THE DENTISTRY COURSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19102, 22 February 1924, Page 8

THE DENTISTRY COURSE.

UNIVERSITY SENATE DISCUSSION. FAIR CXDMPROMISE EFFECTED. (Peh United Pbkss Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. There was a discussion at to-day’s meeting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand on the question of training for the course in dentistry. A letter from the Minister in Charge of Public Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr), with respect to the requirements of the dental course, was the subject of a report by the Medicine, Dentistry, and Home Science Committee to the Senate. The Minister said that (he regulations of the General Medical Council appeared to allow that where a student could show evidence of regular pupilage in mechanical dentistry to a registered practitioner or dental hospital pyior to the passing of tho prescribed preliminary and scientific examinations, he might be allowed to antedate his registration one year. Moreover, such instruction taken with a registered practitioner might count as part of the time required for the corresponding instruction at a dental school if this concession were allowed by the University, and, moreover, if a student were to take the dental intermediate examination prior to proceeding to Dunedin it would be possible for him to obtain the degree of bachelor of dental surgery after only two years’ attendance in the South Island.

The Medicine, Dentistry, and Home Science Committee recommended —“That having considered the Minister’s letter, the committee is of the opinion that Dr Piokerill should be asked to be present at the April meeting to afford information as to how far it is-possible to arrange for portion of the dental course to be taken elsewhere than in Dunedin.”

The Hon. G. Fowlds said the recommendation was a good one, and he was glad to notice there was a disposition to facilitate the coiuse on the lines suggested. Sir Robert Stout said that under the amended suggestions a student would need to spend only two years at the Otago University, and could take other years in another centre. A fair compromise had been made which, ho thought, would be acceptable to all. The recommendaiioh was adopted, and it was decided that the whole question of the dental course be referred to the April meeting of the Senate.