USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 75
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943
THE PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY.
the Brooklyn Dental Society ; he was a man of considerable mental and physical power, social to a fault, and, like many others of similar temperament, earned and lost several com- petences. Up to the time of his death, he continued in the practice which circumstances would not allow him to relin- quish.
A history of dentistry cannot be written through biographical sketches of individual practitioners, how- ever conspicuous they may have been in the profession. It is only through a careful study of its societies and associations that we can gain a satisfactory knowledge of the growth of the profession among us, and of its wonderful development, within the past twenty-five years, from a trade to a profession. To this end we must direct our attention to facts bearing on the ques- tion of organization. In the primary stages of Ameri- can dentistry, the profession (if such we may be per- mitted to call it) was peculiar, but not singular, in the fact of its strong conservatism. This state is common to all bodies numerically small and scientifically de- ficient, as were the pioneers in the profession. Under such conditions, it is almost invariably the case that processes and agencies are jealously guarded in secrecy ; and the approach of inquiry and investigation is viewed with a watchful and forbidding eye. Knowledge that is possessed under such conditions is naturally regarded as the property, and for the benefit of the individual alone. The dental horizon began to clear about the year 1837, when was instituted in New York city an association of dentists under the title of the New York Society of Dental Surgeons. This body was short-lived; we have no records of its doings, objects, or date of be- ginning or ending. It was, however, the father of all future organizations throughout the country. The seed sown by Dr. Horace H. Hayden in 1837, has borne an extraordinary return, not alone in the number of so- cieties scattered over the land (the total membership of which to-day is more than seventeen thousand); but in the standing of these bodies of representative men. The scientific ability, local prestige and reputation for probity and diplomacy, which was possessed by these men, was recognized, however, at Albany, in 1868, when the Dental Bill was framed, presented to the Legisla- ture, fought for, and passed.
In the fall of 1853, at the office of Dr. H. N. Strat- ton, was organized in Brooklyn
"The Long Island Association of Dental Sur- geons"-the first dental society organized in Kings county. The preamble is terse and epigrammatic, viz .: "This society is organized for the improvement and elevation of dental science, and the establishment of a proper sentiment of respect among dental practitioners." The Constitution provided that " the Examining Com- mittee shall have been practicing dentists in good stand- ing for at least five years;" that "the yearly subscrip- tion shall be three dollars, payable in advance;" that a member might be expelled, " providing always, the ac-
cused shall, after an impartial hearing, have failed to exculpate himself;" that " the Treasurer should give se- curity for the trust reposed in him;" that "members of the association shall not take students for a less term than two years, &c." The first board of officers of this association was as follows, in the order named: D. H. Mirick, Recording Secretary; G. A. Cooper, Corres- ponding Secretary; James E. Miller, Treasurer; Martin K. Bridges, Librarian. Examining Committee : J. Branique, J. P. Fredericks, and James E. Miller. Execu- tive Committee, B. S. Lyman, A. H. Griswold and C. B. Hammond. The organization was of a purely social nature; a light repast was eaten, amid jocular repartee and good-natured merriment. Later on, however, the dinners grew more pretentious, more elaborate; notably those given by Dr. Stratton, who, at this time occupied rooms above the baking establishment conducted by his brother on Atlantic avenue. Disaffection among the simpler-minded or perhaps less fortunate members fol- lowed this innovation; and, as nothing was done to pro- mote the " Science of Dentistry," the society adjourned sine die after an existence of about two years.
Services of Brooklyn Dentists in the Civil War. -During an interval of several years, dentistry lan- guished throughout the country; organization, except for " the rank and file" was scarcely thought of; the shadow of a great war was upon us; local interests were forgotten; the nation's safety was the engrossing theme. Dr. F. W. DOLBEARE, inspired with feelings worthy the cause, devoted his time and energies to mustering troops for the 159th New York Volunteers, which regiment, under command of General E. L. Molineux, joined General Banks at New Orleans, and met with fatal dis- aster at Bayou Teche, Louisiana.
Dr. J. P. FREDERICKS served as Commissary at Washington, and later on at New Orleans; and, shortly after the war, died, regretted in social and military circles. Dr. GEO. W. BRUSH, in 1861, then eighteen years of age, joined the 48th New York; he was soon made Second Lieutenant and commissioned to the 2d South Carolina, afterwards known as the 34th United States Colored Troops; this regiment, together with many others, was organized by General Hunter, who commissioned white officers, by order of Secretary of War, to take charge of them, and educate the colored troops, not alone in the art or artfulness of war, but in reading, writing and spelling. The spelling-book kept company in the belt with the bayonet and pistol; and, so eager were these dusky pupils for knowledge, that the night was turned into day by huge camp fires, about which they clustered, anxiously scanning the mysterious ciphers of the alphabet by the uncertain light. Dr. Brush graduated from the ranks at the close of the war, at the age of twenty-two, a Captain.
In writing up the War Record of Kings county dentists, we are pleased to give space to Dr. E. H. DICKEY, who served with the First New Jersey Light
944
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Artillery, Battery " B," a Newark organization of no mean notoriety. During his eighteen months of active service, Dr. Dickey attended to the needs of the men professionally. Upon a stump, or any other conveni- ent substitute for a dental chair, the patient was seated, the instruments were scattered ready at hand upon the ground, and, surrounded by a hundred or more in- terested spectators, the work of torture began. The Doctor tells his army experiences with pardonable pride; he served his country actively; his professional know- ledge was very largely augmented, and into his purse fell day by day from ten to fifteen bright gold dol- lars.
Dr. CHAS. H. BIDDLE enlisted August, 1862, in Com- pany " D" of the 139th New York State Volunteers; with this regiment he served through the war, and was honorably discharged in July, 1865, unscathed and a Corporal.
Dr. C. L. BISBEE's war experiences are, no doubt, similar to those of Dr. Biddle ; he having joined Com- pany "C" of the 139th New York State Volunteers at the outbreak of the rebellion. After three long years of varying fortune, a period crowded with incidents (never other than interesting when narrated by the doctor), upon his discharge, and return to Brooklyn, he began at once the study of dentistry with Dr. Mi- rick.
These few names, whose army service we have re- corded, are all among the profession in Kings county who participated actively in the late War of the Re- bellion.
In 1861, a desire for co-operative union among all the professions was felt. In dentistry, this found ex- pression and definite shape, in the spring of that year, at the residence of Dr. D. W. Allen in West Eleventh street, New York city, at which place was organized (by Dr. W. H. Atkinson, who had come but recently from Cleveland, Ohio)
The New York Dental Society .- This associa- tion, after it was instituted, met in the Cooper Union, and was not in any sense local. It stretched its gene- rous arms across both the North and East rivers to sister cities, gathering within its hospitable embrace all those who chose to accept the principles shadowed forth in its constitution. Among the members of this society were many Brooklyn practitioners, who, one year later with kindliest feelings, but because of greater con- venience, thought it advisable to withdraw to Brooklyn; where, at the office of Dr. O. E. Hill, then at 276 Ful- ton street, was organized, on the twelfth day of June, 1862,
The Brooklyn Dental Association, with the following BOARD OF OFFICERS: W. C. Parks, President; A. H. Hawes, Vice-President; John Allen, Treasurer; Wm. B. Hurd, Secretary. The original membership of this society was thirteen; composed chiefly, strange as it may seen, of New York dentists. This number
was not materially augmented during the short and un- eventful life of the association, covering as it did a period of perhaps four years, through the last half of which it languished, and ultimately died from sheer neglect. This, no doubt, arose from the fact that the time of the members of the society became too fully occupied, professionally, to allow them opportunity to attend properly the duties incumbent upon them.
The year following the dissolution of the above society marks a new epoch in dental good-fellowship in Kings county; for, at the house of Dr. Geo. A. Mills, 113 Henry street, was organized, on the fourteenth day of December, 1867,
The Brooklyn Society of Dental Science and Art-First OFFICERS: H. G. Mirick, President; Chas. D. Cook, Vice-President; E. L. Childs, Recording Secre- tary; Wm. Jarvis, Jr., Corresponding Secretary; I. C. Monroe, Treasurer. Considerable dissatisfaction was felt among the members of this organization, because of the length and pretentiousness of the name, which was changed on January 4, 1869, to
The Brooklyn Dental Society, by which it is now known. During the first year of this society the State Dental Law went into effect, a fact due (not a little) to perfect organization and unanimity of purpose among the members. At this time all were workers ; the minds of the society were pregnant with new pro- jects; visionary formulas took shape; experimental ideas were advanced and developed; the leaven of the whole society was a keen desire to elevate the beneficent as well as social and scientific side of the profession. After many lengthy and exhaustive discussions at the regular and special meetings, an entirely novel and very praiseworthy enterprise was started, namely a Dental Infirmary, which was opened at 260 Washington street on the morning of January 10th, 1870. The time of the members was so apportioned that each devoted one- half a day a month to the charitable venture, thus in- suring the attendance of one or more experienced prac- titioners at all times. For two years, this infirmary was supported almost entirely by the Brooklyn Dental Society; after which time, the expenses having largely increased, the Legislature was asked to contribute $1,500 annually, from the funds set aside for State Infirmaries. This request was acceded to; and, for two years longer, the worthy poor were treated gratuitously ; clinics were held daily; much experimental work was done. But, through lukewarmness, lack of interest or some other inexplicable cause, the greatest monument that the Brooklyn Dental Society ever reared to its honor, succumbed to circumstances. Thus died the only Dental Infirmary ever founded in the United States.
The Society was duly incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York, February 17, 1869 ; the official documents filed at Albany, April 5th, 1869. Shortly after this, the Code of Ethics of the American
945
THE PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY.
Dental Association was adopted. Nothing of special moment occurred until March 13, 1882, when, in con- junction with the Kings County Medical Society, a Library and Reading Room was established at Ever- ett Hall, No 398 Fulton street. The original society numbered but twelve; the present membership is forty- five. OFFICERS : James H. Race, Pres .; J. B. Brown, Vice-Pres .; L. G. Wilder, Rec. Secy .; W. H. Johnston, Cor. Sec .; F. C. Walker, Treas .; W. M. Ramsdell, Librarian.
The Presidents of this organization, both as the Brook- lyn Society of Dental Science and the Brooklyn Dental Society, have been as follows : H. G. Mirick, 1867-'8 ; C. D. Cook, 1868-'9 ; O. E. Hill, 1869-'70 ; G. A. Mills, 1870-'1 ; A. H. Brockway, 1871-'2 ; William Jarvie, Jr., 1872-'3 ; W. T. Shannon, 1873-'4 ; William E. Elmendorf, 1874-'5 ; W. H. Atkinson, 1875-'6 ; H. G. Mirick, 1876-'7; O. E. Hill, 1877-'8 ; C. D. Cook, 1878- '80; J. E. Monroe, 1880-'1; A. H. Brockway, 1881-'2.
On December 17, 1867, in response to an informal call, a convention of delegates, representing the several den- tal societies of the State, met at Utica, N. Y., to confer as to the advisability of securing from the Legislature a law regulating the practice of dentistry. A law was finally drafted and presented to the Legislature April 7th, 1868, and passed. The passage of the bill was largely due to the efforts of the Brooklyn Dental So- ciety which was very actively represented at Albany.
This law secured the perfect organization of the den- tal profession, and its legal recognition; and gave " The Dental Society of the State of New York," authority to issue legal diplomas to all applicants who should be found worthy. On application made by the Dental So- ciety of the State of New York the ensuing winter, an amendment was passed, giving to the Society the authority to confer with its diploma the degree of " Master of Dental Surgery " (M.D.S.), in evidence that its possessor has not only passed the rigid and thorough examination of the Board of Censors in compliance with the law, but is qualified for and actnally engaged in regular and successful practice.
In March, 1878, a Mr. Garvin, a resident politician of the famous Sixth Ward of New York, introduced into the Assembly an amendment to section 9 of the dental law passed April 7, 1868, necessitating all dentists to be college graduates, and to hold diplomas testifying to that fact. This was clearly a stroke at the dental pro- fession, the majority of whose older and more promi- nent practitioners had made themselves proficient through early apprenticeships and long years of active experience; these men were recognized masters of their profession, yet had never been subjected to qualifying examinations, or received diplomas from any society, board or college. Owing to the vigorous opposition of dentists from all parts of the state, the bill failed to pass. In May, 1878, at the annual meeting of the Dental Society of the State of New York, a bill was
unanimously endorsed, and, through Senator Lippit, in- troduced before the Legislature, where it became a law June 20, 1879. (Chap. 540 of the Laws of that Session), which provided that:
" It shall be unlawful for any person to practice Dentistry in the State of New York for fee or reward, unless he shall have received a proper diploma, or certificate of qualification from the State Dental Society, or from the faculty of a repu- table dental or medical college, recognized as such by said society; provided that nothing in this section shall apply to persons now engaged in the practice of Dentistry in the State of New York, and that
"Every person practicing Dentistry within this State shall, within sixty days after the passage of this act, register in the office of the clerk of the county where located.
In order, also to protect those already in practice, through neglect or ignorance of the above enactment, another law (Chap. 376,) was passed May 26, 1881, affording them a further opportunity for registration.
SECTION 1. Any person who was engaged in the regular practice of dentistry within this state on the twentieth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, and who was entitled to registration as a dentist as provided by the third section of chapter five hundred and forty of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, entitled " An act to reg- ulate the practice of dentistry in the state of New York," but who failed to cause his name to be registered as therein pro- vided, and who shall make and file with the clerk of the county in which he registers, his affidavit to the affect that he was so engaged in such practice of dentistry and so enti- tled to registration, may, within sixty days after the passage of this act, cause his name, office and post-office address to be registered in the county clerk's office in the manner pro- vided in said third section of said act, and such registration shall have like force and effect as if made within the time prescribed by said section of said act. Any person who sball wilfully make and file a false affidavit for the purpose of pro- curing such registration shall be subject to conviction and punishment for perjury.
§ 2. . Every person hereafter authorized to practice den- tistry within this state shall, before commencing to practice, register in the clerk's office of the county where he intends to commence the practice of dentistry, in a book to be kept for that purpose, his name, office and post-office address, together with the name of the society, college or other authority from which he has received his diploma or certificate of qualifica- tion to practice dentistry.
§ 3. The clerk of any county shall be obliged, upon the payment to him of the sum of twenty-five cents, to make the registry of any person provided for in the second section of this act, which sum the clerk is entitled to collect and receive from the person registering.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Kings County Dental Society .- The Dental Law provides that the State shall be divided into eight dis- tricts, in each of which shall be organized a society under the jurisdiction of The Dental Society of the State of New York." Under this provision Kings county is embraced in the Second District Society, which in- cludes the following counties, viz: Richmond, Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Put- nam and Dutchess. The County Society was organized on the seventh day of April, 1868. The first OFFICERS
946
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
were: W. B. Hurd, President; G. A. Mills, Vice-Presi- dent; Wm. Jarvie, Jr., Recording Secretary; H. G. Mirick, Treasurer; L. S. Straw, Corresponding Secre- tary. Thirty-eight members were enrolled at this meet- ing, and the present membership is sixty-five. OFFICERS: E. H. Dickey, President; W. A. Campbell, Vice-Presi- dent; Jno. J. Pitts, Recording Secretary; L. G. Wilder, Treasurer; F. C. Walker, Corresponding Secretary; F. W. Dolbeare, Librarian. The society has practically demonstrated since the beginning of its existence the wisdom of organization, and the benefits that invaria- bly follow in the wake of co operative union and har- mony.
DR .G. F. REESE, has discovered and patented a com- position for making artificial dentures ; many advan- tages are claimed for this foundation by the inventor. DR. THOS. O. OLIVER is known to the profession through his plastic fillings of French alloy, amalgam, and gutta percha, all of which rank high in excellence. DR. A. N. CHAPMAN has recently invented an in- genious device for fastening artificial teeth to the plate. DR. W. K. NORTHALL, one of the pioneer den- tists of Brooklyn, discovered and introduced the use of arsenic for the devitalization of the pulp in the tooth, and generously advertised his discovery, the importance of which was immediately recognized, and the use of arsenic for the purpose named became universal. The most valuable invention claimed for Kings county is that made by DR. A. J. WATTS, who discovered and patented, in 1853, a method by which gold can be crys- tallized, and, in that state, used with far better results for all dental purposes than in the foil. Many and ex- tremely various were the tests applied to the new form of gold, all of which resulted favorably, thus demon- strating practically the merits of the discovery. Ob- jections were thus almost immediately overcome, and the profession generally endorsed and used crystal, or spone gold, as it was at times called. With its intro- troduction a new era was opened in dentistry, in the . restoring with gold of broken and lost portions of (and occasionally even whole crowns of) teeth; the value of this invention cannot be over-estimated.
Something like an approximate idea of the vastness of the profession and its extraordinary growth may be had from the following facts : One hundred years ago the United States was possessed of but one dentist, an Englishman, John Woofendale by name, who remained in this country less than two years, when he returned home. In 1873, there were 12,000 dentists in America. Now there are 17,000. Brooklyn to-day claims 193 active practitioners. The consumption of gold for professional purposes is enormous. It is variously esti- mated that from one to three tons is used annually in packing the teeth of the American people. A certain Kings county statistician recently prophesied, after careful mathematical deduction, that, in the twenty-first century, all the gold in the country will be in the
graveyards. We acknowledge our indebtedness to Drs. O. E. HILL, D. H. MIRICK and C. D. Cook for the very generous assistance they rendered the compiler of the above historical sketch.
DR. GEORGE W. FRAIM .- The name Fraim was originally spelled Fraime. By different branches of the family in America it is now variously spelled Fraime, Fraim, and Frame. Three brothers of the name, all English Quakers, came to America in the latter part of the seventeenth cen- tury, one of them locating in what is now Chester county, Pa., another on Long Island, N. Y., and the third elsewhere in the then sparsely settled country, presumably in western Pennsylvania. The family of Hoffnagle was very early in Lancaster, Pa., where one of the name purchased property which was conveyed to him directly from William and Thomas Penn. A portion of the property mentioned wasthe plot known as the old Fraim homestead, in Lancaster, the families of Hoffnagle and Fraim having intermarried, and which was continuously in possession of ancestors and rela- tives of Dr. George W. Fraim until about fifteen years ago. Members of both families mentioned were participants in the wars of the Revolution and of 1812-'14, bearing arms in defence of American liberty; and it is not without a sense of just pride that Dr. Fraim points to the fact that he is de- scended from patriot stock.
Dr. George W. Fraim was born at the old homestead in Lancaster, Pa., above mentioned, April 14th, 1834, and is, accordingly, about fifty years old at this time. He received the rudiments of his education in the common schools of Lan- caster, and, later, graduated from the old Franklin Academy of that place, since merged in the Franklin and Marshall Col- lege. While yet young, he entered, as a student, the office of Dr. John Waylan, of Lancaster, a dentist, who was in his day one of the most successful and celebrated in the United States. Graduating in dentistry in 1857, he at once began to look about for a suitable place in which to settle and practice his profession. He stopped a short time in Pittsburgh, Pa., and removed thence to Philadelphia. From Philadelphia, in 1859, he came to Brooklyn, where he has resided continuously since, having his office on Fulton street, between Concord and Johnson streets, and, since 1878, at No. 301 Fulton street.
In his profession, Dr. Fraim has ever been a leader and an innovator, never a passive imitator, and always abreast if not in advance of the times. All departments of dentistry have received his careful attention, and all of its details have, in his hands and under his conscientious study, been so improved as to combine to the advancement of the whole. To the literature of his profession he has devoted much thought and care, and in all assemblages of dentists at which he has been present, he has been recognized as an authority upon all subjects relating to the profession. A man of gen- erous impulses, he has done more, probably, than any other one old practitioner in Brooklyn to aid young men of promise to acquire a thorough knowledge of dentistry, and establish them firmly in its practice. These young men have been successively his pupils, his partners, and later, when they were endeavoring to establish independent practices, the ob- jects of his most careful solicitude, and often of a liberality without which some of them would have found it most diffi- cult to succeed. Among the many whom he has at different times so assisted, have been several of his nephews, from which fact is derived the familiar inscription on his signs of "Fraim & Nephews." It is probable that Dr. Fraim's dental library is one of the largest and most complets in the coun- : try. He has traveled extensively in Europe, and states, with
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