of quack establishments. However this may be, the result is the same, the young manhood of the profession is being dwarfed, and vital capacity for growth as a body is curtailed to the same degree.

And now to each intelligent practitioner, I would propound the question, "Is this departure on the part of the young men from the well-beaten paths of our predecessors calculated to undermine a prac tice built up by years of unceasing toil and labor along ethical lines?" "No, if we could but hope that these professional renegades would some day be reclaimed; but on the contrary their tendency is usually downward until they voluntarily drop out of professional circles, and reflect upon their Alma Mater by advertising in a most promiscuous manner.

A peculiar characteristic of the American people is, a desire to get the best and most for the least money, and hence they are attracted by the advertising dentist to make investigations, and he, appreciating the situation, readily explains that times have changed, and that just in proportion as work is facilitated by new appliances and improvements, is the dentist under obligation to the people to reduce his fees for services rendered.

The ethical man, forgetful that present economic problems are the natural and logical results of industrial activities, which if bravely met and worked out will lay the material foundation for the social development of the profession, ponders in his leisure hours the fact that so many of his patients have been lost to him by virtue of commercial inducements thrown out, and in many instances he grows pessimistic, declaring that the profession is doomed. Under these circumstances it is easy for him to reconcile to himself the uselessness of either attending dental societies or serving in any capacity that tends toward organization, rather preferring to remain at home and guard his own interests. Just here you may lay your finger upon the heart of apathy in the dental profession, which has actually become a contagion, confining itself to no locality, but prevailing throughout the entire country.

This fact is to be greatly deplored, and an energetic movement in favor of local organization should be inaugurated at once which would not only largely counteract its morbid tendency, and overcome the inertia so apparent everywhere, but engender brotherly love and confidence among the professional men of the community,

unite them upon some feasible plan to defeat this shopping disposition among the people, and prepare them by contact and systematic study to keep well in advance of the public mind and at the same time devise ways and means for educating it to a higher appreciation of the true mission of Dentistry. As a practical illustration of local organizations, consider the efficiency of the ministers "Monday Morning Conference," the county medical societies, the various trade and labor unions, to unite their common interests and materially improve their condition. Personally I have seen all these different orders successfully carrying out their plans, and in Alabama the dentist is the only man who is willing to conduct his own affairs without regard to associational helps. Permit me to ask how many cities to say nothing of the towns, within the limits of this Association have local societies? Gentlemen, when we consider how small is the percentage of organized force in the profession, and how heedless we have been with respect to this question, is it any wonder that we suffer from apathy?

We as a profession have kept step with the mechanical activities of the nineteenth century, as is witnessed by the elegantly appointed and perfectly equipped modern dental offices; but if we would still march in the vanguard of progress, these surroundings must become only the material prototype of the spiritual development of the twentieth century during which the study of man will be more highly esteemed than matter, and the ethical adjustment of his relations, through social and economic organization, of profounder moment than the mechanical adjustment of material means and ends for his gratification and convenience.

Hence the spirit of the times invites us to-day, to the undertaking of two great projects, fraught with vital possibilities to the Dental Profession-the thorough organization of its forces, and the education of the people. And we, assembled here in convention, should not lose this opportunity of bringing forward plans for the dissemination of dental information among the people, for the appreciation of which the public school and other systems are preparing the rising generation; and, further, we should become partakers in the development of the associated life of the future, by taking direct steps toward local organization, qualified representation from which so

cieties would tend to promote the intelligent growth of this body, and of the National Association.

Dr. J. Y. Crawford, Nashville:-I have made no special preparation for the discussion of this paper. I wish to thank the gentleman for the very properly and well prepared paper. The latter part of the paper called attention to some very significant questions, that suggest themselves to our mind at this time.

While my life has been largely made up of optimistic views, and has been more inclined to optimism than otherwise, yet I am inclined to think we should give some consideration to the pessimistic side of the question. One of the strangest things to me that I have ever thought upon, is for an individual, that expects to engage in a vocation that has for its object the advancement of the human race, does not give more consideration to the moral and intellectual side of the question. If he expects to be brought in contact with a learned profession, these qualities should be paramount over all other considerations. One of the principal points in the paper, that impressed me very much, was the question of preliminary qualifications in entering upon the college course of study. I have longed to see the time in dental surgery when the line of demarkation between bad and good would be passed. Others here will agree with me when I say that we have seen the time when a great many of the men, who were engaged in the practice of dentistry, were doing more harm than good. I am glad to say that I have lived in a time when we have crossed the line of demarkation, and the dental surgeons are doing more good than harm. I hope to live long enough to see the time when our institutions shall not only require a good preliminary education, but shall require the applicant to undergo a physical examination touching upon his qualification to become a dental surgeon. The lowest department of the governmental service cannot be engaged in until the applicant has passed his physical examination. The idea is not to get men who are imperfect, men who have incurable diseases; but good men, men who have a moral, intellectual and physical character, having no elements of perversion marking them.

Dr. J. E. Chace, Ocala, Fla. :-I would like to thank Dr. Vann for his thoroughly prepared paper. It strikes me as a very important study along psychological lines. I shall look forward with pleasure to

seeing his paper in print. There are many good ideas with regard to our profession.

Dr. M. F. Finley, Washington:-I would like to say one or two things. I wish to thank Dr. Vann for the ideas he has expressed and to acknowledge my appreciation of his paper. I am fully in accord with what Dr. Crawford has said. My idea is to do something in the line of ethics which will influence the student before entering the profession, and which will maintain its hold upon him throughout his career. In the college course, to impress upon him the necessity of living in accordance with the ethics of the profession. It occurs to me that we could demand of a student, on entering college, as much as is demanded of an applicant for membership in a secret society. We could require of him an obligation to live an ethical life after leaving school. More effect could be had on that line, when he is entering his college career, than after he has once gotten into the ranks of the profession, and has gone in the wrong direction. I have read some articles in the journals on this subject in which the claim was made in which the burden of properly controlling the individual in the profession lies on the Societies, whereas, I think, it rests with the colleges. The colleges might insert a clause in their diplomas which would make the validity of them conditional upon the possessors of such diplomas conforming strictly to the code of ethics.

Dr. J. J. Sarrazin, New Orleans:—I am glad to see Dr. Finley take the position he does, and I think his idea is not only a possible one, but quite a practical one. I am glad to say that this idea has occured to us down in the South, and, I should say, in the City of Atlanta, of making graduation of a candidate conditional upon his subscribing to the code of ethics, and constantly bringing before him the importance of making him live up to it. It is not a new idea, and, as I said above, it is possible and practical. This impression should be made early in the day. A strong impression made upon the young mind is much more lasting than it would be later in life. I think it would be a good idea, if we could make this a general custom throughout the entire country; making the signing of the code of ethics a condition of the diploma, and keeping it constantly in the minds of the students. Insert such a clause in the diploma that, when seen in after life, it would show that the holder is a

traitor instead of trying to live as an honorable individual; if he be not ethical.

Dr. Wm. Crenshaw, Atlanta:-It would be a difficult matter to elaborate upon anything the essayist has said in his paper. The remarks made upon it are valuable, and appreciated by us all. concur most fully in Dr. Finley's suggestions, and wish they could be carried out. I am glad to see the teaching institutions in the South following the suggestions made by Atlanta. I have the honor to have inaugurated the signing of the code of ethics before the student can graduate. The idea originated with me, so far as I know. It is my fond and anxious desire to have them remain ethical after graduation. So far as we can make it imperative, we have done so. I sincerely wish no man would come forward for graduation, who does not mean to live up to the code of ethics. There is more in the maintenance of the profession that we think. After studying the question carefully, you must decide that it is of extreme importance to stick closely to the code. I am sure I voice the sentiment of this assemblage, when I say that we are very greatly indebted to Dr. Vann for his valuable paper.

Dr. W. O. Tolbot, Biloxi, Miss.:-I heartily concur with the gentlemen who have just spoken. I wish to endorse the suggestion of Dr. Finley in regard to signing the code of ethics before a man is allowed to graduate, also inserting an oath in the diplomas that he would be required to sign. I do not think the oath could be made too strong. I also think it would be a good idea to insert a clause in the catalog of the colleges, announcing that the applicant for graduation would be required to sign the code of ethics, and to make an oath that he would live up to it. He would know then what he was to sign before entering. I think all institutions have the right to insert such a clause in their diplomas.

Dr. A. M. Jackson, Milledgeville, Ga. :—I think these suggestions very good. Signing an oath does not bind a rascal. Incorporate a clause in the diploma to the effect that the legality of the diploma depended upon their living up to the code of ethics. I believe the colleges have a perfect right to insert such a clause. Such a diplomawould reflect dishonor continually, should the holder attempt "quackey."

Dr. Young-I understood the paper to be on Apathy in the