Page 31 - My FlipBook

A History of the Development of

Dentistry

By Charles R. E. Koch, D. I). S., Chicago, 111.

EGYPTIAN AND GRECIAN ANTIQUITY.
1^ order to pursue tlie study of history intelliKc-ntly and with adyantage, it
is frequently essential to throw the search lights of inyestigation back to
periods and beginnings which are shrouded by the mysterious and fabu-
lous traditions of the niytholugical ages. It has always been desirable, and,
in fact, essential, in the study of history, that a broad yiew of antecedents
be had in order fully to realize and understand that which was, and to learn
the trend of thought and of action in the onward march of time which
resulted in events and deyelopments that brought about that which now is.
The growth, eyolution and achieyement of nations have been on a i)arallel
with tliat of science and of art. Neither has been of sudden creation, l>ui
each has been the result of slow accretion.
The history of dentistry in the initial evolution stage must be traced to that
of medicine and surgery. Tt seems like a paradox, and yet it is undoubtedly
tnie, that the beneficent profession of the healing art had its origin in sacri-
ficial offerings of animals to the honor of Deity, and in their uses as human
food. These, to some extent, taught a certain class of men anatomy and
pliysiology of tlic lower animals at least. Man, in his private and associated
capacity, ever since the days of Cain and Abel, has indulged in private and
public combats resulting in injuries and wounds of the human body. It is fair
to suppose these developed something of tlie knowledge of human anatomy and
physiology. The ancient Egyptians undoubtedly gained greatly in knowl-
edge of the structure of the human body and its physiological functions as a
result of their espousal of the doctrine of soul migration, wliicli led them t')