OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 39

OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

THE NEW DIRECTOR OF DENTISTRY,

DR PERCIVAL PICKERTLLS CAREER AND PLANS (From Ouh Own Correspondent ) LONDON, May 3. Dr Percival Pickorill. the newly-appointeil Director of Dentistry to the University of Otago, informs me that the precise Hare of his departure to New Zealand to take up his new duties is not jet definitely fixed, but probably it will not be before tho end of n^xt month (June). He intends to go out by one of the direct liners, and he will be accompanied by his wife and child.

Dr Pirkerill wae educated in the Hereford Ccunty College and in the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham. The leading Birmingham paper has the following special reference to one of his I'm versa y suc-cc.-ses: — "Mr H. P. Pickerill, son of Mr Thomas Pickerill, Bartensham, Hereford, who is now studying medicine and denti-try at tho Timci-city and Dental School of Birmingham, ha.s distinguished himself at tho recent examination by securing the following: 'The Aeh Prize' for the host eesay of tlio year, the 'Senior Oitificate and Prize' for advanced operative work, the ' Silver Medal and Certificate ' for anaesthetic work (tho only prize given) ; also the prize- for tha best paper read before the Dental Studento' Society during the year. We behc-ve this const it utts a record in connection with the UnivorMty no student having: previously succ-ecded in .-.ecurir.tr the above four prizes.' 1 In 1904 Dr Pickerill wa« elected prooident of the Guild of Undergraduates of Bir mingham Univor^itv. He hold-, the following degrees, qualifications, and positions: — Degrees of M.B , C1i.8., B.D S., and the LD.S. of the Ro\nl College cf Kurprorn" (Knfi'.and). He wa= the first man to hold a British tkgree in denti'trr. rum tnrr--cu'.o Lecturer on Dentil Pathology ai.<l Hietologv. University of En mingham; hon. assistant dental surgeon to Birmingham Dental Hospital; member oMhe Court of Governors of Birmingham University; lion. sec. Law and Ethic* Committee British Dental Association (Central Counties Branch). Just now he is al-=o engaged in private practice in Birmingham, but ho tells me that he much prefers teaching, organising, and research work. He is at present enga-ged in determining the bactericidal power of drugs and metal* U6od in dentistry. Unfortunately the eonelmone of arjnointmcntß in this oountrj do not admit

of so much time and care being devoted to them which their importance deserves, and he congratulates the authorities in New Zealand on recognising the importance of effeotive dental legislation and ite necessary corollary, efficient dental education. "In th; 6," he remarks, "as in so many other things, the colony ' shows the way ' to the Old Motherland."