Written and illustrated by Harrison Wader Ferguson, D.D.S.
Copyright 1918
Revised and enlarged edition 1932
Dr. Ferguson was obviously passionate about his profession.
Not only did he write a 106-page book about teeth for young children, but
delightfully illustrated it as well. His book goes into great detail about the
composition of teeth, their purposes, potential problems, and the necessity for
care, in words that are easily understandable for a youngster. My guess is that, working as a dentist a
hundred years ago, Dr. Ferguson met many young patients with problem teeth. I
can imagine his frustration, knowing how preventable many of these problems
were.
What strikes me about this book is the care the author took
to explain every aspect of teeth in a language a child can understand, and in a
manner that is actually fairly interesting. An adult merely commanding a child
to brush their teeth, with no explanation of why, often raises some resistance,
or at least half-hearted brushing. However, if that same child was given clear
and logical reasons to care for their teeth, they just might be more apt to
comply.
In the same way, if a person is commanded to perform a task
by a supervisor with no reason given, they are more likely to grumble and
complain. Knowing a logical reason for performing a task makes it so much
easier to do. Take a lesson from the talented dentist, writer, and illustrator,
Dr. Ferguson, and give understanding and meaning to the tasks you give. If we
can find purpose and meaning in our work, it becomes so much more joyful!
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