In .^iiilrrss: 
To THK MEMBERS OF “ThK SOUTHWEST DeNTAI, SOCIETY,” AT 
I'm,ir Second Annual Meeting, at Columbus, 
Kansas, August 9th, 1881, 
!E3. HOVET, E’resid.en.t. Din Jllltttii 
To the Members of “The Southwest Dental Society,” at 
Their Second Annual Meeting, at Columbus, 
Kansas, August 9th, 1881, 
IB37- E. I-IOVET, 
ORDERED THAT FIVE HUNDRED COPIES BE PRINTED FOR TJIE 
USE OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY- 
Once more we meet and once again we have grasped each 
other by the hand, and looked into the frank and genial eye repeating 
our experiences of one year ago, when we met at Carthage, Mo., 
to organize this our cherished society, for the purpose of fostering 
fraternal feeling, and professional regard amongst ourselves, and 
to become acquainted with the most approved methods in the 
practice of our profession. 
It affords me great pleasure in being able to report an 
improved condition of our Dental ethics and professional deport- 
ment so far as my observation and information extends, and the 
desire and determination for improvement and general progress, is 
a marked feature among our members, and must be noticeable by 
our patients and patrons as well as all others of observation. 
There is probably no one thing in connection with our profes- 
sion, which contributes so much towards our improvement therein, 
as a healthy condition of our Dental Ethics. 
Whilst this remark is not intended to disparage other requi- 
sites, as attention to business, reading and studying our dental 
literature, attending and graduating at our dental colleges, aiming 
at and striving for the highest excellence in our chosen profession, 
for each and all of these steps may be regarded as a sine quanon to 
such excellence, yet, I repeat it no one of these things can equal 
this prime factor of progress, a healthy condition of our Dental 
Ethics. 
It will be understood that I speak of our profession as it now 
exists; comprising as it does, many able and creditable practi- 
tioners who have not taken all of the most approved steps now 
available, for a dental education and such as we would all now 
encourage and recommend for the younger members and the new 2 
beginners in our profession, but who, nevertheless, have acquired 
a good general knowledge of dentistry in nearly all of its branches, 
and some local distinction as good, reliable and faithful practition- 
ers ; many more, likewise, who have the elements of, and a desire 
for such improvement as they have learned to appreciate, and 
such as their more experienced brethren perceive in sadness they 
really need, all these and other classes it were more possible than 
politic to mention, contributing their full quota to the grand army 
of our republic, more than 12,000 strong, “armed and equipped,” 
more as the exigencies of the case or the taste, and ability of the 
soldier allows, than according to law or “as the law directsand 
all these recruits, and even the old soldiers themselves want drill- 
ing, all need training, and the general discipline of the camp, in 
order to keep their armor bright. But, above all and before all, 
there must be unity of action, there must be harmony within the 
dental ranks. 
Are we not all bound for the same common goal ? Are not 
our aims one and indivisible in the great purposes of our profes- 
sion ? Are we not all striving for elevation and excellence as indi- 
vidual members of the great and growing profession, to which we 
belong ? 
Allow me to tell you what is rapidly becoming more and more 
evident every year, and every day, of our professional lives: The 
Dental Profession is now abundantly able to take care of itself. 
No longer are we obliged to say to the Medical, Surgical, Clerical 
or Legal profesions—“by your leave, we will stand by your side,” 
but, it is able now to assert itself in its own proper individuality, 
and to take its stand among all other learned and honorable pro- 
fessions, as an equal and a peer among them all. 
What then, in view of these facts, and our present surround- 
ings, are the needs of the hour, and wTliat the demands upon us? 
You are ready—no doubt—every one of you to respond with 
the correct and proper answrer to this interrogatory; and your 
presence here is the proof that have a proper appreciation of 
the real nature of the case. 
Yes, it devolves upon and is demanded of us, that we con- 
tribute what we can to perpetuate, and still further improve the 
high standard of excellence, to which our profession has attained. 
What then are the means most easily within our reach, and 
what can we do as a contribution towards the general improve- 
ment of the dental profession ? 
We can do much and in many ways. 
We are ourselves members of this profession, and we can 
improve it much by improving ourselves. Any profession in any 
locality is estimated by the character and ability of its members. 
What wonder then, where there is no concert of action, no unity 
of feeling, no professional pride, no fraternal regard one for the 
other, no evidences of superiority or ability in their calling, nor in any other direction, no reliability in their statements, amongst 
themselves nor with their patients and patrons, and in short, unre- 
liable in all the relations of life, and where, on the other hand, 
they are conspicuous mainly for the lack of all those qualities and 
characteristics contemplated and aimed at in a well ordered system 
or code of Dental Ethics,—no wonder, I say, that, the Dental pro- 
fession whose members in any locality come within the descriptive 
catagory just mentioned, should be quoted at an estimate too low to 
allow it a name and a place in the honorable and learned professions 
of the day. And really, it cannot be denied, for it comes within 
the scope of our own observation, that, whilst we have much to be 
proud of in the high stand our profession has gained, there is 
much cause of complaint in this respect and much to be deplored 
in the general apathy, and want of appreciation of the real needs 
in the case. 
“What can we do?” We can improve the profession in South- 
west Missouri and Eastern Kansas. We can improve its standing 
here in Columbus, in Carthage, in Springfield and at every point 
where the local members join their efforts with ours. 
We can and must compel the rendition of a better and higher 
verdict for our profession at all these points, and all along the line 
of “the army of occupation.” This we can easily do, and we 
need have no fears but that a discriminating public will render 
such verdict as soon as it is deserved, and where it is perceived 
we ourselves are more deserving and have learned to place a 
higher estimate upon ourselves and our profession. 
If we cannot go to Boston or New York and improve the 
status and standing of the fraternity there, we have it in our power 
here at home, where we have a location and a name, where we are 
surrounded by our friends, our patients, patrons and brother 
practitioners, here in the midst of our every day labor, whilst we 
are striving to alleviate pain, to restore and preserve the dental 
organs of our patients, to build up a business and a name for our- 
selves, we can tlo much at the same time to raise the standard of 
excellence in our respective localities of the profession itself. 
But we can never do this, so long as we look upon each other 
with distrust. ISo long as we regard ourselves as mere mechanics, 
and indulge in that isolated exclusiveness characteristic of the 
mere competitive tradesman. 
Every man who engages in the practice of a profession, is 
under certain obligations to every other man already a member of 
that profession. 
No man lias any right of any kind to enter another man’s 
house, and there render himself odious to that man’s family. Nor 
has he any right to enter an}’ established profession, and so con- 
duct himself us to bring reproach upon that profession. 
The whole subject in its warp and woof, the pith and point of this address, is to recommend and urge upon your attention the 
necessity of taking a higher stand in our projession. I have pointed 
out some of the ways and means by which we may accomplish the 
desired end, and chief among these is close attention to our 
code of Dental Ethics. Not the mere written law, by which we 
have agreed to be governed in our relations with one another, but 
that unwritten law as well, which lays hold of and regulates a good 
man in all the relations of life. We would have but little use for 
any written law, were we completely under the dominion of this 
higher—this grand and regulating rule. 
The inauguration of this movement, the organization of the 
Southwestern Dental Society, is destined, as I think, to prove a 
grand adjunct among the ways and means, a prime factor for the 
improvement sought. You cannot do better than to give it your 
warmest sympathies and support. 
There is but one thing I wish to add at this time. I men- 
tion it because I have myself been made to feel its full force, in 
my own professional career; and because I believe—though 1 
should put it in the form of and offer it as my retiring advice— 
you will all agree with me that it is well worth your attention, and 
that of every one coming into our profession: 
Attend closely to your calling. Let everything else alone. No 
man can carry on two professions at the same time, and he proficient 
in both. I speak from experience and I am sure I have a strong 
point. 
In retiring from the position to which you have so kindly 
called me, it is meet that I give you some expression of the grat- 
itude and high consideration of esteem I have continually enter- 
tained for you, for this confidence, thus reposed in me, and whilst 
I tender you my grateful acknowledgments for the same, as well 
as for your kind assistance in the discharge of my duties, as your 
presiding officer for the term now closed, and also for your for- 
bearance with my inaccuracies therein, I yvill only add that 1 
promise you, and especially my successor, the hearty support you 
have given me. 
J. w. MeCuIlah & Co., PritiUrs mod Binder*