. He will long be remembered by the Southern S0eiet.y whose meetings he attended for years and to which he gave freely of his time and talents. It has been about, a year and a half since this organization held its last meeting. The general economic condition of the country was responsible for postponing the last meeting of the American Society of Orthodontists, Ohus necessitating a postponement of our meeting. Blthough the change caused some confusion at the time, it, has proved in t,he end to be a happy solution, for this . is a very desirable time to meet here. Almost all of us abtend each year the meetings of our district and state associati?ns, our sectional orthodontic societies and the American Society of Orthodontists. Besides these, we may attend meet.ings of other sectional sociIt has been eties as well as the meetings of the American Dental Association. suggested that if all the sectional societies could arrange to meet. one year and the American Society of Orthodontists meet the next year and cont.inue in this way, meet.ing biennially in alternat,e years, we should be relieved of the great expense of attending so many meetings. This is but one phase of a proposal which will be presented to you later through other channels. The sectional SOcieties will be asked to consider the advisability of becoming components of t.he American Society of Orthodontists. If the component. plan can be worked out on a cooperative and amicable basis, it. would cerbainly be desirable from an economic standpoint. On the ot.her hand, I would oppose anything that would jeopardize the integrity and freedom of the Southern Society. It has grown to be a very pot.ent institution for the presentation and disctission of orbhodontic problems and nothing should be perniitted to change its course. Ii’rom the time of our last meeting we have experienced unusual conditions. In bot.h our social and professional activities we have b&en introduced to novel met.hods and changed procedures. The New Deal has accentuated the already growing idea of services for t,he masses, of state dentistry or some similar alternabive. Surveys have been made exposing t.he number of children in need of dental attention, and through the Federal Emergency Belief Administration the government int.ends to help the great army of indigents. According to adietisements, the laboratories are diagnosing dental anomalies by model and treating the cases by mail. Since coll@ve action rather than individualism seems to be the order of the day, we should give serious and constructive thought to the Sol&ion of these vital’problems %ith which we are confronted. In unity there is strenqth; therefore, t.he more completely we are organized, the more effectively we e@n promote desirable enterprises and eliminate things that are not for the co&mon good. A Ijiogra$her of famous English writers once said that we are prone to maghify the virtues of our heroes. Likewise in the field of orthodontia we may find ourselves attached to some pe6 theory or’ method of practice which may become an obsession and exclude from our minds all that is new and progres.
SOW. ~IIUXSOT~ warns us against such a course when he says: “,4 foolish eon. sisteney is the hobgoblin of little minds. Speak what you think novv in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today. There will be an agreement in whatsoever variety of actions so they be honest and natural in their hour.” In recent years it seems that almost, all our accepted theories and principles have been either refuted or challenged. We believe that a knowledge of etiology is necessary for a proper diagnosis and treatment of our cases. In years past, almost every so-called inherited cause or factor was discredited by an argument favoring some influence of environment. Today there are very few local causes that are given credence. In fact, some o-f our most conscient,ious authorities are unable to ascribe any definite causes for uialoctclusioii. (Who.dontic experience offers many inferences! and from our observation we recognize contributing factoq however inconstant they may be. Our field of operation is an integral part of the whole body, and since our problem is one of growth and development, WC must realize that findings in the dental field are interdependent upon condit~ions existing within the entire organism. It has been demonstrat,ed that, growth periods and tissue variations of one part are correlated to similar conditions in other parts of the individual. The influence exerted by the hormones, that of the calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and that of the vitamin pot.ency all have a profound effect upon bone formation and development. ,4 clearer understanding of their application will help solve some of our problems. Every day we realize the neces5it.y for a closer contact with the internist, t,he endocrinologist., and the pediatrician. The! should be able to help us from the standpoint of both d.iagnosis and treatment, At our last, meeting we were reminded of the unscientific or unproved concepts of orthodontia as they exist.ed and were advised to look in the dire&ion of heredity to find a solution of our problem. At this meeting we are going to follow up many of the invest,igations which were unfimshed at. t.he last session and try t.o elucidate some of the mysteries with which we are confronted in our work. A perusal of the printed program reveals the. splendid array of papers: case reports, and clinics to be presented. The majority of essayists and clinicians are from outside our society, some of them traveling quite a distance and contributing generously of their time and knowledge for our enlighten, ment. On behalf of the SocieQ I want t.o thank them, for vve owe them an enormous debt of grat,itude. To those members of the Society who have contributed 6o the program we are also grateful. To the members of t,he program committee, Oren A. Oliver, Clinton C:. Howard and Aj7. A. Clarke, I wish to express my deepest appreciation. The entire credit for selecting the material and arranging the program belongs to them. I wish to thank the commibtee on ladies’ entertainment for their splendid pmgram, also H. C. Shotwell for his efforts in securing many handsome golf prizes. The donors of these prizes should receive our recognition. I want to thank our secretary, Wm. P. Wood, Jr.? for the very effieient~ manner in which he has performed the duties of his office.
114
N. P. Muir
To the members and guests who have come to t.his meeting, I am especially grateful. This is the first t,ime the Southern Society of Orthodontists has met in Virginia, and I am exceedingly proud, along with my confreres in this sbat.e, to have the honor of being your host. It is my sincere hope that your sojourn here will be a happy one and that when you depart. it will be with a feeling of benefit. and satisfaction.