Protest Against Dental Exhibitions. [Volume: 2, Issue: 5, December, 1860, pp. 262-264]

262

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

In neither case does a sufficient quantity of the oil get into the mouth
to cause any serious derangement of the mucous surfaces, much less of the
teeth themselves. It is true, there are cases reported of cancer of the
tongue and lips, said to be caused by pipe smoking; but does this not
rather arise from the mechanical irritation of the pipe stem, rubbing
against those parts, than from the tobacco itself? We sometimes have
encysted tumors, caused by jagged and broken teeth, irritating the tongue
or cheek. I do not wish to be considered an advocate for the use of
tobacco, neither do I condemn it, for to me it seems to have supplied a
want-a necessity, if you choose-in the human economy, else why would
its use have become so universal?
It has prevailed against the direst opposition; against laws, taxation,
and duties to suppress it, even as truth is said to prevail. Still I would
not have dentists use it, except at such times as to allow the evidences of
it to dissipate themselves, before coming in contact with their patients.
The fumes of tobacco are unpleasant to most ladies, a class with whom
we have more to do than any other. That alone should be a sufficient
reason for not using it. Their engagements with us are of a sufficiently
unpleasant nature. We should, therefore, endeavor to make all our surroundings as pleasant and agreeable as possible, for two reasons-the first,
and by far the most worthy of consideration, is their comfort; the second,
is for our own pecuniary advantage.
PROTEST AGAINST DENTAL EXHIBITIONS.
BY C. BREWSTER, D.D.S.
INCLOSED I send you a Protest against Dental Exhibitions, in the form
of a petition to the Committees of Public Exhibitions, to refuse the bestowal of prizes on any such objects. Will you authorize me to affix your
name to it? If so, please sign the accompanying copy. The dentists in
this city have unanimously agreed to sign it. I have sent a similar copy to
every dentist in Upper and Lower Canada (whose name I could procure.)
My project is to get every dentist in the two Provinces to sign the
paper sent to him, and return it to me; whereupon, having collected the
signatures of all those favorable to the project, I will then attach all the
names that I am thus authorized to use, to fresh copies of the petition,
and return one to every signer, retaining the original signatures, so that
should a committee at any time object to the petition on the ground that
it was not the original, the dentist presenting it could procure from me
the original if required; to be returned again, however, in case it might in
future be again called for by some other committee. Thus two or three,
or I hope all the dentists in every city, town or village would have in his
possession one of these copies. And any one of these dentists presenting