Page images
PDF
EPUB

will also develop the ability of teaching in conversation, discussion and by essay. In the Illinois State Society some years ago the writer was charged with the task of developing a Post-Graduate Study Course in our thirty component societies. This was undertaken on the following plan: first, there were established in public libraries conveniently located in the larger cities thruout the state uniform dental libraries, each consisting of twenty-four volumes of dental journals, covering a period of six years. All articles in these volumes were indexed on cards and classified. Several special committees were appointed, to each of which was assigned a separate subject. A list of all the articles on each subject in the twenty-four volumes was furnished to each committee. Each committee prepared a number of questions-usually twenty-five, on the subject assigned to it. Then the members of the committee read over the articles and set down under each question references to paragraphs where answers might be found. A list of questions and references on one subject was published each month in our Society Bulletin which was mailed to all of our members. This was the basis for the work to be undertaken by the component society and the individual member. Each month every member received a list of questions and references on a given subject. Each man had convenient access to a library containing all articles referred to. In addition to the established libraries, we had two sets of the same journals unbound which were used as a circulating library, single or several monthly members being sent out by mail on request.

This gave the component society the opportunity to use the material in several ways. A member might be asked to write a paper covering certain questions. Several might be assigned to discuss it. Or a number of men might be given one question each, and asked to bring a resume of answers found. Or there

might be a quiz class. This plan presents many possibilities of development by making it easy for each man to do a comparatively small part in the beginning. Another plan which has been developed during the past few years is the postgraduate lecture course, by which a few men give a series of lectures on selected subjects on three or four successive days. While this plan has distinct advantages over a scattered series of essays, it lacks the very important item of requiring the members of the Society to study, by drawing upon a few men-usually from outside the ranks of the society to do all or most of the work. In some of these there has been more or less free discussion and they will doubtless interest a small percentage to the study point, but they do not carry the members far enough out into open alone where each man will undertake to do for himself-there is too much leaning on the lectures.

These courses should be generally carried into smaller than state meetings, so that the lecturers will come into closer contact with the men. Journal articles or text books, if available, should be assigned beforehand and as many as possible should be induced to do preliminary study. More of discussion should be incouraged.

Probably no single plan will do more to develop a large number of men than the encouragement by societies of the habit of writing and reporting accurate case histories. These should become a regular office routine in all cases and particularly those in which there is systematic involvement from the mouth. The preparation of carefully written statements of thoro examinations of the mouth will develop to a most surprising extent ones power of acute observation, accurate recording, logical thinking, and good judgment in treatment.

We have what has become known as "the round table" among some of our local societies. The members are ar

ranged in groups of from ten to fifteen about a table for the discussion of a previously announced topic. Into this may be brought case histories, models for demonstration, books with marked paragraphs to be read, etc. This plan brings the men into close contact for a heart to heart talk, and has proven very popular in some sections.

One of the best plans of keeping our large membership interested has been the publication of our Monthly Bulletin. This was begun in January, 1905, and has been issued every month since, except June, July and August. This Bulletin contains announcements and reports of local society meetings, reports of State Society committees, and anything else of interest to members. No papers or discussions appear in it. It varies in size from four to eight or sixteen pages, occasionally even larger, and is sent to all members under second class postage. The total cost is little on the average about fifteen dollars for printing, addressing and postage on two thousand copies of eight pages. This Bulletin is a monthly booster for all matters in which the Society is interested and has probably done as much as any other one thing toward maintaining the large membership of our Society. Several other societies are now publishing similar bulletins.

During recent years more than the usual number of commercial problems have been injected into the work of our sɔcieties to the detriment of their legitimate progress. Among those I wish to mention the man who, usually unsuccessful in the conduct of a practise, is offering himself to the profession by giving special courses. Generally, these men have not made a reputation at home which should entitle them to unbounded faith, confidence and remuneration else. where. They may be heralded by a friend, a respresentative, or even a manager, who suggests that the dentists of the town should get up a class and secure the services of this man. Or possi

bly the class is arranged by the direct solicitation of the lecturer or demonstrator himself. The dentist may be asked to sign some form of contract. He is to become rich over night, he is to be taught first of all how to curret the golden scales out of the patient's pocketssalesmanship. The main idea is that without study and with little effect he will become so smooth that he can make people think that he is giving a service he knows in his heart he can not. real scientific information imparted, if there be any, is more or less incidental. I have been much surprised at learning of some of the men who have taken these courses.

The

The most contemptible man of this is the dentist who maintains a dental society membership and under the guise of a worker for professional advance ment, entitled to the confidence and faith which we should give him, appears before a society as its guest, when in reality a secret financial contract exists between this man and some one interested in those things advocated by him in a paper or demonstration.

The dental society should control every feature of its activities and guard carefully against those things which tend to hinder the advancement of the highest professional ideals. Each state society should control absolutely every foot of exhibit demonstration and clinic space. There should be the sharpest possible scrutiny of all of these to keep elements of commercialism in their proper places. Just as strict rules should apply to the selection of men for clinics and demonstrations, as for exhibits. The exhibit is and should be one of the very important features of our dental meetings, and all of the better supply houses will heartily co-operate to make and keep exhibits clean.

We should come to realize that in all things, whether strictly business or professional, there is no higher or better ethics than square dealing and honesty.

Discussions.

Dr. L. M. Weaver, Philadelphia, Pa.

As the essayist has said-and this exonerates us for not being prepared to discuss this valuable paper he has not submitted a copy to us for our consideration. I have had the greatest respect and honor for Dr. Black and his work in the organization of dental societies, and I am pleased that he is still carrying the work forward and is the live wire of instruction for those of us who need it. I would say that in Pennsylvania we have received valuable assistance from Dr. Black in his suggestions and have modified them to suit our requirements in organization, and I want to give Dr. Black due credit for what we have been able to accomplish. (Applause.)

Dr. M. M. Forbes, Atlanta, Ga. Inasmuch as we were not enabled to read Dr. Black's paper, as Dr. Weaver says, it exonerates us. I would like to say this, as of everything else concerning Dr. Black's work and papers, they are well worthy of any consideration. Everything that he does, says or writes is worth while, and I am going back to Georgia and try to stimulate to some extent the officers of the Georgia State Dental Association in some of the work that he has told of today. After seeing what is being done by our research men, which proves to us and corroborates Dr. Black's statement that this is an era of new dentistry, we who have graduated previously must have some schooling after we leave college in order to practise this new dentistry, and we can get this thru our societies, the meetings and clinics. I want to thank Dr. Black for his excellent paper. I am only sorry that I did not have an opportunity to read it and study it, and I wish to thank him personally for the good service he has brought about. (Applause.)

Dr. Edward C. Mills, Columbus, Ohio.

The method of conducting State Societies has been gone over very thoroly, and also the matter touching upon the units of strength in state organizations. As chairman of the organization committee, I have done some little field work in Ohio during the past year, and have had experience in some sections of the state where few, if any, men have ever attended more than one or two sessions of the State Society. Before an organization was attempted an educational campaign was started, explaining our purpose and aims thru an initiatory letter in substance as follows:

Dear Doctor:-We expect the dentists of.... counties to organize a local dental society. A meeting of all the ethical dentists in this section will be called in the near future and we hope you will signify your willingness to co-operate in the work by replying on enclosed postal.

Organizations are being made thruout the state and in those counties which have local societies, where the men get together and talk over matters of mutual interest, both from a business and professional standpoint, there has been a decided improvement in conditions.

Some of these societies have for their object protection against people who think the world owes them a living; others for the advancement of good fellowship with an occasional dinner; others, scientific work; but most of them, a combination of these.

The plan on which the work is being carried on is as follows: All local societies to be made component parts of the State Society. The local society is the representative of the State Society in that district and a practitioner becomes a member of the latter only by being elected a member of the former. The entire membership of the State Society is thus composed of the membership of the local societies; each member to pay

dues covering membership in the Local, State and National Societies, to the local society; the Treasurer of which is to forward to the Secretary of the State Society the State and National Societies' shares of the dues paid by each member. For the portion of dues sent to the Secretary of the State Society a member is entitled to all the privileges of membership in the State and National meetings, receives monthly the Dental Summary and the Journal of the National Association to be published in the near future. The State Society furnishes, at its own expense, an essayist or clinician from its own membership, once a year, to a Component Society, on some subject the latter may select.

By this plan, men of each local organization pass on the qualifications of applicants to their own, the State and the National Associations and a forfeiture of membership in the former causes him to be dropt in the others.

This plan is increasing the membership of the existing local societies, the number of Components, the membership in the State and National organizations and the effectiveness and power of all dental organizations.

In union there is strength and an opportunity for the dissemination of new thought and professional progress; also, for an united effort on matters of importance to the profession.

Our committee desires your co-operation. Please assist us by a prompt re

ply.

Yours very truly,

Chairman.

Little remained to be said in way of explanation as to the purposes of the meeting, after this notice, but it was not uncommon for the officers elect to inquire "What shall our duties be and how are we to conduct a dental society?" When you have organized a new society, you have planted there a tender plant-a plant that needs care and attention, if

you expect it to develop into a unit of strength of the State organization. No State Society can afford to start a new society and then neglect it to reorganize a society that has died is most difficult. Illinois State Society sends one clinician or essayist a year. In Ohio we have an understanding to that effect, but for the best interests of the cause we have been pursuing a more liberal policy, especially in some of our newly organized societies. One of these got three clinicians at its last meeting in June. That was the first meeting of the society since its organization in December. Why was that done? That society covered five counties in some of which the State Society had no representative. It was impossible for those men to come together oftener than twice a year. There were forty-seven eligible men in those counties, and when the society was organized we had seventeen men in attendance. There is a possibility there for representation not only as an organized constituent of the State society but also for effective action on legislative matters, and that is a factor that must not be overlooked when we speak of our organization. Such society must have the careful attention of the State society or it will not live. We will give them another meeting in the fall and a better one than they had last spring.

When this society was organized there were seventeen men present and there were only two men who knew any of the others present or living in those five counties. One of the advantages of these societies is to get men together and get them acquainted, and after a while the men will come to these conventions to see those whom they know whether they hear or see anything else.

There has been a plan suggested that our state society provides that a legislative committee be appointed in each component society. At present we have but one legislative committee of three members in the State society, and all the

work in legislative matters devolves upon that one committee. No matter how strong or how weak they are, these component societies will take pride in the fact that they are are doing their part to help in the advance which we are making.

Members of these legislative committees will feel the responsibility of bringing their section of the state into line on all matters of progress. They are personally acquainted with the representatives and senators of their section. They were boys together, used to swim in the same old swimming hole, and the friendships and associations of youth have become closer in the years of greater responsibilities. Alive to each other's interests, it is a mild request to ask their support of a bill for the promotion of their professional interests.

At present, it is up to the legislative committee of the State society to get acquainted with the legislators, timidly approach matters of legislation pertaining to dentistry, and in asking their support of a bill, they think you are trying to put something over on them, because the boys back home have not exprest themselves on the subject,-one man back home can do more with his representation than a hundred men on our present legislative committee, and we propose to try it out in Ohio this winter

so please watch results.

Last spring we went to a locality to form an organization. The interest was so luke warm that we felt our attempt would be a dismal failure. Before meeting any of the local men I called on the Senator of the district, who had an office there, and talked to him as tho acquainted with him thru his work at the Capitol. I said, "Now these men down here haven't the interest that they should have in the organization of a dental society, and I want you as a personal friend, and for the importance of the cause, to come to this meeting at three o'clock this afternoon, and give them a

talk on the importance of organization, and what it means to have the men who represent them in Columbus know what their interests are." That gentlemen came down at the appointed hour, while the Constitution was being read for adoption. He gave a very interesting talk, after which he remained until the organization was completed, the papers read, and seemed greatly interested in the clinics. On leaving at close of the meeting he said: "This is one of the nicest meetings I have ever attended. These are representative men in this section, and their presence here indicates that they stand for the best interests of their profession, and I shall feel safe in supporting any legislative measure they indorse."

DR. C. R. E. KOCH, Chicago, Ill.

There can be no possible objection to every component society having a legislative committee, provided that committee works in subordination to and cooperation with the legislative committee of the state society. I think that unless there is solidarity there is great danger of some one in one section of the state going off with an idea and working it up without consulting the committee whose business it is to look after the general proposition, and in place of creating strength that would encourage weakness by bringing about confusion of ideas in place of concentration.

Several years ago the legislative committee of the Illinois State Dental Society had a proposition of this kind to handle. The legislative committee consisted of three men. A bill was introduced before the Senate and House which did not meet with a great deal of approbation on the part of the legislators, by reason of their lack of acquaintance with the subject matter. The legislative committee sent a letter to each of the 1700 members of the State society at that time, telling them, "You live in such and such an assembly district. Your

« PreviousContinue »