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Dental Journals of the United States

William H. Trueman, D. D. S., Philadelphia, Pa.

It is fortunate, indeed, tluit dental journalism made its advent in the
United States, for nowhere else in the wide world were conditions so favor-
able. Although the educational institutions of the American people may not
have reached as high a standard as those of longer settled communities,
nevertheless, the well ordered public schools made education far more gen-
eral, and the liberal facilities for distributing general literature made the
nation preeminently a nation of readers. No sooner was the first dental
journal well launched than others were quickly projected ; the dentist who
contemplated "writing a book" became an editor, and supplied his patients
with monthly "Dental Visitors" ; quarterly, or semi-annual "Dental Mir-
rors" ! or a "Family Dental Journal," now and again. Mr. Stockton, of
Philadelphia, issued his monthly advertising sheet, "Stockton's Dental In-
telligencer," and others in the same line followed his example. Some of
these remained as they began, mere advertisements; others liave developed
into professional journals of which any calling however exalted may justly
be jiroud. The publishers of these journals have generally been liberal in
sustaining them, and have as far as possil>le kept the business and scientific
sides separate and distinct. They have selected as editors men of recognized
ability and professional standing, and have observed all the requirements of
professional ethics.
Now and again sporadic attempts have been made to establish dental
journals separate and apart from any business association. Their projectors
have failed to realize that a dental journal when ready for its subscribers
becomes a commodity, notwithstanding its strictly professional association.
It must not only have merit, but it miist also have some recognized channel
to reach those on whom it depends for support and maintenance. Were the

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