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HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGZRY 413

York City ; Robert Arthur, of Baltimore ; Joseph Lavier, of Norfolk, Va. ; R.
Covington Mackall, of Baltimore.
Dr. Harris, on November 3, 1840, delivered the introductory lecture, and
lectures and practical instruction continued to the latter part of February,
1841. According to the provision of the charter two students could become
candidates for graduation after attendance of but one session. These two candi-
dates were Robert Arthur and R. Covington Mackall, of whom we learn that
'"each having defended a thesis and sustained a satisfactory examination, the
faculty resolved to admit them to the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery."
Dr. Hayden conferred the first degrees on March 9, 1841, Dr. Bond deliv-
ered the valedictory. After the close of the first session honorary degrees of
D. D. S. were conferred on a number of prominent dentists at home and
abroad. Diplomas were sent to Canada, England, Scotland and France. In
some cases the request for honorary degrees were granted at once, in others
inquiries into the professional standing of the applicants were instituted before
the faculty honored such requests, and some applications were laid on the table.
Under the charter any reputable dentist could apply for an examination,
and dentists who failed to obtain the honorary degree applied for examination
themselves in order to secure the D. D. S. degree. Candidates were required
to submit a thesis and specimens of their mechanical work ; they were also re-
quired to demonstrate their operative skill on a patient, and subjected to an
oral examination. All applicants did not succeed in securing the diploma. In
the minutes appears the following:

Dr. S., a practitioner of dentistry of fourteen years, was admitted to the examina-
tion for the degree of D. D. S., and rejected as altogether unworthy of the honor, as he
showed no acquaintance with the science of dentistry, being nothing but a dental me-
chanic.
From the beginning both theoretical and practical instruction were given,
the facilities for the latter were rather limited until 1846. That year the first
dental infirmary was established. As early as 1843, the college had a demon-
strator of mechanical dentistry, and, in 1846, also a demonstrator of operative
dentistry.
In 1852, the chair of "practical dentistry" was divided by the establishment
of a chair of mechanical and a chair of operative dentistry. The faculty was
constantly alert in its efforts to expand the course of instruction. The number
of students steadily increased. In 1841, there were but two students to
graduate and, in 18.j1, eighteen students received their diplomas.