Page 24 - My FlipBook

IV. INTRODUCTION.
and the utility of its correet and faithful practice eminently
entitle it to ; and to shield it from that opprobrium which is
too often cast upon it, not because it is intrinsically worth-
less, but because it is frequently rendered useless, nay,
injurious by the host of those itinerant (I beg pardon, itine-
rant or resident) vagrants, who assume, for the sake of lucre,
to manage the functions and discharge the duties of a pro-
fession, their ignorance of which, to say the least, is ex-
ceeded only by their impudence and rapacity, or their
sordid love of unearned gain.
And another reason ; if we be so fortunate as to treat
our subject judiciously, to represent its merits faithfully,
and to elucidate it clearly, in order that it may be~ more
generally understood ; to accomplish though partially, our
design, as before expressed, that we may possibly derive an
advantage tantamount to our trouble in executing the un-
dertaking.
Thus, it will be seen that we have a tripple object ; viz.
to benefit community, our profession and ourselves.
But as to the latter, we are not so idly vain, as to expect,
or hope that our exertions will be crowned with golden
rewards, with literary fame, or with professional distinction ;
but rather, in aiding our profession to subserve the interests
of community ; to have that profession respectable, as it
shall be useful ; and to render oui selves useful in the sphere
of our profession ; aiming to participate in the general
advantage.
Our design is to present a familiar treatise on the subject
of the teeth ; pointing out the most judicious management
of these organs from infancy to old age. Such as the
requisite care to be bestowed on them, by those who have
the management of children ; and subsequently, that, by
the individual possessor himself; and thaf again, which it