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414 HISTOEY OF DENTAL SUEGEKY

Beginning with the year 1848, members of tlie faculty were appointed
annually as delegates to the meetings of the American Medical Association.
Ten years after its birth found the dental college occupying an acknowl-
edged position as a valuable agent in dental and medical progress. Thus the
Baltimore college has exerted an influence that is ditticult to measure now; it
was the precurser and first type of a special school, and it furnished the charts
and compass that aided subsequently organized colleges greatly. If imitation
is the highest form of flattery, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery has
certainly cause for pride. It set the pace which has been followed in many
other cities. Its alumni have the right to claim a large place among the men
to whom is due the honor conceded to the name of "American dentist" all over
the civilized world.
The museum of tlie college contains many objects of historic and scientilic
interest. The collection of prosthetic specimens is particularly rich, represent-
ing the various stages through which prosthesis has luoved onward to the
present day. Among these are: A lower denture made in France witli the
eight posterior teeth carved in ivory, and the other eight (natural) teeth
attached to the plate by means of wooden jjivots: a full upper and lower carved
in ivory, the plate and teeth being continuous: an old lower set from England,
carved in ivory, with holes for riveting the teeth : partial uppers carved in
ivory: a full upper denture, the plate and six posterior teeth carved in ivory,
the other teeth porcelain, mounted liy means of gold pins and cylinders.
The pathological collection is also very extensive.
One of the requirements for graduation for candidates is to submit speci-
mens of mechanical or operative skill. Over a thousand of such specimens
are found in the museum. The collection of the skulls with the teeth in situ
of a great number of animals facilitates the study of comparative dental
anatomy.
Of historic interest is a collection of some of the instruments used a century
ago in dental surgery ; a molar extracted from the mouth of Amadeus I., king
of Spain, and presented to the college by J. C. Gardiner, D. D. S., of London:
another molar is one which evidently caused King George IV discomfort until
relieved by Eobert WootVendale, of London.
Here are found the death masks of Benjamin Franklin. Sir Isaac Newton,
King George III, Willis, the painter: Eoberts, the engraver: Zip, Barnum's
"What-is-it" of circus days gone by, and many others.
The ivory carved teeth, made by John Greenwood, for George Washington,
are now in the museum of the oldest of all dental colleges. This highly prized