CONSTITUTION 
AND 
BY-LAWS 
OF THE 
Jjmirth jistrid ]] filial |)ocittt) 
OF THE 
STATE OF NEW YORK. 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.: 
GEORGE W. BALL, PRINTER. 
1877. CONSTITUTION 
AND 
BY-LAWS 
/ 
j OF THE 
[outfit |i<strid penial 
OF THE 
STATE OF NEW YORK. 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.: 
GEORGE W. BALL, PRINTER. 
1877. PREAMBLE. 
Whereas, The rapid progress of Dental Science 
in America can clearly be traced in a great measure 
to the interchange of thought elicited by the estab- 
lishment of Dental periodicals ; and, 
Whereas, The profession in other cities are or- 
ganized and aiding in Dental progress by associa- 
tions and publications, it is therefore deemed expe- 
dient for our own honor and interest, and of the 
public, to organize the above named Society. CONSTITUTION. 
ARTICLE I. 
This Society called “The Fourth District 
Dental Society.” 
NAME. 
ARTICLE II. 
OFFICERS. 
The officers of this Society shall be a President, a 
Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, and a Treas- 
urer, each of whom shall be elected annually, by 
ballot. 
ARTICLE III. 
Section 1. This Society shall consist of Dentists 
in regular practice at the time of the passage of 
the act by State legislature, who shall be proposed 
by a member at a regular meeting, and be balloted 
for (unless objections are made) at the same meet- 
ing, three-fourths of the members present being 
necessary to an election. 6 
Sec. 2. All members shall pay an initiation fee of 
five dollars ($5), and sign the Constitution, and, on 
receipt of a diploma from this Society, shall pay into 
the treasury an additional fee of five dollars. 
ARTICLE IV. 
EXPULSION. 
On complaint of three members, any member may 
be expelled for unprofessional conduct, malpractice 
or gross immorality, on being duly convicted there- 
for, three-fourths of the members present voting for 
the expulsion. 
ARTICLE V. 
There shall be annual meetings of this Society for 
the election of officers, discussions, reading of essays, 
etc., and the transaction of such other business as 
may be for the interests of the Society, on such time 
and place as the Society shall decide upon from 
year to year. 
MEETINGS. 
ARTICLE VI. 
FUNDS. 
The funds of this Society shall not be appropriated 
for any purpose other than the usual necessary ex- 7 
penses, except by a vote of three-fourths of the 
members present at a regular meeting. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Five acting members shall constitute a quorum 
at any meeting of the Society. 
QUORUM. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
Any alteration or amendment of, or additions to, 
this Constitution, shall be proposed at an annual 
meeting only, and shall not be acted upon until the 
next annual meeting, and shall be adopted only by 
a vote of three-fourths of the members present. 
ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS. BY-LAWS. 
ARTICLE I. 
DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. 
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meet- 
ings of the Society; call special meetings upon the 
request of three members ; sign all diplomas, cer- 
tificates, and letters testimonial; appoint all com- 
mittees not otherwise provided for, and be ex officio 
a member of all standing committees. 
Sec. 2. The Vice-President shall, in the absence 
of the President, preside; and in case of the absence 
of the Vice-President, a President pro tem. shall be 
appointed. 
Sec. 3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all 
meetings; notify officers and members of their elec- 
tion ; give notice to members of all meetings ; sign 10 
all diplomas, certificates, or letters testimonial, and 
certify to all official acts of the Society in connection 
with the President. 
Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall have charge of all 
moneys and other property of the Society, and pay 
to the order of the President, countersigned by the 
Secretary, and keep a correct account of the same 
in a book provided for the purpose. He shall make 
a full and detailed report of the financial affairs of 
the Society, at the first regular meeting in each 
year"; and at the expiration of his term of office de- 
liver to his successor all funds, papers, property 
and books relating thereto. 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
ARTICLE II. 
There shall be an Executive Committee of three 
members, whose duty it shall be to audit the ac- 
counts of the Treasurer, provide proper places for 
meetings, superintend the printing of the Society, 
and transact such other business as may be referred 
to it. 
QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS. 
ARTICLE III. 
Section 1. Candidates for membership shall have 
attained the age of twenty-one (21) years, and shall 11 
be in regular practice of Dental Surgery at the time 
of their application. They shall, upon the request 
of any three members, be subjected to an examina- 
tion by a committee appointed for that purpose. If 
the report of such committee be favorable they shall 
be elected in the manner prescribed by the Consti- 
tution. Should an adverse report be made, no 
further action shall be taken in the case. 
Sec. 2. No candidate, so rejected, shall be pro- 
posed again for membership within one year, unless 
by unanimous consent of all members present. 
ARTICLE IV. 
DUES. 
Section 1. Each member of the Society shall 
annually pay the sum of —- dollars per dues. 
Sec. 2. All dues to the Society shall be payable 
at the beginning of the fiscal and official year. 
Sec. 3. Any member failing to pay his dues, or 
such assessments as shall be made, shall cease to 
be a member of this Society, and shall have no 
right, title or claim to any portion of the funds or 
property of the Society. 
ARTICLE V. 
Section 1. Any member may invite his profes- 
sional friends to attend the meetings of the Society. 
VISITORS AT MEETINGS. Sec. 2. A copy of every address or professional 
paper read and presented to the Society shall be 
kept by the Secretary ; but no such paper shall be 
published as having been read before the Soeiety, 
unless authorized by a vote of its members. 
Sec. 3. Every member shall notify the Secretary 
of a change of residence, as soon as practicable. 
12 
ARTICLE VI. 
These By-Laws may be altered or amended at 
any regular meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the 
members present. 
AMENDMENTS, ETC. 
ARTICLE VII. 
If any officer of this Society shall absent himself 
for three successive regular meetings, the said office 
shall be declared vacant, and the Society may elect 
officers to till such vacancies, unless good excuses 
are given. 
VACANCIES. 
article viii 
CENSORS. 
At each annual office 
u Shan te itrefVand impartially inquire into 13 
the qualifications of all persons who shall present 
themselves as practising dentists for examination, 
and report their opinion, in writing, to the Presi- 
dent of this Society, who shall thereupon issue, on 
the recommendation of said board of censors, a 
certificate of qualification to such person or per- 
sons, countersigned by the Secretary and bearing 
the seal of this Society, to practice dentistry in this 
district. 
ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
ARTICLE IX. 
Section 1. The order of business at the annual 
meetings shall be as follows, unless supended by a 
two-third vote of the members present: 
1. Calling the roll of members. 
2. Reading the minutes of last meeting. 
3. Reports of committees, standing and special. 
4. Election of members. 
5. Reading of essays and discussions. 
6. Incidents of office practice. 
7. Miscellaneous and unfinished business. 
8. Election of officers. 
9. Announcement of committees by the presid- 
ing officer. 
10. Report ef censors. 
11. Reading and correcting the minutes. 
12. Adjournment. 
Sec. 2. The business for a special meeting, when 
convened, shall be considered immediately after 
the meeting is called to order. u 
ARTICLE X. 
Section 1. There shall be an Executive Commit- 
tee chosen by the President for one year. (Duties 
see art. 2, by-laws.) 
Sec. 2. All special committees shall be chosen 
by the presiding officer, unless a ballot shall be 
requested by two members, and shall serve until 
discharged by action of the Society. 
COMMITTEES—HOW CHOSEN, AND THEIR DITTIES. 
CODE OF 
DENTAL ETHICS. 
ARTICLE FIRST. 
Section 1. The dentist should fully recognize 
the obligations involved in the discharge of his 
duties to his patients. As they are, in most cases, 
unable correctly to estimate the character of his 
operations, his own sense of right must guarantee 
faithfulness in their performance. 
Sec. 2. Every case committed to his care should 
receive the attention which is due to every opera- 
tion performed on living, sensitive tissues. 
Sec. 3. The dentist should be temperate in all 
things, keeping both mind and body in the best 
possible health, that his patients may have the 
benefit of that clearness of judgment and skill 
which is their right. 15 
Sec. 4. The person and office arrangements of 
the dentist should indicate that he is a gentleman ; 
and he should in all relations sustain a high-toned 
moral character. 
Sec. 5. It is not to be expected that the patient 
will possess a very extended or a very accurate 
knowledge of professional matters. The dentist 
should make due allowance for this, patiently ex- 
plaining many things which may seem quite clear 
to himself; thus endeavoring to educate the public 
mind, so that it will properly appreciate the at- 
tainments of our profession. He should encourage 
no false hopes, by promising success, when in the 
nature of the case there is uncertainty. 
ABTICLE SECOND. 
MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL CHARACTER. 
Section 1. A member of the dental profession is 
bound to maintain its honor, and to labor con- 
stantly to extend its sphere of usefulness. He 
should avoid everything in language or conduct 
calculated to discredit or dishonor his profession. 
Sec. 2. It is unprofessional to resort to public 
advertisements, cards, handbills, posters, or signs 
calling attention to peculiar styles of work, lowness 
of prices, or special modes of operating, or to claim 
superiority over neighboring practitioners ; to pub- 
lish reports of cases, or certificates, in public 
prints ; to go from house to house to solicit or per- 
form operations ; to circulate or recommend nos- 
trums, or to perform any similar acts. But noth- 
ing in this section shall be so construed as to 
imply that it is unprofessional for dentists to an- 
nounce in the public prints, or by card, simply 
their names, occupation and place of business. 16 
Sec. 3. When consulted by the patient of an- 
other practitioner, the dentist should guard against 
inquiries or hints disparaging to the family dent- 
ist, or calculated to weaken the patient’s confi- 
dence in him, and if the interests of the patient 
will not be endangered thereby, the case should 
be temporarily treated and referred back to the 
family dentist. 
Sec. 4. When general rules shall have been 
adopted by members of the profession practising 
in the same localities, in relation to fees, it is un- 
professional and dishonorable to depart from them, 
except when circumstances absolutely require it. 
And it is regarded as unprofessional to warrant 
operations or work, as an inducement to patronage. 
Sec. 5. Dentists are frequently witnesses, and at 
the same time the best judges of the impositions 
perpetrated by charlatans, and it is their duty to 
enlighten and warn the public in regard to them.