A stirring 1847 graduation address that traces a dentist’s lifelong pursuit of skill, knowledge, and service.
This nonfiction work presents Eleazar Parmly’s commemorative address to the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery graduates. It invites readers into the author’s early struggles, his search for expert training across America and Europe, and his deep respect for mentors and colleagues who shaped the profession. The piece blends personal memory with reflections on the craft, education, and the meaning of patient care in the 19th century.
Readers will glimpse a history of dental education, the pride of steady practice, and the idea that true achievement comes from combining hands-on skill with lifelong learning and community devotion.
- An account of pursuing advanced training in London, Paris, and beyond, with notes on leading figures of the era.
- Reflections on the balance between practical work and scholarly study in building a professional life.
- A tribute to mentors, institutions, and the social respect accorded to dental practitioners in the period.
- Themes of perseverance, service, and the evolution of dentistry from a trade to a valued profession.
Ideal for readers of medical and dental history, as well as those drawn to personal narratives of professional perseverance.