Members of Board C. E. REDMON, President. H. C. McKITTRICK, Secretary-Treasurer, W. LEROY MEYER. E. C. BACHFIELD. ORGANIZATION The State Board of Dental Examiners was created in 1913, and consists of five reputable practicing dentists, one of whom is appointed by the governor, one by the State Board of Health and three by the State Dental Association, each member of which serves for a term of two years. DUTIES It is the duty of the State Board of Dental Examiners to examine persons who wish to practice dentistry in the State; to issue licenses to those applicants who pass a satisfactory examination and have the necessary qualifications; to issue the annual renewal license certificates to those dentists who wish to continue the practice of their profession and who have continued in good standing; and to revoke the licenses of practitioners for failure to comply with the dental law, for incompetency, gross neglect of duty or other sufficient cause. WORK OF BOARD During the year ending October 31, 1917, two regular meetings of the board were held. The first meeting was in continuous session from November 19-29, 1916. At this session 27 applicants were examined and 24 were granted licenses to practice dentistry in the State. At the regular session of June 17-23, 1917, 43 applicants were examined and licenses to practice were issued to 26. Four special meetings were held during the year. On March 7, 1917, the board convened for the purpose of attending the trial. of a licensed dentist against whom charges had been preferred. On May 17, the board convened and cancelled the licenses of those dentists who had failed to register according to law for the year 1917. All told, 62 licenses were cancelled, 27 of which have been reissued upon the payment of the penalty of $5 as prescribed by law. By reason of the military situation, a special meeting was held on June 4-9; at this meeting 55 applicants were granted licenses to practice dentistry in the State and 72 juniors were examined in the academic work which they had completed to date. The last special meeting of the board was held on September 11, 12 and 13 to examine those dentists who had been conscripted into the United States army in order that they might be transferred to the Dental Corps. Two applicants appeared, were examined and granted licenses. Charges of chronic or persistent inebriety or addiction to drugs were preferred against two dentists; in one case action was postponed and in the other instance the case was dismissed. In an action involving charges against a practicing dentist, the case was lost by the board in the local courts but an appeal has been taken and the case is pending. As an outgrowth of this case, the reciprocal agreement between Indiana and Louisiana was cancelled at the regular June meeting of 1917, owing to their unfair attitude in the matter. Several cases of illegal practice were investigated during the year and three persons were convicted and fined. At the present time there are 1,720 dentists who are legally licensed to practice dentistry in Indiana; 12 resident dentists have failed to register and one dentist is practicing in defiance of law, but prosecution will be instituted against him as soon as the financial condition of the board will guarantee its completion. Members of Board W. D. BYNUM, President. A. C. PILKENTON, Vice-President. O. D. ODELL, Secretary. T. A. CLIFTON, Treasurer. C. D. CHADWICK, Executive Secretary. MARIE MEEK, Clerk. DORA M. WAGNER, Supervisor Women's Aid. ORGANIZATION The Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind was created in 1915. The board of trustees of the Indiana School for the Blind is ex officio the Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind. The board is authorized to appoint such officers, agents and assistants as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the act. The actual work of the board is carried on under the direction of the executive secretary. DUTIES The duties of the Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind are to prepare and maintain a complete register of the blind of the State which shall describe the condition, cause of blindness and capacity for education and industrial training of each; to aid the blind in finding employment and to teach them industries which may be followed in their homes and to provide means for the development of these industries and the marketing of the products produced; to establish schools for the industrial training of the adult blind and workshops for the employment of suitable blind persons; to ameliorate the condition of the blind by promoting visits among the blind in their homes for the purpose of instruction; and to learn what proportion of the causes of blindness are preventable and to co-operate with the State Board of Health in adopting and enforcing preventive measures. WORK ACCOMPLISHED During the fiscal year ending September 30, 1917, seventy-six adult persons received educational and industrial aid. Of this number, thirtyeight were males and thirty-eight females. Twenty-eight counties were represented. The number of persons discharged during the year was eleven males and seven females, and the number employed at the close of the year was twenty-seven males and thirty-one females, Broom Factory. The broom factory, which the board established as a workshop for the employment of suitable blind persons, has been very successful in its operation. The output in 1916 was 78,948 brooms; the output in 1917 was 125,133 brooms, or an increase of 58%. The earnings of the broom shop in 1916 were $20,27843; the earnings of the broom shop in 1917 were $51,774.74. The product is of the highest grade and finds a ready market in competition with the oldest and largest plants in the country. The net profit of the broom shop in 1917 was $2,280.38. The men employed in this department are daily acquiring greater earning power by becoming more efficient. Women's Aid Department. Under the direction of the women's aid department, employment is given to a large number of blind women in their homes. There was an increase of over 79% in the receipts and earnings of this department over last year, a substantial increase in the wages paid to the employes and a steady improvement in the quality of the work done. The department has been greatly assisted in the marketing of its products by the Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs which, through its committee, has conducted numerous sales of art goods in all parts of the State. Registration of Blind Persons. The registration of blind persons residing in Indiana has gone steadily forward and 674 names now appear on the register. Members of Board A. D. THOMAS, President, ADOLPH SEIDENSTICKER, Secretary. J. T. ARBUCKLE. MAY L. NICHOL, Clerk. The State Board of Pardons was created in 1903. The board consists of three members, who are appointed by the Governor, each appointment being for a term of four years. The board selects one of its members as president and one as secretary, and is required to meet at least four times a year, once in each quarter, and at such other times as they may be called together by the Governor, or by the president of the board. It is the duty of the board to inquire thoroughly and carefully into the merits of all petitions which may be presented to the Governor for the pardon of any person convicted by any court, or by any court-martial, in the State of Indiana, and to report to the Governor in writing its conclusions and recommendations in each case, which reports must be signed by at least two members. The board has power to administer oaths, summon witnesses and compel their attendance, and to punish for contempt any person refusing to obey a summons issued. The law requires that a record and files of its proceedings be kept by the board, and that all oral testimony be reduced to writing. Each board member receives a salary of three hundred dollars per year and traveling and other necessary expenses while in the discharge of his duties. Under the authority of the act the board employs a clerk, who also acts as stenographer, at a salary of nine hundred dollars per year. In pursuance of the statute the board has regular meetings during the months of March, June, September and December of each year. Prior to each session at least two of the members visit the penal institutions of the State in order to investigate the records at the institution and more thoroughly acquaint themselves with the circumstances surrounding the cases to be heard at the coming session. This procedure is not required by law, but has been adopted by the board members in order that its work may be more efficient. The average expenditure of the board, including salaries of members. salary of clerk, and expenditures for all other purposes amounts to about twenty-two hundred dollars per year. During the year commencing December 1, 1916, and ending December 1, 1917, action was taken by the board in cases submitted as follows: Pardons recommended Paroles recommended Communtations recommended Refusals recommended Cases continued and undisposed of. Total cases considered by the Board.. 4 29 13 125 43 214 The number of cases heard at each session of the board averages more than fifty. |