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The dentist and the state.
Journal of Dentistry, 2, 222-226
Book Reviews The Dentist and the State. By EDWARD SAMSON. Interspersed in the main theme are to be found 8%x 5+ in. Pp. 194$-xvi. Illustrated. 1973. numerous valuable items of information and London : Kimpton. E2. suggestions as to the proper method of conducting a National Health Service dental practice, for Mr. Samson describes this publication as, ‘A which reason alone it is recommended as beneficial Critical Examination and Interpretation of the reading for newly qualified practitioners. General Dental Service Regulations as they affect Those with greater experience are certain to find, the Dentist in the Surgery ’and this can be accepted as did the writer, on careful reading, a great deal as an accurate description particularly as regards on which to ponder in this comparatively short the adjective ‘critical ‘! publication? and it will certainly hold their interest Naturally when first reading a new work by this from beginning to end. gifted author whose pen has delighted and amused D. V. TAYLOR the profession for so long, one must decide in what mood he is writing. Here, except for the The Micro-organisms of the Human Mouth. By half dozen illustrations which are in the true W. D. MILLER. 5)x8$ in. Pp. 365+xx. IllusSamsonian humorous tradition, one finds him in trated. 1973. Basel: Karger. entirely serious vein, examining in great detail the wording of those parts of the National Health All dental scientists will applaud the enterprise and Service Acts and the Regulations subsequently altruism of the S. Karger Company in reprinting made thereunder which are particularly relevant Miller’s classic text and microbiologists will be to both the responsibilities and privileges of especially pleased. The book provides interesting dentists and patients in the General Dental Services. reading both in spite of, and because of, its age. The author’s main criticisms are levelled at the Because of its clear candid style it tells us almost as much about Miller himself as it does about work of those who drafted the Act and Regulamicrobiology. He was one of those rare beings, a tions. He deplores the ‘legal jargon ’ they use, particularly words such as ‘reasonable ‘, ‘satisdentist with an absorbing interest in microbes. His factory ‘, and ‘proper ’ which are so loved by fascination and enthusiasm are apparent in every legal draftsmen. He demonstrates in considerable page of this book which may be fairly described as detail the ambiguities and shortcomings in such a ‘do-it-yourself’ microbiology with an open important definitions as ‘dental fitness ’ and invitation to the reader to join in the fun. Miller ‘excessive treatment ’ and similar confusing apparently started work with a microscope and wording in clauses in the National Health Service twenty-five dollars’ worth of laboratory items and Acts and Regulations which have a direct bearing his book is a remarkable testimony of the primacy on the day-to-day professional life of dentists of curiosity and clear thinking over equipment in practising in the General Dental Services. research. Because he feels that in spite of all these diffiAlthough Miller wrote with uncommonly good culties the General Dental Services operate with sense on the bacteriology of periodontal disease considerable efficiency and are generally beneficial, it is for his work on dental caries that he is rethe author seeks the reason. He suggests that it is nowned. Given his knowledge of microbiology, the ethical attitude and the degree of common his particular interest in fermentation, and his sense with which the bulk of the profession belief in experimental method his place in the approaches the various problems together with a history books was assured. Most of the other similar attitude on the part of most of the bodies ‘authorities ’ of his day were mere traffickers in concerned with the administration of the service, opinion and the theories of the cause of dental namely the Dental Estimates Board, Executive caries said to be based on experimental work were Councils and their Committees, and the Dental even more absurd than those which were pure Officers of the Department of Health and Social conjecture. That many of these theories were taken Security. seriously and listed in textbooks, including this
Book Reviews The Dentist and the State. By EDWARD SAMSON. Interspersed in the main theme are to be found 8%x 5+ in. Pp. 194$-xvi. Illustrated. 1973. numerous valuable items of information and London : Kimpton. E2. suggestions as to the proper method of conducting a National Health Service dental practice, for Mr. Samson describes this publication as, ‘A which reason alone it is recommended as beneficial Critical Examination and Interpretation of the reading for newly qualified practitioners. General Dental Service Regulations as they affect Those with greater experience are certain to find, the Dentist in the Surgery ’and this can be accepted as did the writer, on careful reading, a great deal as an accurate description particularly as regards on which to ponder in this comparatively short the adjective ‘critical ‘! publication? and it will certainly hold their interest Naturally when first reading a new work by this from beginning to end. gifted author whose pen has delighted and amused D. V. TAYLOR the profession for so long, one must decide in what mood he is writing. Here, except for the The Micro-organisms of the Human Mouth. By half dozen illustrations which are in the true W. D. MILLER. 5)x8$ in. Pp. 365+xx. IllusSamsonian humorous tradition, one finds him in trated. 1973. Basel: Karger. entirely serious vein, examining in great detail the wording of those parts of the National Health All dental scientists will applaud the enterprise and Service Acts and the Regulations subsequently altruism of the S. Karger Company in reprinting made thereunder which are particularly relevant Miller’s classic text and microbiologists will be to both the responsibilities and privileges of especially pleased. The book provides interesting dentists and patients in the General Dental Services. reading both in spite of, and because of, its age. The author’s main criticisms are levelled at the Because of its clear candid style it tells us almost as much about Miller himself as it does about work of those who drafted the Act and Regulamicrobiology. He was one of those rare beings, a tions. He deplores the ‘legal jargon ’ they use, particularly words such as ‘reasonable ‘, ‘satisdentist with an absorbing interest in microbes. His factory ‘, and ‘proper ’ which are so loved by fascination and enthusiasm are apparent in every legal draftsmen. He demonstrates in considerable page of this book which may be fairly described as detail the ambiguities and shortcomings in such a ‘do-it-yourself’ microbiology with an open important definitions as ‘dental fitness ’ and invitation to the reader to join in the fun. Miller ‘excessive treatment ’ and similar confusing apparently started work with a microscope and wording in clauses in the National Health Service twenty-five dollars’ worth of laboratory items and Acts and Regulations which have a direct bearing his book is a remarkable testimony of the primacy on the day-to-day professional life of dentists of curiosity and clear thinking over equipment in practising in the General Dental Services. research. Because he feels that in spite of all these diffiAlthough Miller wrote with uncommonly good culties the General Dental Services operate with sense on the bacteriology of periodontal disease considerable efficiency and are generally beneficial, it is for his work on dental caries that he is rethe author seeks the reason. He suggests that it is nowned. Given his knowledge of microbiology, the ethical attitude and the degree of common his particular interest in fermentation, and his sense with which the bulk of the profession belief in experimental method his place in the approaches the various problems together with a history books was assured. Most of the other similar attitude on the part of most of the bodies ‘authorities ’ of his day were mere traffickers in concerned with the administration of the service, opinion and the theories of the cause of dental namely the Dental Estimates Board, Executive caries said to be based on experimental work were Councils and their Committees, and the Dental even more absurd than those which were pure Officers of the Department of Health and Social conjecture. That many of these theories were taken Security. seriously and listed in textbooks, including this