place the profession where it deserves to be, it should be guarded against the charlatanism of those who would prate of themselves under titled forms or describe themselves in academic terms that taken seriously are pathetic but which we believe are looked upon generally with amusement. For instance we have in our midst an academy which is entirely devoid of academicians. We are inclined to marvel at the assumption. Should such a thing be mentioned where the well-nigh sacred lineage of the term is appreciated we wonder what the reaction would be. The profession can ill afford recognition to such a thing. Also there is the tendency to the display of newly made, badly made entirely unnecessary terms, terms that seem to be constructed and used entirely for their sound. Neither size or sound is deemed a rhetorical asset necessarily. Doubly true is it when a simple form is entirely adequate. There is no need for the supplanation of the effective, accepted term by some monstrosity in verbal concoction. Thus ever and anon we see periclasia, periodontoclasia, apioectomy, most recent of all pediadontia, and kindred forms. The whole assortment savers of glass diamond effects; it reminds one of the oratory heard in the colored chapel of days gone by. Big words have always been the playthings of the illiterate. Extraction is always better than exodontia; resection is honored in surgery and is adequate to dental needs. Apioectomy is an atrocity than which apicoectomy is slightly better. True it has been cannonized in some medical dictionaries but the Committee on Nomenclature will explain the difficulty they have restraining the publishers from printing anything that might help sales. Periclasia makes a hollow pretense but has its roots in nothingness. So on to the end. The Journal desires above everything to speak the findings of the profession and give to the world its pronouncements but it desires to conform to a standard that reflects credit upon its own pages and the profession. As the official mouthpiece of our national organization it wishes to present dentistry to the world with dignity and respect and in the future will employ such terms as those approved by our own commission on nomenclature. THE SALE OF THE RELIEF FUND SEALS. Ten thousand dentists and others have nobly responded to the appeal for the succor of our indigent members thru the sale of the Relief Fund Christmas Stamps. There are many who, thru neglect, oversight or otherwise, have not contributed to this worthy cause. If you have not already sent in your check, kindly do so immediately as it will save time and expense in writing you a personal letter. MEMBERSHIP DUES DUE JANUARY 1, 1920. All dues, which include the annual subscription to The Journal of the National Dental Association, are due January 1 of each year. The March Journal will not be mailed to any delinquent members. The ruling of the postoffice authorities is adamant on this proposition. Therefore, any dentist who has not already paid his state society dues for 1920 should do so immediately. The state society officers are cooperating with the National organization and will immediately upon receipt of the State dues mail the National dues to the National office. It will be impossible for us to furnish back copies, as we are only printing enough to supply our bona fide mailing list. An immediate compliance with this notice will save the delinquent member a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding. THE DENTAL PROFESSION'S TEN AIMS FOR 1920. 1. 29,000 members and 35,000 subscribers to The Journal. Average of 18% increase in membership in every component society. 2. $78,000 in the Relief Fund with a definite plan of distribution.-Every member a contributor to this worthy cause. 3. Thru the Research Commission and otherwise encouraging the spirit of scientific research and inventive genius.-Debt on the Research Institute Building paid. 4. 6,000 in attendance at the Boston meeting and the staging of a real "Seminar Course." 5. 2,000 additional volumes added to our National library. 6. Systematic and standardized graduate and post-graduate courses inaugurated and developed. The educational standard in every dental school raised.The classification of State Dental Examining Boards. 7. More efficient dental service to humanity.-National Oral Hygiene Bureaus established.—More public dental clinics.—Better dental laws.-Dental Hygienists recognized in every state. 8. All scientific papers to include complete bibliography.-Revision and standardization of nomenclature. 9. The three requisites for the successful dentist: Enthusiasm, Energy and Thoroness. 10. For every dentist to have a religion of truth, law, justice, work, democracy, mercy, monogamy, science and God. The Texas State Dental Society will hold its 40th annual convention on March 8-13, 1920, at Dallas, Texas. The special feature of this meeting will be postgraduate class courses conducted on the "Oklahoma Plan." These classes will be conducted by the following well known men: Dr. Thomas B. Hartzell, Minneapolis, Minn.; Dr. F. Ewing Roach, Chicago, Ill.; Dr. Arthur E. Smith, Chicago, Ill.; Dr. Dayton D. Campbell, Kansas City, Mo.; Dr. T. W. Maves, Minneapolis, Minn. Other instructors may be employed. J. G. FIFE, Secretary, 736 Wilson Bldg., Dallas, Texas. MINNESOTA STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION. The thirty-seventh annual convention of the Minnesota State Dental Association will be held at the West Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn., on March 4th, 5th and 6th, 1920. MAX E. ERNST, Secretary, 1125 Lowry Bldg., St. Paul, Minn. CHANGE OF DATES. The Fifty-sixth annual meeting of the Illinois State Dental Society will be held in Chicago beginning Monday, March 22, 1920, and continuing for four days. Headquarters at Congress Hotel, where sessions, clinics and exhibits will be housed. J. P. LUTHRINGER, Secy., Peoria, Ill. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. Watch for particulars in next issue concerning the home-coming of the Alumni Association of Western University School of Dentistry of St. Louis, Mo., to be held February 23rd-24th, 1920, at the College Building, 29th and Locust. A post-graduate course will be given with some of our greatest men in dentistry giving lectures, the names to be announced later. Be sure to save this date open. Everybody welcome. PUBLICITY COMMITTEE. FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS. There will be a special session of the Florida State Board of Dental Examiners, January 15, 1920, at 7:30 P. M. in the office of the Secretary, Jacksonville, Fla., for the purpose of examining all qualified applicants, who may come before them at that time. For further information address Dr. R. P. Taylor, 414-15 St. James Bldg., Jacksonville, Fla. MISSING NUMBERS WANTED. Vanderbilt University, School of Dentistry, wishes to complete the volumes of The Journal of the National Dental Association. The missing numbers are 1, 2 and 3 of 1914. Also Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 of 1919. It is understood that the usual price per copy will be paid. Who will help good old Vandy? D. M. CATTELL, Chairman, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF DENTAL TEACHERS. The next annual meeting of the American Institute of Dental Teachers will be held at Detroit, Mich., January 27, 28 and 29, 1920. Hotel Statler will be the headquarters. A cordial invitation is extended to all persons' interested in dental teaching. DR. RUSSELL W. BUNTING, Pres. ALUMNI SOCIETY OF THE DEWEY SCHOOL OF ORTHODONTIA. The next annual meeting of this society will be held on April 1-2-3, 1920, at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, The usual high standard of the meetings of this Society will be maintained. One half day will be devoted to clinics. All interested in Orthodontia are cordially invited to attend these meetings. GEORGE F. BURKE, Secretary. 741-45 David Whitney Bldg. Detroit, Michigan. MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY DENTAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. The Marquette University Dental Alumni Association will hold its meeting February 11, 12, 13, 1920 in the Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. V. A. SMITH, Secy., 755 Second St., Milwaukee, Wis. MISSISSIPPI DENTAL ASSOCIATION. The Mississippi Dental Association will hold its annual meeting at Jackson, April 19-23, 1920, inclusive. W. F. BEAVERS, Secretary, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ORTHODONTISTS. The next meeting of the American Society of Orthodontists will be held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, Ill., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 5th, 6th and 7th. Those interested in Orthodontia are invited to attend. ALUMNI SOCIETY OF THE PHILADELPHIA DENTAL COLLEGE. The annual meeting of the Alumni Society of the Philadelphia College will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 1920, at 9 A. M. in the college building at 18th and Buttonwood Sts., Philadelphia. All members of the Alumni should note the date and arrange to be present. FRANKLIN S. FLUCK, Pub. Com. PREPAREDNESS LEAGUE OF AMERICAN DENTISTS FRENCH- BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. We are glad to report the receipt of more contributions to the League fund for French and Belgian dentists who have suffered so severely from the war. As American dentists we should deem it a distinct privilege to give aid to our unfortunate brothers, for the benefits we enjoy are greater than those of any similar body of men in the whole world and our income is far in excess of any previous time. Let us not forget that to give is but to receive and the giver is the one who becomes greatly enriched thereby. Did you ever stop to question the ownership of the worldly goods in your possession? No doubt it would require much argu |