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422 HISTOIiY OF DENTAL SURGERY

ing owned by tlie profession and specially dedicated to the cause of dental
education, which was another new thing under the sun.
"The stockholders held their first meeting in the lecture room of the college,
February 19, 1853, with Dr. Charles Bonsall in the chair, and Dr. Thomas
Wood as secretary.
"In 1851:, the old building, purchased from Dr. Talbot, having been found
inadequate to tlie growing wants of the college, the stockholders took steps
toward the erection of an entirely new edifice. As the location, College st., be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets, was central, it was decided to rebuild on
the same ground. With marvelous energy and promptness the new building
was erected and furnished in time for the opening of the ensuing course of
lectures. Tliis was the first building erected for the sole and special jmrpose
of dental education.
"In 1865, a change in the cliarter and general management of the col-
lege occurred. One object of the change was to bring the institution more
directly under the immediate supervision and control of the college asso-
ciation.
"A radical and advanced step in the cause of dental education was taken
by the college association and board of trustees on the 5th of March, 1867.
Its provision that tliere should be a division of the course into 'junior' and
'senior' studies ; and its further requirement that 'members of the junior class
will be required to pass an examination on the branches studied liefore en-
tering the senior class,' were at this time probably new features in the dental
collegiate study."
If we take up the history of the institution from the period described above,
we find that for ten years the college struggled hard for existence, the graduates
numbering seven in 1874. Dr. J. Taft was then dean and Dr. James Taylor
emeritus professor of institutes of dental science. In 1878 a new regime was
inaugurated with Dr. H A. Smith as dean and Dr. J. S. Cassidy secretary,
Dr .lames Taylor resuming his chair in the faculty.
By arduous work the matriculates were brought up to the number of fifty
and the graduates that year numbered twenty-four. The following year the
matriculates numbered sixty-nine and the graduates thirty-one, that being
the largest matriculation in the history of the school. Dr. George W. Keely, of
Oxford, delivered Ins first course of lectures on "Causes and Management of
Ii'regularities of the Teeth," which course was among the first ever given upon
that subject. It should be remembered that the requirements for graduation
in dentistry at that time prescribed attendance upon two sessions of about five