Oliver Wendell Holmes 
Claims of Dentistry 
An Address Develired at the Commencement Exercises of the Dental Department in Harvard University, February 14, 1872

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. We have met, under the auspices of Harvard University, to recognize by formal ceremonies the entrance of a class of students in dentistry upon the exercise of their profession. We give to this occasion the time hallowed name of Commencement. Here ends the period of pupilage; here begins the life of applied knowledge and skill.