THE 
 
 MIRROR OF DENTISTRY, 
 
 A REVIEW OF THE 
 
 T^mmt Itatc nf tjie ietttal :]^rateian, 
 
 WITH FULL INF0U:MATI0N AS TO 
 
 THE VARIOUS OPERATIONS IN DENTISTRY; THE USE AND ABUSE OF 
 ARTIFICIAL teeth; THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR THE PRESER- 
 VATION OF HEALTH ; OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISEASES OF THE 
 TEETH AND GUJIS; AN ANALYSIS OF THE MERITS OF THE 
 VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS USED IN DENTAL OPERA- 
 TIONS; AND AN EXPOSITION OF THE VARIOUS 
 IMPOSITIONS PRACTISED IN DENTISTRY. 
 
 THE WnOLE BEING 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY TWENTY-TWO ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 BY J. W. DAVENPORT, 
 
 SURGF,OX-nEXTIST, HULL; 
 INVENTOn OF THE IMPRO'S'ED FORCEPS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF TEETH. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 SEELEYS, FLEET-STREET, AND HANOVER-STREET, HANOVER-SQTIARE; 
 PULLEYN, SILVER-STREET, HULL. 
 
 MDCCCLIL
 
 iBukxit lit ItntinnErs' i^nll. 
 
 HULL: 
 
 riUNTED BY J. I'ULLKYN, 
 
 SILVElt-STKEET.
 
 TO 
 
 THE MEMBEKS OF TEE MEDICAL PKOFESSION 
 
 OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 €)^i5 4xu\im 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
 
 BY THEIB OBLIGED 
 
 AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR.
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 20, last line, for "the names of Fonzi, Pemet, Desforges,*' 
 read "the names of M. Fonzi, Pernet Desforges." 
 
 Page 21, line 20, /or " Lemal" read "Lemale," and on the same 
 page at the conclusion of the paragraph ending " profession," add 
 " Saunders, dentist to the (^ueen," being the authority quoted. 
 
 Page 23, line 0,6, for "porcelain," read "palladium." 
 
 Page 38, line 31 and 32, for " the result of an overdose of mer- 
 cury," read " the result of repeated overdoses of mercury." 
 
 Page 60, line 22, /or "expense of their dupes. There is another 
 class," read " expense of their dupes; but there is another class." 
 
 Page 63, line 38, for " and indeed is sometimes now, for the 
 loss of the grinders," read "and indeed is sometimes now substituted 
 for the loss of the grinders." 
 
 Page 64, line 40, for " have been produced, — like Peter Pinders 
 razors," read "have been produced and found like Peter Pinders, &c."
 
 100 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The Author's object in writing- the following* pag-es 
 has been to lay before the inquiring' public an outline 
 of the present state of Dentistry — a plain statement 
 of factS; unbiassed by any contemporaneous opinions j 
 and to cheeky as far as possible^ the most shameless 
 quackery and imposture, by the diffusion of informa- 
 tion, in a popular form, long- wanted, among* all persons 
 interested in an Art so indispensable to health and 
 g'ood society. 
 
 The explanations g-iven have been purposely ren- 
 dered familiar to enable the reader to form his own 
 judg*ment on the merits or demerits of the Surg-ical
 
 VI 
 
 and Mechanical Operations, and as a g"uide to the 
 non-professionals, in order that the^^ may distinguish 
 between the truly honest and scientific man, and 
 the enterprizing' quack who is destitute alike of 
 competency and principle. 
 
 46, George-Street, 
 Hull.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PART I. — Mechanism of the mouth. — Influence of the 
 
 TEETH ON BODILY HEALTH 9 
 
 PART II.— Dental surgery 30 
 
 PART III. — Practical rules to be observed during the 
 
 PERIODS of dentition 47 
 
 PART IV. — Impositions practised in dentistry 57
 
 THE 
 
 MIRROR OF DENTISTRY. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 MECHANISM OF THE MOUTH. — INFLUENCE OF THE 
 TEETH ON BODILY HEALTH. 
 
 Well mig-ht Paley remark — 
 
 " In uo apparatus put together by art, do I kuow such multifarious 
 uses so aptly contrived, as in the natural organization of the mouth, 
 and its appendages. In this small cavity we have teeth of a different 
 shape ; first, for cutting ; secondly, for grinding ; muscles, naturally 
 disposed for carrying on the compound motions of the lower jaw, by 
 which the mill is worked ; fountains of saliva springing up in different 
 parts of the cavity for the moistening of food, during the time of 
 mastication ; glands, to feed the fountains ; a muscular contrivance 
 in the back part of the cavity for the grinding of the prepared aliment 
 into its passage. In the meantime, and in the same place, is going 
 on business wholly different — that of respiration and of speech ; 
 and in addition to all that has been mentioned, we have a passacre 
 opened from this cavity of the mouth into the lungs for the admission 
 of air, exclusively of every other substance. We have- muscles, some 
 in the larynx, and without number in the tongue, for the purpose of 
 modulating that air in its passage, with a variety of compass and pre- 
 cision, of which no other musical instrument is capable ; and, lastly, 
 we have a specific contiivance for dividing the pneumatic part from 
 the mechanical ; for preventing one set of functions from interferin« 
 with the other. The mouth, with all these intentions to ser\'e, is a 
 single cavity in one machine, with its parts neither crowded nor con- 
 fined, and each un-emban'assed by the rest." 
 
 With these simple facts before us, we must confess 
 that the human body may be reg-arded as a machine, 
 not less remarkable for the finished workmanship of 
 its parts, and the consimimate skill with which they 
 are put tog-ether, than for its complexity. In these 
 
 B
 
 10 
 
 respects it resembles^ and at the same time infinitely 
 surpasses^ the most perfect works of men's hands. 
 
 To preserve the health of this never-to-be-equalled 
 mechanism (the human body) should be the care^ as it 
 is the duty^ of every individual. Man should study 
 his own frame^ and the laws by which that frame is 
 g'overned^ because he contains within himself the means 
 of ministering' to his own g-rowth, and^ within certain 
 limits, of repairing" the many injuries to which he is 
 exposed. 
 
 It is justly obseiTed by Dr. Andrew Combe — 
 
 " That without some degree of attention to the process of eating, 
 and some distuict perception of its gi'atefuhiess, the food cannot be 
 duly digested ; then it lies in the stomach for hours together without 
 being acted upon by the gastric juice; and if tliis be done often, that 
 function becomes so much disordered as to lose its power of 
 digestion." 
 
 The uneasy sensations consequent upon an imper- 
 fectly masticated meal, nature's unequivocal lang-uag'e 
 of remonstrance and complaint, sufficiently attest the 
 necessity of the due performance of this preparatory 
 process, even if we had no experience of the distressing* 
 symptoms which its habitunl disreg'ard entails. But 
 how often is this fact lost sig'ht of in practice. When 
 patients complain of indig-estion and its consequences, 
 nlthoug'h a suitable diet is prescribed, how seldom is 
 it accompanied with an injunction to masticate pro- 
 perly. Yet every one acknowledg*es this to be a point 
 of the g-reatest importance. Many persons swallow 
 food without breaking- down its texture, from a habit 
 of eating' quickly 5 but in the majority of instances, 
 this habit is first induced by diseased teeth, Mhich 
 render the side of the jaw in which they are placed, 
 comparativel}^ useless. The stomach has then an 
 additional duty imposed upon it. Its strength and 
 power of action are reduced, and indig'estion, with its 
 whole train of diseases, is g'enerally the consequence — 
 death the inevitable result. 
 
 i\
 
 11 
 
 THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
 
 These preliminary remarks will set aside the neces- 
 sity of further observation as to the propriety of being- 
 possessed of a g'ood and sound set of teeth ; for it must 
 be very evident to those who have lost the entire set, 
 or even part of it, that they cannot reasonably expect 
 to derive that amount of benefit from what they eat, 
 which they otherwise would, had their teeth been, even 
 in a moderately perfect state. Therefore it must be 
 hig-hly g-ratifying- to those persons who may have lost 
 those useful ornaments of nature, so essential to health, 
 life, and comfort, that, by the skill and ing-enuity of 
 man, the loss can be remedied with substitutes that 
 will closely approximate to a full compensation, and by 
 means of which, in most instances, the wearer becomes 
 unconscious of labouring- under a natural defect both 
 in mastication and articulation. As instruments of use 
 and comfort, their necessity cannot be for a moment 
 questioned by public speakers, vocalists, and persons 
 occupying' situations where the organ of speech is 
 called much into requisition. Consequently, artificial 
 restoration oug'ht not to be deemed an act of vanity or 
 one of hyper-punctiliousness. 
 
 I will noAv direct the attention of the reader to a 
 few questions, which are not the least in importance, 
 and which sug'g'est themselves to parties requiring* the 
 aid of a dentist; and in doing- so, it is my intention to 
 deal impartially and disinterestedly, by communicating- 
 the requisite information for the benefit of all concerned. 
 
 PAIN IN THE OPERATION. 
 
 The first and leading- question that takes possession 
 of a person's mind is, — " Shall I suffer much pain by 
 having- artificial teeth inserted?" It is a very prevalent 
 conviction that there is much pain in the operation, and 
 it is one of which I feel desirous that my readers should 
 have their minds disabused, by making- them more 
 
 b2
 
 12 
 
 familiar with the mode of fixino- teeth, too'ether with 
 the requirements necessary to ensure success. I have 
 not the shg'htest doubt upon my mind^ that if those 
 who are suffering* from a protracted inconvenience in 
 consequence of the loss of teeth^ had but sufficient con- 
 fidence in the skill of a dentist^ and knew the very tri\ial 
 pain^ compai^tively speaking-, to which he would sub- 
 ject thenij — I say, did they but know this, and the 
 g-reat amount of comfort that they afterwards would 
 enjoy from the use of artificial teeth, they would not, 
 I am well assured, be without, even one day longer 
 than mig'ht be necessary. 
 
 The g-reat dread of applying- to a dentist will in 
 some measure be g-ot rid of, when I state, that the 
 torture g'enerally anticipated in the insertion of arti- 
 ficial teeth is totally at variance with the art of den- 
 tistry. I can safely assert that I have not met with 
 one indi\ddual upon whom I have operated in the 
 mechanical branch, who entertained such ideas of 
 pain, who has not subsequently expressed astonish- 
 ment at its almost painless character. 
 
 A case or two illustrative of this erroneous impres- 
 sion as to the method of replacing' false teeth, and the 
 extravagant notions persons encourage respecting 
 them may not be out of place. 
 
 August 8, 1851. — Mrs. A., being recommended 
 by her medical adviser, called at my establishment 
 during my temporary absence, and consulted my assis- 
 tant as to the propriety of having five central encisors. 
 Like others she could not be persuaded but that there 
 must be considerable pain in the operation, and conse- 
 quently she deferred ber decision until she saw me 
 on the following day. I saw her and examined 
 her mouth, and found the gums perfectly free from 
 stumps, with one exception. After a few moments 
 preliminary conversation she consented to have the 
 model of her mouth taken. This is done with soft wax 
 placed in a tray, the shape of the mouth. The lady
 
 13 
 
 appeared to be very nervously excited^ and suffering" 
 from a disease of til e heart at tlietime^ therefore I had 
 to be cautious in my movements; not that she would 
 have an operation to underg-o of any kind this first 
 visit^ beyond merely placing- a little soft bees' wax in 
 the mouth, but the instant I held the tray she nearly 
 fainted. However, by g-entle perseverance I ultimately 
 succeeded, I need not say without pain to my patient, 
 and she promised to call to have them inserted on the 
 10th inst., but did not till the 12th. She then came and 
 said, ^^ I shall be oblig*ed to g*ive up all thoug-hts of 
 having- the teeth — (which were already made) — for I 
 find that I shall not have sufficient nerve for the 
 operation." She appeared in g-reat trouble, and sat 
 down in the waiting--room and wept very much. — 
 When she was a little composed I naturally inquired 
 the reason, and I elicited that it was from fear of 
 some dreadful operation, combined with a conflicting' 
 desire to have the teeth, and she positively assured me 
 that she was in such a state of excitement before 
 coming", that she thoug'ht she would almost as soon 
 commit suicide as underg-o the operation. I inquired 
 what were her ideas in reference to the method adopted 
 by the profession, in fixing- false teeth ? She told 
 me she thought we must lay open the g"ums with 
 some sharp instrument, and force them into the jaw, 
 or bore a hole throug'h her own natural teeth to 
 fasten them. I assured her such impressions were 
 entirely opposed to the j)rinciples of the art, and 
 explained the manner in which they were fixed by 
 her own mouth piece and model. Subsequently she 
 g'ained confidence and permitted the teeth to be 
 inserted. From the accuracy of the model and bite, 
 I felt certain I should not have the slig-htest trouble 
 with them, and did not occupy more than five minutes 
 in fixing-. I then informed her I had completed. 
 " Completed !" she exclaimed ; " yes, and they are 
 perfectly secure f ^' Oh dear," she said, " how very
 
 14 
 
 foolish I have been." I asked her if she had experi- 
 enced any pain ? " Not the slightest/' she said^ " I 
 have been ag-reeably surprised." I have seen her 
 several times since^ and she has often expressed her 
 astonishment that she should have been so alarmed. 
 
 The majority of individuals will suffer more pain 
 in anticipating- the operation than in reality. It 
 sometimes happens that the whole of the stumps are 
 in the g'ums, and the reader would perhaps wish to 
 know what course is adopted in this instance. If they 
 are strong* and firm in^ I should prefer them remain- 
 ing", for they g'ive a solidity to the g*um. But should 
 it be necessary to remove loose stumps or shells of 
 teeth to secure a solid basis, for the g'old plate to rest 
 upon, why be alarmed? The pain will be compara- 
 tively trifling- to the amount of comfort experienced 
 from a g-ood set of artificial teeth ; for it is seldom that 
 persons on applying- to dentists, ha^e teeth which 
 must be removed or cut off that are strong-. They are 
 g-enerally very much decayed and mere shells that 
 require little or no effort to level them, and which 
 cause little pain in their removal. 
 
 Case second. — During- September, in the year 1844, 
 a lady called upon me and desired to be furnished 
 with six central upper incisors. On examination I 
 discovered that her g*ums were studded with the 
 wrecks of fourteen teeth, most of them loose and very 
 much decayed, which rendered them a continued 
 source of pain and inconvenience, and made the 
 breath very offensive. She assured me she suffered 
 most excruciating* pain from them, and was oblig-ed 
 to exist upon the lig-htest food, for exercise her re- 
 maining- sound teeth she could not, with any deg-ree 
 of comfort. Tliis had reduced her, when I first saw 
 her, to a very weak state of health from want of proper 
 rest and solid food, and it was pln3'ing- an important 
 part in destroying- a sound constitution. I advised 
 the removal of the decayed teeth at once; for even
 
 15 
 
 supposing* that she did not suffer from them, it would 
 be impossible to wear artificial teeth over those loose 
 fangs with any degree of comfort or success. She 
 consented^ and I had no difficulty in extracting- the 
 whole fourteen the first sitting*. She then waited, by 
 my advice, for a month or six weeks to allow absorp- 
 tion to take place and her gums to harden, when I 
 replaced the number she required ; and it is Avorthy 
 of notice that she recommended a lady on the day 
 following, from whom I extracted twehe stumps, 
 very similiar, also at the first visit. 
 
 Persons who may require false teeth to any extent, 
 are generally similiarly situated, more or less j and I 
 mention this circumstance in order to prove how 
 easily such worthless companions may be got rid of, 
 by a firm resolve on the part of the patient. Many 
 individuals comino- from a distance feel very much 
 disappointed when it is known that artificial teeth can- 
 not be completed on the first visit, as some adAertising* 
 dentists would haxe them believe. We do not, neither 
 can we keep them ready made for fixing*, excepting* in 
 cases of pivoting*. From three hours to a week must 
 elapse, according to the number required, before they 
 are ready for insertion ; for they undergo a variety of 
 processes in a mechanical point of view to complete 
 them in such a manner as to make them permanently 
 satisfactory. 
 
 As no other ]n*anch of artificial surgery has arrived 
 at such perfection as dentistry, so none requires in its 
 practitioner more ingenuity or greater nicety in combi- 
 nation, with a scientific comprehension of the anatom}^, 
 physiology, and pathology of the teeth, and their adja- 
 cent parts. The dentist should also possess and evince 
 moral courage, and be prompt, alert, and dauntless. 
 With these qualifications there should be united a con- 
 scientious determination to depart, in no instance, from 
 the true principles of science, either to humour the 
 patient, or promote any mercenar}" purposes of his 
 own.
 
 16 
 
 This is an exceeding-ly difficult stand to take, and, 
 perhaps, a more difficult position to sustain. It is, 
 nevertheless, the only one in which any dentist can 
 honourabl}' succeed. 
 
 INCONVENIENCE IN FIRST WEARING ARTIFICIAL 
 TEETH. 
 
 The first effect in putting* in an entire, or even par- 
 tial set of teeth, is most unquestionably g'reat discom- 
 fort; the mouth feels filled, tlie speech is rendered diffi- 
 cult and indistinct, and mastication appears almost 
 impossible. This feeling', however, is more or less 
 g'overned b}* the quantity inserted. There are cases 
 where little or no inconvenience is experienced. But 
 even under the most difficult cases, when they are pro- 
 perly fitted, and nicely adjusted to the mouth, the 
 person using* them will in a very short time overcome 
 any inconvenience attending* them, and after the lapse 
 of a few^ weeks they Avill tell you, that " they would 
 not be without them for double the cost." 
 
 It sometimes occurs that they require a little after 
 adjustment, for the following* reasons: — The base or 
 plate upon which the teetli are fixed, may press 
 equally on all parts of the g'um, but all parts may not 
 bear pressure equally; one part may be more sensitive 
 than another, perhaps from disease, and the points so 
 pressed on will become painful, unless the mouth piece 
 or plate be adjusted to relieve them. But this will 
 soon be discovered after they have been worn for a 
 short time. 
 
 THE EFFECT OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH UPON THE 
 NATURAL ONES. 
 
 " Will false teeth injure the natural ones to which 
 the}' are fastened ?" is a question often asked, and 
 sometimes asserted with little truth, unless they are 
 badly constructed. That teeth encircled by bands, 
 occasionally decay, is a truth most certain, but this 

 
 17 
 
 mig'lit have been the case, independent of their being* 
 so; and this is the more probable, as the adjoining" 
 teeth have alread}' been lost by the effect of that pre- 
 disposition to disease. And if we may form any opinion 
 from the number of patrons to the art, who are in the 
 habit of wearing- these substitutes, we should at once 
 conclude that the idea is unfounded, more particularly 
 when it is understood that in a g-reat majority of those 
 cases the teeth have been worn for years by persons, 
 without experiencing* any such loss or inconvenience. 
 
 DURABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
 
 The following' is one amongst a number of questions 
 generally asked, " How long* will these teeth wear ?" 
 Manj' persons seeking* the aid of a dentist, anticipate 
 that false teeth will never wear out, or require in any 
 way renewing-. I cannot for a moment think how 
 such an idea could exist, when a little reflection should 
 convince them of the uncertainty of our own natural 
 teeth's continuance. The durability of artificial ones, 
 however, will, to a certain extent, depend upon the 
 quality of the materials used, and the skill employed 
 in their structure — two very important considerations. 
 
 The great difficulty which dentists have to contend 
 with is, the irregular formation of that most essential 
 organ — the mouth. It is on this very point where the 
 whole ingenuity of the art is called into action. A 
 jeweller may endeavour to imitate, but it requires 
 the experience of time coml)ined with a good practical 
 knowledg-e of the mechanism and anatomy of its most 
 intricate parts, to accomplish, the object with success. 
 Again, there is another point of no less importance. 
 That is, in the very great nicety required in fitting- 
 teeth; after the utmost caution and adaptation of the 
 materials requisite, you may fail without a proper 
 knowledge, in their adjustment. I have seen artificial 
 teeth worn, in which there was no possibity of mis- 
 taking them, not only to the wearer, who (of course)
 
 18 
 
 has tlie most reason to knoA\', but to any casual ob- 
 server. This oug'ht not to be the case. Teeth should 
 be so adapted that the wearer becomes unconscious 
 (as I previously observed) of labouring- under a 
 natural defect^ both in their use^ comfort^ and ap- 
 pearance. Some people aaIII wear them much long-er 
 than others without suftering- the slightest inconve- 
 nience by accidents^ — perhaps for five^ ten, or even 
 twenty years; but, on the other hand, they probably 
 may not have them as many months without a break- 
 ag*e. The reason is this, that as it is with all thing's, 
 so it is with artificial teeth. Some people are not 
 quite so careful with them as others. Ag*ain, if 
 artificial teeth are compelled by necessity to do the 
 work of two distinct objects, namely, cutting* the 
 food and gTinding- it, for which purpose the front teeth 
 were never intended,— then, of course, accidents must • 
 be expected ; particularly so, if the individual is minus 
 double ones. Also, where an irreg"ularity in closing' the 
 teeth exists, such persons ought to have two sets, one 
 to replace the other in case of emerg*ency; for when 
 once reconciled to their use, and the comfort they 
 impart, considerable inconvenience will be experienced, 
 if without them, during- any little repairs the}- may 
 require. 
 
 MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF 
 ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
 
 The next question I shall advert to, is one often 
 asked, " Of Avhat do dentists make their teeth ?" 
 You will probably be surprised when I tell you, that 
 a considerable quantity of natural teeth are transferred 
 or used for dental purposes. A natural tooth, of superior 
 quality, will wear for man}- years and look well ; but 
 they are not in all cases to be depended upon, without 
 a due knowledge of the constitution of the intended 
 owner, in consequence of their non-resistance to the 
 stream of acidity that flows from the salivary glands.
 
 19 
 
 acting' upon the enamel (the principle of which is 
 carbon)^ and producing' a g'radual and sometimes im- 
 mediate decay. But the very delicate and (if I may 
 not use too strong- a term) repulsive idea^ connected 
 ^^-ith the constant use of a natural toothy oug'ht to 
 render them obsolete in the practice of dental surg'ery. 
 The hig'h state of perfection to which the best mineral 
 teeth have arrived, both as reg^ards colour and durabilit}^, 
 should be a sufficient g'uarantee for their g*eneral use. 
 
 MINERAL TEETH. 
 
 There is a ^ery great di^•ersity both in the quality 
 and colour of mineral teeth^ indeed^ the manufacturing" 
 of them is an exclusive branch. It is not until nearly 
 the close of the last century^ that we meet with any 
 account of an attempt to make artificial teeth of 
 porcelain earths and mineral oxides^ combined in 
 such proportions as to resemble the natural enamel 
 in colour and transparency j and the deg^ree of per- 
 fection in which those qualities are now obtained, 
 was not at once acquired, but has been elaborated 
 through a long- series of experiments, carried on from 
 that period to the present with varied success. 
 
 The first essays in this art were extremely rude, 
 and afforded but little promise of being* ultimately 
 I'endered available ; and its history, like that of every 
 useful invention, exhibits a somewhat fluctuating- but 
 still progTessive improvement. 
 
 We are indebted for the first effort in this im- 
 portant art to Duchateau, a Frenchman, and chemist 
 of vSt. Germain-eu-laye. An attempt was made by 
 him in the year 1774, to construct a '^denture" of the 
 porcelain ware, modelled after one in ivory, of which 
 he had possessed himself, and he applied to a larg*e 
 porcelain manufacturer in Paris, and soon succeeded 
 in making' a perfect imitation of the orig-inal, in the 
 modelling" of which he displayed considerable ing-enuity. 
 A difficulty, however, here presented itself, on which he
 
 20 
 
 had probably little calculated, but which, when dis- 
 covered, would a})pear almost insurmountalDle, namety, 
 in tlie contraction and consequent alteration of form 
 which this substance undero-oes in the furnace during- 
 the process of what is termed " baking-." To render 
 his experiments as complete as possible, he sought the 
 aid and advice of M. Dubois de Chemant, formerly a 
 surg-eon, but at that time practising* with considerable 
 success as a dentist in Paris. To him he communicated 
 his plans, and exhibited the first fruits of his labours, 
 and this person thus obtained those hints and sug-- 
 g-estions which, while they were necessary to the full 
 developement of his plans, could only originate in the 
 mind of an experienced dentist, and for the want of 
 which Duchateau had failed to carry out his experi- 
 ments to any useful result. M. Dubois de Chemant 
 then took up and continued to prosecute those re- 
 searches, and by the judicious admixture of some 
 mineral oxides, he ultimately succeeded, not only 
 in producing' a tolerably perfect imitation of the 
 teeth, but also in giving' to that part which should 
 cover or represent the g-ums, a rose tint. Such 
 was the estimation in which the new porcelain or 
 mineral paste was held, that it obtained for the 
 maker, not only the patronage of the scientific and the 
 wealthy of Paris, but what was still more valuable — • 
 Royal letters patent from Louis XVI. The title of 
 inventor, however, was dis])uted with him by Duchateau, 
 who, not unnaturally, felt aggrieved at thus being 
 deprived of all participation in the benefits so abun- 
 dantly accruing from the developement of an idea 
 which he himself had thrown out to the world. But 
 whatever may be thought of the validity of his claims, 
 he failed to substantiate his case in a court of justice, 
 and from that time relinquished a pui'suit in which he 
 had met with so little success. Amongst others de- 
 voted to the same pursuit, we find associated the names 
 of Fonzi, Pernet, Desforges, &c., &c.
 
 21 
 
 At the commencement of tlie French revokition M. 
 de Chemant repaired to Eng-land^ and there intro- 
 duced the mineral paste under the most flattering- 
 auspices. What contributed in no small deg*ree to 
 enhance his reputation, and to bring" about the pre- 
 sent state of perfection to which artificial teeth are 
 broug-ht, were the exertions of g-entlemen here men- 
 tioned, of whom the name of Lemale, of London, 
 stands most prominent. His untiring* zeal in facili- 
 tating* the labours of the dentist, and preparing* the 
 various materials he requires, may well entitle him to 
 gratitude and support. The name of Ash, a gen- 
 tleman who has been lono* similarly eno'aoed, deserves 
 honourable mention, as connected with the manu- 
 facture of mineral teeth, for he stands alone as the 
 inventor of the beautiful transparent gold tube teeth ; 
 also the name of Smale, of London ; Helsby, of Man- 
 chester • Berrend, of Liverpool ', Saunders, dentist to 
 the Queen; and several eminent American dentists. 
 The name of Lemal, however, takes the precedence of 
 first introducing the mineral teeth to an^^ extent, long 
 before Ash was in the profession. 
 
 Such is briefly the history of the mineral teeth ; 
 but there are, as I previously observed, those of a 
 very inferior description, — indeed not worth the labour 
 of fixino-. 
 
 GOLD, ITS ALLOYS, AND OTHER METALS USED 
 BY DENTISTS. 
 
 Gold is far the best for mounting teeth, but it ought 
 not to be less in quality than eighteen carat, or seventy 
 five shillings per ounce. That used by the cheap ad- 
 vertising persons is of an inferior description, generally 
 speaking, and acts injuriously upon the health of indi- 
 viduals who hnve the misfortune to wear it. Nothing- 
 can be Avorse than bad gold to have constantly in the 
 mouth, in consequence of its being- so much alloyed 
 with copper or brass.
 
 22 
 
 "The letters and parag-raphs which have appeared in 
 the newspapers within this last few months in reference 
 to the inferior g'old used by dentists^ and its injurious 
 effects, will we doubt not be productive of immense 
 g'ood to respectable practitioners; it will, moreover, be 
 the means of directing- public attention to a subject 
 that seriously affects the general health and appearance 
 of a considerable portion of the community. It will 
 show how absurd are the pretensions, how inferior 
 the article, and how bad the materials of an artificial 
 tooth fixed on g'old for ^ five shilling's,' which cannot 
 be sup])lied by a conscientious and respectable prac- 
 titioner, at a less cost than a guinea. Now there 
 can be no question that, either the person holding* out 
 the ' five shilling-' tariff, must use inferior materials 
 and less skill, or the charge of the others must be 
 an exorbitant imposition." — Rohinson. 
 
 The time has now arrived for an explanation of 
 these discrepancies in dentists' charges, and I purpose 
 further illustrating them in the latter part of these 
 pages. 
 
 The plates for a set of teeth, or even a partial set, 
 should not only be of the proper standard, but of suf- 
 ficient su])stance and breadth to ensure strength and 
 solidity to the frame work when in use ; and the solder 
 employed in the fabrication should assimilate in quality 
 to the plate. The less solder used the better the plate. 
 The average price of gold, of the standard quality, is - 
 £3 los. per ounce; and any respectable practitioner 
 Avill use for a full, or a partial set, from an ounce to 
 an ounce and three quarters, and in some cases even 
 more ; so that the gold itself will on the average cost 
 from £5 to £7. This, it must be remembered, is inde- 
 pendent of teeth and fittings, to say nothing of model- 
 ing, artistic skill, finish, adjustment to the mouth, and 
 other preliminary operations, which are necessary for 
 ultimate success, ease, comfort, appearance, and dura- 
 bility. Notwithstanding these facts, however, we
 
 23 
 
 have it daily announced by advertisements, hand bills, 
 and placards, that, whole sets of teeth can be furnished 
 for from £3 to £10, each person warranting- his wares 
 to be made fi'om the very best materials, with the best 
 finish and artistic skill, — his g'old unalloyed, and him- 
 self the veritable ^^ Simon Pure." 
 
 Gold is not introduced in all cases, but inferior 
 metals are used. Of these, silver, for plates, is one. 
 It, however, soon chang-es colour in the mouth, and in 
 a short time will corrode, be eaten awa}^ by deg-rees, 
 and eventually fall to pieces ; which, of course, must 
 entril an entire wreck of the whole mouth-piece. — 
 The reason is, that silver, however pure, will not resist 
 the acidity of the stomach, where it is used for 
 mounting" teeth. 
 
 PALLADIUM FOR PLATES. 
 
 When this metal was first introduced into use for 
 dental pm'poses, it was much purer than at present. 
 Its properties and appearance very much resemble 
 platinum. It wears equally as long' as g'old, when 
 pure, and retains its colour, thoug'h not so well as the 
 latter. The standard price at present is 34s. per 
 ounce. There is another metal, very recently intro- 
 duced, for plates, termed radium, or dental alloy, 
 similar in appet; ranee to porceloin, but inferior in 
 quality. Platinum is also used, but not so generally 
 as palladium. It is purer than the latter, and above 
 all other metals, next to gold, in quality ; but it can- 
 not be worked and modelled Avith such facility. 
 
 BONE FOR PLATES 
 
 Is used where considerable absorption has taken 
 place in the gums and alveolar process. Mineral or 
 natural teeth are let in the front, and a sufficient depth 
 is left on the outside margin to represent the natural 
 appearance of a gum. This material in such cases, is 
 indispensible. The only objection to it is, that not-
 
 •24 
 
 withstanding" the g-reatest care as to cleanHness, in the 
 course of time it will decompose. But I cannot g-ive 
 an opinion as to its durability. That will be entirely 
 reg"ulated by the constitution of its wearer. 
 
 Much has been said with respect to the comparative 
 merits of bone or g"old for plates. Some dentists will 
 use bone in every case, however inapphcable; and 
 others '\\ ill use g'old, although it may be equally in- 
 applicable in that particular case. An invariable 
 adherence to either plan, prevents the dentist from 
 wisely affording- the full benefit of the art; and the 
 result is that for want of proper knowledge and judg- 
 ment, sets of teeth are made which are totally unfitted 
 for the wearer, occasion pain and discomfort, and have 
 the effect of orio'inatinor a very strong- feelino- as'ainst 
 artificial teeth generally. 
 
 The husk of the sea horse, or, properly termed, the 
 hippopotamus, is superior to any other kind for the 
 making plates. The sea cow's tusk is also used ; but 
 I am not a^^■are that in any case is the tusk of the 
 elephant so used, in consequence of its inferiority. 
 
 Absorption in the gums occurs more or less in all 
 cases, and to ascertain the extent of such loss of sub- 
 stance is very important previous to supplying arti- 
 ficial teeth, as by a judicious arrang*ement of the 
 material in makino- o-ood such losses with artificial 
 gum, as well as teeth, where the loss is considerable, 
 that perfect restoration of the features to their natural 
 synnnetry, which the art of dentistr}', when properly 
 exercised, is capable of producing. 
 
 GUTTA TERCHA FOR PLATES. 
 
 There has been an attempt made to substitute this 
 material for the use of plates. But the result might 
 have been expected. It has totally failed, in conse- 
 sequence of its non-resistance to the temperature of 
 the mouth, and the impossibility of permanently se- 
 curing the teeth.
 
 25 
 
 PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES ON WHICH ARTIFICIAL 
 TEETH ARE FORMED. 
 
 To g'ive entire ease and comfort to the wearer^ the 
 artist must be capable of engTaving* his work to fit the 
 gfiim so perfectly air tig'htj that it shall adhere and 
 remain securely firm in its place^ for the purposes 
 intended^ as by the mere force of capillary attraction^ 
 and the pressure of the atmosphere^ to ensiu'e success 
 in mastication. 
 
 On supplying* a deficiency of teeth on this principle^ 
 the natural moisture of the mouth is affected by capil- 
 lary influence^ the moment the piece is introduced 
 into its place, and the moisture being" drawn in be- 
 tween the piece and the g*um, the intervening' air is 
 driven out, and being- thus excluded, the atmosphere 
 acts with a force in proportion to the extent of the 
 surfaces in contact, in keeping' the artificial piece in 
 its place. This force even on a small piece, is con- 
 siderable, and on larg*er pieces frequently exceeds 
 thirty pounds ; yet not the slig'htest pain, pressure, or 
 inconvenience Avill be experienced beyond secure adhe- 
 sion. And the teeth will be easily removed by the 
 wearer at pleasure, by simply raising- one of the ex- 
 tremities of the plate with the tong-ue. But teeth on 
 this principle cannot in all cases be applied with suc- 
 cess, as it A\'ill depend upon the shape of the mouth, 
 the palate arch, the depth of g'um, &c. The spring's 
 ing'eniously contrived to secure the mouth-piece in its 
 place, and to prevent its falling' out, must then be 
 resorted to, but not in any way to inconvenience the 
 wearer, either in use or appearance. 
 
 CLEANLINESS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE USE OF 
 ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
 
 The teeth, like tools, are instruments of use, and 
 should be used and not abused. False teeth, of what- 
 ever materials they may be composed, require atten- 
 
 c
 
 26 
 
 tioii^ but more in some cases than others. If g'old 
 be used for the base and mineral teeth^ the mouth- 
 piece should be taken out frequently^ and well brushed 
 with chalk and water. If bone be used and natural 
 teeth^ gTeater attention will be required. The surface 
 of the bone oug'ht to be kept well polished with chalk 
 and wash-leather to enable it to resist the action of 
 the solvent during- their use. When taken out they 
 should be kept in a g'lass filled with two-thirds of 
 spirits of wine^ and one of water. The spirit will aid 
 much in preserving- them, and they will therefore last 
 as long- ag-ain as they will if these means are neg-lected. 
 False teeth should be taken out every nig-ht, if it 
 can be done with any deg-ree of facility, and without 
 endang-ering' the adjoining- teeth to which they may 
 be fastened, and immersed in spirits and water until 
 they are wanted. For this reason — very small por- 
 tions of food, in the act of eating- (however close the 
 plate may fit the mouth) will force itself between, and 
 if worn for any leng-th of time, decomposition of matter 
 will ensue, and produce a most unpleasant smell of the 
 mouth-piece, thereby rendering* the breath offensive. 
 But this may be avoided b}' obsening- the above rules. 
 
 DANGER IN PIVOTING. 
 
 Before I close the subject of artficial teeth, I cer- 
 tainly should be g'uilty of omission, did I not make a 
 remark or two upon the dang-erous and even fatal 
 results attending- the operation of pivoting, or g-rafting- 
 the croA\'n of a foreig-n tooth upon the fang- of a natural 
 one. This method of inserting* teeth is almost uni- 
 versally adopted, either upon plates or in the manner 
 above mentioned. It is much neater, I acknowledg-e, 
 where one or two front teeth alone are wanting*, or 
 when secured upon plates in order to obtain a fasten- 
 ing;*, or to conceal lio-atures. But the advantag-e 
 g-ained by this Avill not counterbalance the risk at- 
 tendino- it.
 
 27 
 
 Tomes g-ives two instances of the severity, disease 
 may assume when caused by laceration of the nerve 
 of a tooth by drilHng-. He observes in pag'e 281. 
 
 Case. — " T. S. age 30. — In 1840, the crown of the left central 
 incisor was broken off by a blow from a cricket ball. I fixed the 
 crowTi by a pivot; in 1844 the crown had become discolom'ed, and was 
 replaced by the crown of a mineral tooth. The dentist who performed 
 the operation found it necessary to increase the length of the hole in 
 the stump for the reception of the pivot. This was done on the 8th 
 of October; on the morning of the 10th slight pain was felt about 
 the root of the tooth ; towards evening the pain had greatly increased ; 
 the pivot was then removed : the night was passed in pain and without 
 sleep ; and in the morning, a fit of cold shivex'ing was followed by 
 heat, which terminated in profuse perspiration. 1 1th, — The pain still 
 increasing and attended by swelling of the face, added to which there 
 was great sympathetic fever; pulse 130, full and hard, and accom- 
 panied by head-ache ; twenty ounces of blood were taken from the 
 arm, and salines w^ere administered ; fomentations were applied to 
 the face, and a dose of Dover's Powder given at bed- time. 12th, — 
 Considerable and extenchng inflammation of the mouth near the 
 pivoted tooth ; more swelling of the face ; head-ache less severe ; 
 six leeches were applied over the gums ; blood taken yesterday rather 
 buffy. 13th. — Swelling and pain, much the same ; a small abscess 
 formed in the roof of the mouth near the tooth ; this was opened ; 
 the fomentations were continued, and Dover's Powder repeated at 
 bed-time. 14th. — The abscess in the roof of the mouth was again 
 opened, and a considerable quantity of purulent matter let out ; the 
 inflammation, pain, and swelling much the same ; six more leeches 
 were applied, followed by fomentations and poultice ; the Dover's 
 Powder repeated at night. 15th. — Symptoms no better; three more 
 leeches were applied to the gums, and the fomentations were con- 
 tinued. 10th. — From this time the symptoms gradually abated, but 
 left a small abscess over the stump, from which a considerable 
 quantity of pus escaped. On the 5th of November, (he states) he 
 applied to me ; there was still pain in the stump ; the gum was 
 swollen, and pus escaped from an opening opposite the end of the 
 fang, which, on removal, was found to be discoloured and evidently 
 dead ; the operation was followed by the escape of a quantity of un- 
 healthy pus. From this moment no further inconvenience was felt, 
 the gum healed, and the whole mouth returned to a state of health." 
 
 I mention this, because a similar case occurred 
 during' my professional experience, but with protracted 
 severity. 
 
 Case. — " The lady in question, a Mrs. B., for whom I had replaced 
 two artificial mineral teeth, some four or five years previously, and in 
 
 c 2
 
 28 
 
 that case a pivoted plato was inserted witliout tlie slightest incon- 
 venience. In May, 1850, she again applied to lue in conseqnence 
 of the loss of two other teeth, and was desii'ous of having the plate 
 extended ; by her request, I pui-posed fixing on one side a pivot, to 
 what I considered a firmer stump, and which occasioned the necessity 
 of again drilling ; but before I made three revolutions wnth the drill, 
 the pain upon the nerve became so acute, that I was obliged to 
 desist ; and although I extracted the stump, a few hom*s subse- 
 quently the pain increased, and inflammation extended, swelling of 
 the face, and suppuration in the antrum followed. Her medical 
 advisers were called in almost immediately, yet she continued for the 
 sjiace of three months, with more or less sutfering, under their unin- 
 terrupted attention ; but ultimately, with exfoliation of part of the 
 alveolar process of the upper jaw, and the loss of the left canine 
 tooth, followed by the escape of a quantity of unhealthy pus, she 
 began from that moment gradually to recover." — See Disease of the 
 Antrum. 
 
 Tomes cites a case in pag"e 321, and says — 
 
 " The following statement was placed in my hands by a medical 
 man, who had some knowledge of the case which is related : — 
 
 ' , Esq., aged 25 years, tall and thin, but apparently in good 
 
 health ; on liis marriage trip he visited Paris, and there had the mis- 
 fortune to break off a front tooth ; wishing to conceal the accident 
 from his wife, he went immediately to a dentist. The tooth was 
 pivoted, and, I have no doubt, carefully, for the dentist was of great 
 celebrity, and the necessary concealment seemed insured from the 
 time of the operation ; however, he had severe pain in the stump, 
 which increased for four or five days ; when he left Paris for Rouen ; 
 upon arriving there, the pain had become excessively severe ; he 
 consulted a medical man, but, it was too late ! ! Trismus came on 
 within twenty-four hours, and was soon followed by tetanus and 
 death ! ! ! '" 
 
 Such then are the consequences resulting- from this 
 ill-advised method of fixing- teeth, against which (I 
 consider) too much cannot be said. 
 
 DISEASE OF THE ANTRUM 
 
 May arise from various causes, such as animal or 
 mineral poisons, or diseased teeth; hut in dental sur- 
 gery, it is caused by drilling* stumps for pivoting'. 
 
 The antrum is a bony cavity situated in the upper 
 maxilliary or jaw bone, extending- from the side of the 
 nose to the second molar tooth ; it is furnished with a
 
 29 
 
 foramen (or passag;e into the nose) and is lined with a 
 dehcate membrane which is subjected to similar diseases 
 as the membranous lining- of other cavities^ such as 
 inflammation and suppuration^ which latter conse- 
 quence ma}' superinduce a caries in the surrounding* 
 bone, and unless a passag-e is formed for the matter 
 to escapCj the result will sometimes be serious. In- 
 flammation of the antrum may be known b}^ the 
 foramen connecting- this sinus (or canal) with the nose, 
 becoming- stopped up; and an intimation is g-iven that 
 the antrum is diseased, by a throbbing* pain at the side 
 of the nose, and a redness and tension in the part 
 affected j the pain sometimes darting- towards the 
 temples. The mode of cure g-enerally adopted, is to 
 extract the first or second molar tooth, — if the latter 
 be decayed, that oug'ht to be removed in preference. 
 The foramen being- situated nearest the extremity of 
 the antrum, the fang's of the teeth sometimes make an 
 opening- to it, as the bony partition is so thin ; but 
 when that is not the case, a perforation oug'ht to be 
 made with an instrument, to allow the matter to 
 escape, that has formed during- the suppurative pro- 
 cess. It then would have an artificial passage into 
 the mouth. To keep this open Mr. Fox recommended 
 a piece of elastic boug-ie (made of prepared India 
 rubber) to be passed throug-h the socket, and occa- 
 sionally removed for the purpose of cleansing- the 
 cavity by injecting- a mixture of tincture of myrrh 
 and water, or a weak solution of nitrate of silver. 
 This appears to be the most scientific method, and the 
 only one in which success can be relied on in arrest- 
 ing serious consequences.
 
 PART IT. 
 
 DENTAL SURGERY. 
 
 We have now arrived at the second division of our 
 subject, namely — Operative Dentistry. This is a sub- 
 ject which hns eng-ag'ed very marked public attention, 
 but it is not my intention in this small treatise to enter 
 into a history of the various forms that diseases of the 
 teeth assume, but rather to content myself with the 
 effect produced, and its most effectual remedy ; and in 
 doing" this, I will endeavour to pursue such a course, as, 
 I hope, will not endanger the patience of my readers, 
 b}^ discussing- a volume of uninteresting* matter. 
 
 OPEILITIOXS ON THE TEETH .- 
 CALCULUS. 
 
 -SALIVARY 
 
 If the teeth be neg-lected for any length of time, 
 which is too often the case, a deposit called tartar, 
 will settle upon them, especially about the lower 
 incisors and upper molars. The quantity that secretes 
 in some cases is really astonishing-, and if allowed to 
 remain, will cause g-reat destruction, not only to the 
 teeth but g*enerate disease in the g-ums also. 
 
 The action of mercury upon the constitution, is one 
 of the most speedy and unfailing- causes of the accu- 
 mulation of tartar. This mineral npt merely induces 
 an increased and unhealthy action in the salivary 
 g-lands, but causes the g-ums to swell and infllame, and 
 extends its influence to the alveolar process of the jaw. 
 
 In these extreme cases, from the inflammatory action 
 in the neig-hbouring parts, assisted by the formation
 
 31 
 
 of calculous matter (improperly termed tartar) which; 
 being" a simple phospate of lime and animal matter, 
 adheres to the teeth like cement, g-ives them a very 
 filthy appearance — and they drop out apparently in a 
 healthy state. 
 
 SCALING THE TEETH 
 
 Consists in removing' the salivary calculus with 
 small steel instruments expressly adapted for the pur- 
 pose. This simple and useful process, when nicely 
 performed, tends very much to the preservation of the 
 teeth. Some persons who form the mistaken impres- 
 sion, that it injures the enamel, prefer the tartar to 
 ivmain; thereby suffering* much injury both in ap- 
 pearance and in reality. The operation is so painless 
 that a child may underg-o it. 
 
 CLEANING THE TEETH. 
 
 To remove calculous matter and cause the teeth to 
 look white, many persons have recourse to the use of 
 acids. This practice cannot be too much censured, as 
 it has a tendency to soften the enamel (the principle 
 of which is carbon) and produces almost immediate 
 decay in them. Did persons g'ive their teeth one 
 moment's attention, and consider the necessity of per- 
 forming* those daily ablutions, so essential to their 
 preservation, and act according-ly, it would become a 
 pleasing*, refreshing*, and habitual duty, and as easily 
 performed as washing* their hands. Early habits of 
 cleanliness cannot be too rig'idly enforced. It be- 
 comes in time an established principle, and one of the 
 g-reat indications of a well reg*ulated mind. If the 
 teeth are free from irreg"ularity and perfectly clean, 
 being* the first feature that attracts a person's atten- 
 tion, they are almost certain to elicit admiration. 
 However neatly you may be dressed, if your teeth be 
 black or broken, they g-reatly interfere with that 
 pleasing' expression of countenance, ^^'llich you other-
 
 32 
 
 wise would possess. I have often heard individuals 
 boast that they had never paid any attention to their 
 teeth, that they had never cleaned them in their life. 
 I can only observe that this particular instance re- 
 flects little credit upon their g-eneral habits. 
 
 Allow me to mark out a simple rule: — Arrang-e 
 your tooth powder, brushes, &c., &:c., upon your 
 dressing- table or wash-stand, within arms reach, and 
 clean your teeth every morning* when you wash your- 
 self. Attend to these directions for a fortnight, then 
 double that time, and so on. By perseverance 3^ou 
 will surmount the difficulty, and the duty will become 
 so famihar that you will not feel comfortable unless 
 you perform it. Some people ■v\ill remark — " It is no 
 manner of use, cleaning* my teeth, I have used all 
 kind of tooth powders and brushes, and not the least 
 benefit have 1 derived from them ; my teeth are as 
 bad as ever." A'"ery likely ; nothing more probable. 
 But then they require scaling*. Examine them and 
 you Mill find considerable incrustation of tartar. If 
 not, it will be a calculous deposit of g-reen, yellow, or 
 black, the removal of which is absolutely necessary 
 before they can be cleaned. 
 
 TOOTH BRUSHES. 
 
 The best form of tooth brush is that in which the 
 bristles are so arrang-ed as to have free space to act 
 by their own elasticity, not only in sweeping o^er the 
 suface of the teeth, but in entering" into the interstices; 
 for unless tliis be done, it is im])ossible for the teeth to 
 have that cleaidng* ^\•hich is necessary. 
 
 AND THEIR USE. 
 
 The tooth brush may be used in an honzontal or 
 lateral direction, but on no account upwards or down- 
 wards, as by its action it A\'ould be likely to separate 
 the g'um from the teeth, giving* rise to bleeding*, and 
 injuring- the delicate processes of bone to which the 
 g-um is attached.
 
 33 
 
 TOOTH POWDERS AND TINCTURES. 
 
 Tooth powders should by no means contain acids of 
 any description, as their effects are certain, but those 
 ing-redients which tend to the preservation of the teeth. 
 Such are, poAvdered myrrh, bark, orris root, cuttle 
 fish, prepared chalk, &c. One ounce of each of these 
 will form an agTeeable and excellent powder, wMch 
 should be kept in a closely stoppered bottle. Should 
 the g'ums be in an}- degree tender, three parts tincture 
 of myrrh to one part water, may be used as a g'arg-le, 
 nio-ht and mornino- : this has both a cooling- and heal- 
 ing' tendenc}', and is equall}* refreshing*. 
 
 TOOTH ACHE. 
 
 This painful disease is so well known, that it requires 
 no g'reat effort to describe it, were it necessary to do so ; 
 I shall therefore consider myself abundantly requited 
 if I' can be of service in prescribing' a remedy for one 
 of ^^ the ills that flesh is heir too." 
 
 The g-reatest cause of this complaint, is decayed 
 teeth ; the inner portion of which being- exposed (in 
 consequence of the tooth being" diseased) to the ex- 
 tremes of heat and cold, constantly keep up that in- 
 flammatory action upon the nerve, which, in the first 
 instance, the disease gives rise to, and produces the 
 most excruciating' ag'ony ! What felicity would it be, 
 could one obtain a little rehef, without that horrid idea 
 of extracting'. What would one not g-ive for even one 
 moment's ease ? A Httle forethought mig'ht have pre- 
 vented all this. Had the family dentist been consulted, 
 he could have saved the tooth, and prevented the 
 torture. But by neg'lecting' the proper means of safety, 
 the punishment certainly follows. 
 
 To relieve this pain, one moment must not be lost. 
 We must strike at the root of the disease, and lessen 
 the flux of humours in the part affected. This must 
 be done at once, by taking* mild purg-atives, such, for 
 instance, as castor oil, salts and senna, pills, seidlitz 
 
 D
 
 34 
 
 powders, &c., and repeated as occasion may require. 
 The formula will be found of service if your medical 
 adviser be not at hand, and if it can be obtained with 
 facility, in conjunction with the warm bath, not less 
 than 95 degrees of heat, or more than 100, A little 
 lint dipped in spirit of camphor or naptha, and ap- 
 plied, in many instances is of service. A mustard 
 plaster applied over the part, and allowed to remain 
 on twenty minutes, will sometimes do good ; but the 
 most effectual remedy is a piece of well tempered 
 steel. 
 
 NEUBALGIA, TERMED TIC DOLOUREUX. 
 
 This complaint may arise from cold, foul stomach, 
 or decayed teeth. It may be local or constitutional, 
 not exactly confined to the nerves of the face or teeth, 
 but affecting other parts of the system also. It is 
 attended with convulsive twitchings, and it may be 
 traced, shifting its agonizing attacks, along the whole 
 course of the nerve affected — sometimes darting with 
 excruciating pain, and often excited to an extreme 
 degree of violence, both by day and night. Many 
 writers have endeavoured to account for its origin ; 
 but it is .mere speculation. It may be an excited state 
 of the nerves ; but its causes are involved in obscurity; 
 and as it is one of those complaints belonging more to 
 the government of the medical practitioner, than the 
 dentist, I forbear offering any further remarks. 
 
 DECAY OF THE TEETH 
 
 May be produced from a variety of causes — inat- 
 tention, local inflammation, or colds. There are other 
 reasons of a more serious character, either hereditary 
 or constitutional, or those that may arise from the 
 injudicious use of mercury. When the latter is the 
 case, Ave can scarcely calculate to what extent this 
 mineral may exercise its baneful influence. The 
 slightest appearance of decay in one tooth may cause
 
 35 
 
 great suffering ; at the same time it is possible that 
 the whole mass may become a complete wreck, with- 
 out experiencing the least pain. Such is the character 
 of this disease, that it may advance to those dangerous 
 hmits, and the teeth break off during the act of masti- 
 cating, before you are at all aware of its reality : thus 
 proving the necessity of having them carefully exa- 
 mined at least twice in the course of twelve months. 
 
 Case. — Miss F., aged 16, in August, 1844, came uuder my ob- 
 servatiou, having been recommended by a friend. She requested my 
 advice, and seemed desirous to have six central incisors replaced. On 
 examining her mouth, I discovered, to my great surprise, that she had 
 not one tooth above the surface of the gum. All were gone, except- 
 ing black and diseased fangs, and without suffering tlie least pain 
 from them. I must acknowledge, that during the whole course of 
 my practice, I have never witnessed a case so serious, nor a wreck 
 60 complete as in this instance. Nothing could be done for her 
 unless she submitted to have an entire set : this she assured me was 
 beyond her circumstances, and, I need only remark, that she left 
 me very much disappointed. 
 
 The foregoing case is illustrative of the fatal effects 
 of hereditary, or constitutional causes. In some 
 instances, whole families have lost one particular 
 tooth, and at the same age, respectively. This loss, 
 from disease, or any other cause, is much to be re- 
 gretted, particularly in persons so young. Its causes 
 may be traced from father to son, or from mother to 
 daughter. The line of action and influence is very 
 evident and conclusive. It attacks, generally speak- 
 ing, the enamel, or crown of the tooth, either indi- 
 vidually or collectively, and when such is the case, its 
 ravages ought to be arrested by the timely aid of a 
 skilful and experienced dentist. 
 
 STOPPING DECAYED TEETH. 
 
 Whenever it is possible to preserve a tooth, it 
 should never be extracted. Persons suffering from 
 tooth ache have often had teeth removed, which, if 
 properly treated, might have been preserved for years. 
 Nor ought they to be filled, or the nerve excited by 
 
 d2
 
 36 
 
 pressure. When it is in an inflamed state, no res- 
 pectable or honourable dentist would fill a tooth with 
 stopping of any description, unless it were to allay 
 pain under these circumstances. Many individuals 
 never think of applyino^ to a dentist, until they feel 
 the effects of decay ; and those who have suffered 
 from having a tooth injudiciously stopped at this 
 time, and afterwards were obliged to have it ex- 
 tracted from excessive pain, — consider it useless. 
 But a knowledge of what stopping is intended to 
 effect, when well and timely performed, would con- 
 vince them that no operation connected with dental 
 surgery can be attended with better success. 
 
 MATERIALS USED FOR STOPPING. 
 
 There is perhaps no part of the dental art, in 
 which greater mistakes have been made and delusions 
 practised, than in that termed stopping the teeth. 
 The most preposterous statements may constantly be 
 seen, respecting cements, which are said, when ap- 
 plied, almost to rival the teeth in appearance and dura- 
 bility. Such pretensions, carry on the face of them, 
 the stamp of deception. 
 
 There are many kinds of stoppings in use at the 
 present time, but 
 
 GOLD FOR STOPPING 
 
 Is far the best where it can be applied with safety, 
 but in all cases it will not remain. The cavity must 
 be well cleaned out previously, also the decayed por- 
 tion of the tooth. Many persons are in the habit of 
 filling their own teeth. This, however, they cannot 
 effectually accomplish in all cases, as it requires small 
 steel instruments for the purpose. 
 
 CEMENTS FOR STOPPING. 
 
 Where the cavity of a tooth is so large that the 
 walls are too thin to bear the pressure necessary for
 
 :37 
 
 the insertion of the gold foil, the amalgam of silver, 
 or of palladium may be used, and a paste formed by 
 its mixture with quicksilver. 
 
 This cement will remain useful and permanent for 
 years, where other stoppings would not. The only 
 objection to it is, that it changes colour and disfigures 
 the front teeth, and therefore it is better adapted for the 
 molars. All stoppings in the shape of an amalgam 
 change colour in the mouth. Vegetable cements, 
 such as gutta percha, &c., have been tested for this 
 purpose, but they will not answer, or resist the heat 
 of the mouth; for temporary purposes nothing can be 
 better. 
 
 All cements containing mercury, should not be 
 interfered with but by those who have a knowledge of 
 its properties and proportions, unless it be in a pre- 
 pared state, in consequence of its dangerous tendency. 
 An evidence of this came under my notice a short time 
 ago, and by way of illustration I will give the case. 
 
 " Mrs. L., on the 18tli August, 1847, sent for me in great haste, 
 desiring me to wait upon her immediately. On my arrival I found 
 that she was suffering intense agony from a decayed tooth, together 
 with mercurial symptoms. It appeared that the lady had been 
 induced to purchase a box of a certain advertised Enamel for the 
 teeth, in consequence of labouring under severe pain at the time, 
 with an idea that it proposed to cure the tooth ache. She handed 
 this stopping over to me, when I found it contained metals such as 
 pewter filings, with a redundance of mercuiy, out of all proportion. 
 This stopping she had applied according to the given directions. The 
 nen^e, bear in mind, was in a very inflamed state previously, and the 
 result was, in lieu of the filling relieving, it increased, the pain to an in- 
 tolerable degree ; and when I first saw her, the face had swollen to such 
 an extent that I could scarcely recognise the features. This, together 
 with the effects of the mercury, rendered the case very serious ; in 
 fact, it laid the whole nervous system prostrate. Her medical adviser 
 was called in by ray request, and he administered the usual remedies, 
 and subsequently I extx-acted the tooth, as soon as the instiniment 
 could well be inserted. A considerable quantity of unhealthy pus 
 then escaped, and by the sldlful and unremitting attention of her 
 medical attendant, she ultimately recovered, but was for some time 
 in a very weak state." 
 
 The danger arising from the majority of adver-
 
 38 
 
 tised stoppings to the non-professional man is, that 
 they are generally in separate portions of filings and 
 mercury, and it is not in all cases to be expected that 
 he will, however plain the directions, be as careful, 
 and use that caution in mixing them, as a dentist. 
 The mercury ought to be well squeezed out through 
 a little linen or cotton rag ; and in no case ought the 
 tooth to be filled when there is the slightest inflamma- 
 tion on the nerve. 
 
 EFFECTS OF MERCURY UPON THE TEETH, ITS 
 
 ABUSE, AND INJURIOUS TENDENCY UPON 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 A medical friend of mine, who has had frequent 
 opportunities of watching the baneful effects of this 
 mineral poison, both as a local agent and an internal 
 administrative, who also from surgical practice in 
 those marked cases, where not only the teeth, but 
 their seat in the jaw, and the jaws with the palate- 
 arch, from over doses of mercury have given way — 
 has kindly given me several cases, in addition to many 
 which I have myself witnessed. Teeth, under such in- 
 fluence, are known to fall out by self agency. 
 
 A case illustrating this, where the upper and lower 
 portion of the jaw gave way to this poison (for I can- 
 not name it otherwise), has lately come before me. 
 The two portions of bone or processes containing the 
 first and second molars of the upper and lower jaw, 
 fell out from the mouth of a boy, twelve years of age, 
 and his life was with difficulty saved, by the skill 
 and timely attention of a properly authorised medical 
 practitioner. This was entirely the result of an over- 
 dose of mercury, and will no doubt cause the unfor- 
 tunate individual a life of wretchedness, and cast a 
 shadow over his future prospects. — See Engraving. 
 
 I have recently witnessed a second case, where not 
 merely the palate bones were destroyed, but not a 
 tooth that came out had the least appearance of decay.
 
 89 
 
 The bone of the jaw that contained them, I must state, 
 was dead. Sloughing with ulceration and fistulous 
 openings, accompanied this destruction of the mouth. 
 
 Mercury being a mineral, it is often administered 
 where an animal poison in the system exists ; and if 
 not watched in its action, its effects are fatal. This 
 remedial agent may do good in the hands of a skilful 
 practitioner, but in the possession of those empirics, 
 who glut for gold, not caring for the life of their 
 patient, it is as a viper's bite, and almost as deadly in 
 its effects. Quackery, under any form, is repulsive 
 and despicable, but when covered by the plea of doing 
 good to the human system, either in a medical or 
 artificial point of view, is tenfold more so. 
 
 If a jeweller were to be entrusted with a watch to 
 repair, a business wholly distinct from his, and he 
 were to break or derange the machinery through 
 ignorance, though the expense might be greater, the 
 instrument could still be made perfect as at first. 
 But if a living body is placed in the hands of an 
 advertising empiric to repair, and he undermines its 
 very foundation, and renders it a tottering mass, 
 doomed to linger out its few remaining days in agony, 
 there is no help for it — the injury is for the most 
 part irretrievable. 
 
 The destruction of life, the sacrifice of human 
 beings that this class of fiends will have to answer 
 for, is not only extensive, but alarming to contem- 
 plate, especially in all large towns, such as London, 
 Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and throughout 
 the densely populated manufacturing districts. None 
 but those who have lived in towns similarly situated 
 to these, and observed the movements of these quacks, 
 can form a just estimate of their character. They 
 hover like VULTURES over the heads of a confiding 
 pubhc, and gnaw the very VITALS of their dupes. 
 They carry in their hands MISERY! ! the very ele- 
 ment is POLLUTED by their presence, and from their 
 mouth is sent forth POISON— and DEATH ! ! !
 
 40 
 
 DISEASES OF THE PALATE. 
 
 The roof or arch of the mouthy so essential for a 
 clear articulation^ is occasionally diseased from birth_, 
 but may be injured by other causes^ such as scrofulous 
 affections, animal or mineral poisons, &c.^ &c. Cases 
 of this kind repeatedly come under my immediate 
 observation, and sometimes are truly distressing*. 
 The speech, instead of being- distinct and harmonious, 
 is rendered confused and unpleasant. The food is 
 carried dui'ing' deg'lutition, into the nose, and mixes 
 Avith the mucus, a portion of A\hich returns with it 
 into the mouth, rendering* it very disag'reeable, and a 
 constant source of anxiety to the individual. To 
 remedy this an artificial palate must be made and 
 inserted,^ to a\ hich the French have g'iven the name 
 of " Obturateur," (from the Latin) to stop up. This 
 branch of mechanical surgery has been much improved, 
 and Mr. Snell, surg*eon -dentist, of London, has written 
 a very interesting* work on the different modes of fixing* 
 "" Obturateures," with illustrations. 
 
 ON THE EXHIBITION OF CHLOROFORM, OR ^THER, 
 AND ITS INHALATION. 
 
 These preparations are now in their effects certain, 
 having* been used for the kind purpose of obviating* 
 pain, during' the extraction of teeth, and other more 
 important operations of surgery. However, 1 should 
 state that the effect produced by these ag'ents on some 
 constitutions, is fraug-ht with g'reat dangler j an over 
 dose causing* cerebral cong*estion ; the contrary result 
 to what the practitioner intended, and I have known 
 several inst-ances of total failure in relieving* pain by 
 these means. 
 
 Chloroform is considered more efficacious than gether, 
 and many cases are, no doubt, on record of its useful- 
 ness, and also of its destructive properties. It should 
 never be used when pulmonary disease exists, or that 
 known as hysteria, accompanied with affection of the 
 heart.
 
 41 
 
 To Dr. Morton^ of Boston^ America^ we are indebted 
 for the discovery of aether; and to Dr. Simpson, of 
 Edinburg'hj for chloroform. Dr. S. found that the 
 latter, similarly administered, not only induced the 
 same effects as aether, but that it did so more rapidly 
 and ag-reeably to the patient. A less quantity is also 
 requisite, and it is likewise less expensive. However, 
 upon the authority of such eminent men as Drs. Simp- 
 son, Snow, and Warren, who have written particularly 
 on this subject, we are warranted in concluding- — that, 
 on account of the hazardous tendency of these applica- 
 tions, they oug'ht not to be used in dental surg-ery. 
 
 EXTRACTION OF TEETH. 
 
 Few of the minor operations in surg-ery are so ex- 
 tremely painful as the extraction of teeth, thoug'h not 
 unfrequently that operation is consig'ned to persons 
 who have no pretension to professional knowledge, 
 and in many instances even to the lowest mechanics. 
 Nevertheless it is one which requires for its judicious 
 and safe performance, as much care and firmness, and 
 as correct an acquaintance with the anatomy of the 
 parts concerned in it, as many of the operations in 
 surg-ery to which a much hig-her deg'ree of importance 
 is attached. 
 
 That in the gTeat number of instances this opera- 
 tion is performed by mere mechanical force, cannot 
 be denied. The frightful consequences which result 
 from persons placing" themselves under the care of 
 individuals unacquainted with the anatomy and struc- 
 ture of the teeth, cannot be too severely commented 
 upon. To enumerate all the dangerous and even fatal 
 results, would occupy more space than the limited in- 
 tentions of this small volume will permit. Suffice it 
 to say, the repeated accidents such people meet with, 
 consequent upon a want of skill and properly adapted 
 instruments, must be anticpated, and could I but relate 
 the particulars of every instance, would, I feel confident, 
 
 £
 
 42 
 
 nijike a sensitive miiul shudder at the very thoug'ht. 
 All those fnxctures, bruisiiig's^ lacerations^ and com- 
 plete stripping" of the g-unis^ loosening' the neig'hbouring" 
 sound teeth, partial dislocation of the teeth, slipping- 
 of the claw from a diseased tooth to a sound one, and 
 its extraction in lieu of the intended one, severe 
 bleeding', inflammation, suppuration, breaking' of the 
 jaw or aheolar process, and with it other sound teeth, 
 caries of the same, and even death itself from one or 
 other of the above causes, otherwise laying- the founda- 
 tion for a lono* standino- disease, are not trilies. And 
 to substantiate these facts, read the medical journals; 
 the cases there recorded unfold a fearful tale, where 
 unnecessary violence has been used, tog'ether witli 
 want of skill in the operation. But observe what Mr. 
 Clendon says upon the subject, in his work upon the 
 extraction of teeth — 
 
 " If tlien we admit the necessity for extraction to exist, the assumed 
 cruelty is at once disposed of, and can no longer l>e urged against the 
 operation ; although I fear it will justly attach to the manner in 
 which it is too fi'equently performed. Indeed the strong conviction I 
 feel on this point, and an earnest desire to remedy the evil, have been 
 the inducement to obtrade my views on the medical profession and 
 the public. To the fonner I should consider an apology to be due, 
 were I not satisfied tliat men of education and of liberal and en- 
 lightened views will readily concede that any person, '^even of 
 ordinary talent and ability, who has for a long period devoted his 
 individual attention to a particular study, is more likely to excel 
 therein, to take a clearer and more comprehensive view of the subject, 
 and to arrive at more correct conclusions than they whose time is 
 occupied by a variety of pursuits, most of them erroneously con- 
 sidered of greater impoilance, which necessarily occupy their atten- 
 tion, so that the teeth and dental operations are nearly lost sight 
 of, and consequently deemed a matter of little moment." 
 
 Ag-ain, he remarks — 
 
 " I would suggest to those gentlemen who are indifferent to, or 
 dislike the operation, a very simple alternative, namely, never to 
 attempt the removal of a tooth, except in case of great emergency, 
 but to transfer their patients to those who devote their attention 
 exclusively to this branch of the profession. Under such circum- 
 stances, dentists would cheerfully operate for the poor on the re- 
 commendation of a medical practitioner, as it is not an object with
 
 43 
 
 them of a pecuniary couskleratiou."^T. Chitty Clendon, Surgeon 
 Dentist to Westminster Hospital. 
 
 " When it is remembered that this protracted and painful opera- 
 tion is occasionally rendered necessary, by the crushing and breaking 
 the tooth by the old method of extracting, some idea may be readily 
 fonned of the dangerous consequences which may follow the operation ; 
 and how many are there who from a dread of the pain, and injury to the 
 jaw, prefer the misery of keeping in their mouths, carious and putrid 
 teeth and stumps, offensive to themselves and to all who approach 
 them, injuring their health by the imperfect manner in which their 
 food is masticated, and producing' the worst form of indigestion and 
 its consequences. * * * The key instrument is the one that 
 causes the greatest amount of pain, and is the most likely to inflict 
 injury on the tooth and surrounding parts. It admits of great and 
 unnecessary violence, and considering the bungling manner in which 
 it is used, it ought to be banished from practice altogether." — Henry 
 Gilbert, Surgeon Dentist ; Inventor of the Patent Fulcrum Chair for 
 ills better Extraction of Teeth. M. R. C. 8. L., L.S.A. 
 
 AVith these remarks of Mr. Gilbert, I quite ag'ree ; 
 and, I believe, that more accidents are attributable to 
 that instrument than to any other used by the profes- 
 sion. I am decidedly of opinion, that, did dentists, 
 surg'eons, drug'g'ists, and others, who are in the habit 
 of extracting' teeth, once accustom themselves to the 
 use of properly adapted forceps, they would dispense 
 with the use of the key instrument, unless it were in 
 an extreme case of necessity. 
 
 There is a variety of forceps in use among* dentists, 
 but those invented by Mr. Tomes, the able lecturer at 
 the Middlesex Hospital, are considered (for g-eneral 
 purposes) the best. But even these, professional men 
 must acknowledge, have their disadvantag*es ; parti- 
 cularly those adapted for molar teeth. In such cases, 
 where there is but the mere shell of the tooth re- 
 maining* for the instrument to g'rasp, without endan- 
 g'ering- the crown of it, with the purchase required 
 for its extraction, the curved sharp edg-e of those 
 forceps would cut it off, leave the fang's in the alveolar 
 process, and place the practitioner in a very awkward 
 dilemma — that of choosing- between the forceps in 
 question, and the key instrument previously mentioned. 
 
 E 2
 
 44 
 
 This directed my attention to the possibiHty of in- 
 venting one more in accordance with the anatomical 
 structure of those teeth, to obviate the danger and 
 much of the pain and risk attending the operation; 
 and I have produced one, which I have found to act 
 extremely well ; and which, I trust, will meet the 
 wishes of the public. 
 
 These forceps, it will be seen by the annexed en- 
 graving, are so adapted, that on one side of the upper 
 molar teeth, which have two spreading fangs, the bill 
 of the instrument will slip between, underneath the 
 crown and alveolar process, and on the opposite side, 
 will grip the neck of. the tooth, thereby preventing 
 the least possibility of slipping or cutting off, and 
 will readily lay hold of the most difficult molars of the 
 upper jaw, for which this instrument is adapted. 
 
 The suggestion presented itself to my mind by 
 being put in possession of the Hawk's Bill Forceps for 
 removing the lower molars. Who the inventor of that 
 instrument is, I know not, but all I could say in its 
 favour, from practical experience of its utility, would 
 not be too much ; and those parties to whom I have 
 recommended it, will, I feel assured, agree with me, 
 that it is the best instrument in the profession, for the 
 purpose it is intended. I have given an engraving of 
 it, together with my own, and I think my brethren in 
 the profession, will allow them to be a decided im- 
 provement upon the forceps now in general use.
 
 The above represent the improved right and left upper forceps 
 gripping the necks of the upper molar teeth. 
 
 The forceps \rithout the teeth 
 
 1 . The forceps for ihe lower jaw. 
 
 2. A side view of the same shew- 
 
 the depth of bill.
 
 Diagram of the Fifth Nerve, with refei-ence principaUtj to the 
 distribution of the Dental Nerves and their connections. 
 
 A. Ophthalmic division. 
 
 1. Frontal. 2. Lachiymal. 3. Nasociliary branches. 
 3'. Lenticular ganglion. 
 
 B. Superior maxilliarv division. 
 
 4. Malar. 5. Pteiygo palatine. 5'. Meckel's ganglion. 
 6. Posterior dental. 7. Lesser anterior dental. 8. Greater 
 anterior dental. 9. Infra orbitary branches. 
 
 C. Inferior maxilliarv division. 
 
 10. Anterior auiicular. 11. Masseteric. 12. Deeppos 
 tenor temporal. 13. Anterior deep temporal. 14. Buc- 
 cinator. 15. Lingual. 16. Mylohyoid. 17. Inferior 
 alveolar. 18. Inferior labial branches. 
 
 From Tomes.
 
 PART III. 
 
 PRACTICAL RULES TO BE OBSERVED 
 
 DURING THE PERIODS OF 
 
 DENTITION. 
 
 ON THE PROGRESS OF THE TEMPORARY TEETH^ 
 AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 We now arrrive at the third division of our subject, 
 namely, Dentition. This is of great importance, 
 inasmuch as it concerns parents who are in the habit 
 of making inquiries of professional men, and those 
 who profess not that equality, but who, from the know- 
 ledge of others, rest satisfied with suggestions vague 
 and unsatisfactory, taking nature as their guide, with- 
 out guarding against the actions of her laws. They 
 would confer a blessing on their offspring did they 
 but pay proper attention to the primary formation of 
 the teeth, and thus alleviate the sufferings too often 
 experienced in their development. 
 
 The time of the appearance of teeth varies from 
 five to eight months from birth, and great care is 
 requisite in the means used to allay the irritation 
 consequent upon their development^ for the gums are 
 then in a high state of inflammation. This, however, 
 depends in some measure on the state of the stomach, 
 and often gives rise to convulsions and fever. In this 
 stage the gums should be lanced, the bowels purged 
 with some mild aperient (such, for instance, as small
 
 48 
 
 doses of fluid magnesia or castor oil) ; and when there 
 is a tendency to thrush, the admixture of borax, 
 myrrh, and honey, will be found serviceable as an 
 application. 
 
 To enter upon a history of the consequences which 
 result from the irritation of teething, would be to 
 treat generally of all diseases of infancy, for there is 
 scarcely a disease to which this period of life is sub- 
 ject, that is not more or less produced by this cause. 
 And all that art or skill can suggest to relieve the 
 infant sufferer will prove useless, unless proper atten- 
 tion be observed in the first stages of dentition. 
 
 Great responsibility is incurred by those who have 
 the management of children, particularly during this 
 process. The varied forms disease may assume, and 
 the great amount of sufferings they must endure, is 
 not only painful to witness, but in too many instances 
 perilous to their very existence. And yet how very 
 indifferent many parents are to the burst of anguish 
 from the little infant, which pain gives rise to. They 
 will take it as a matter of course, and exclaim — " O, 
 it is only its teeth," as if the child were not possessed 
 of feeling. There is a pain very much akin to this, 
 which afflicts persons in a more advanced stage of 
 life, and which, it is a remarkable fact, excites about 
 the same amount of sympathy. This pain we have 
 treated of as *' the tooth ache," and he is a fortunate 
 individual who has not experienced it. If the reader 
 has known it, let him picture to himself the horrors 
 of that acute pain, and its influence upon the nervous 
 system, even when confined to one tooth, and then 
 let him think what must it be when felt in several 
 at once, and continued week after week ; how very 
 reducing it undoubtedly must be to the system, and 
 more particularly to one who cannot devise means to 
 relieve itself; and yet, as I have before said, there is 
 but little sympathy with the unfortunate child whilst 
 in this condition. As a general rule, the process is
 
 49 
 
 left to its own course, and all the mother or nurse 
 does, is not to attempt to obtain permanent relief for 
 the little sufferer, but simply to stave off the incon- 
 venience by the application of some one of the many 
 powerful narcotics offered to them. And I should be 
 doing injustice to this very important subject, did I 
 omit strictly to enforce the imminent danger arising 
 from the use of 
 
 Godfrey's cordial^ 
 
 White Mixture, and Tincture of Opium, as dangerous 
 remedies for young children. Skilful practitioners 
 prescribe opium or laudanum with reluctance. When 
 the patient is a baby, the dose they give is very 
 minute. But parents and nurses, who would shrink 
 from giving laudanum under its own name to an 
 infant, are deluded by the names of " Carminative," 
 " Cordial," " Soothing Syrup," a celebrated some- 
 thing, or a real blessing to mothers, with the high 
 sounding title of " Royal Infant's Preservative." 
 A perusal of the advertisements of these nostrums 
 cannot fail to convince every one possessed of common 
 sense, of the great want of dependence to be placed 
 in them. They pretend to cure all the diseases to 
 which infancy is liable during teething, and the nurse 
 or mother in a moment of excitement fly to them — 
 the result being invariably disappointment and regret. 
 They are applied for the purpose of producing sleep, 
 and how often is this the SLEEP OF DEATH. 
 This is too often verified in thousands of published 
 cases, and, beyond doubt, there are many that are 
 never exposed. Such ignorance, or want of atten- 
 tion, admits of no excuse, when there exists so many 
 charitable institutions, where the best medical advice 
 may be had gratis. It is really astonishing that 
 so little sympathy and attention is paid to young 
 children. Generally speaking, mothers reflect not on 
 their own responsibility, and the absolute necessity 
 
 F
 
 50 
 
 of consulting proper advice, and obtaining the atten- 
 dance of a respectable medical practitioner. Such a 
 procedure is not only the most safe and economical, 
 but might be the means of saving numbers from a 
 premature grave. It is their province, not only to 
 form the body, but also to give the mind its most 
 early bias. They have it very much in their power 
 to make their children healthy or invalids — useful in 
 life, or the pests of society. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis, the talented authoress, observes, that, 
 " While the education of females implies little more than 
 what relates to dress and public show, or superficial 
 accomplishments, we have nothing to expect from 
 them but ignorance in the most important concerns 
 of life; and is it any wonder when they become mothers 
 that they should be ignorant of the duties imposed 
 upon them." 
 
 One great duty of the mother is the infusion of 
 intellectual and moral tendencies into her children. 
 But this is often in a great measure either tacitly or 
 openly tabooed. Still it is a duty in the performance 
 of which the mother is directly interested, and accord- 
 ingly as she acts with respect to it, may she expect to 
 injure or benefit the coming generation — to make the 
 fulfilment of their duties as parents facile or difficult. 
 It is of vast advantage to be born of healthy and vir- 
 tuous parents ; it is a further advantage to be the 
 children of those whose intellect has been thoroughly 
 disciplined and developed ; and a further advantage 
 still to be surrounded in infancy and early childhood 
 with a mother's care, and a mother's blessing. But 
 she who abandons the fruit of her womb, as soon as 
 it is born, to the sole care of some hireling, deserves 
 not the proud name of mother — that one sweet 
 word, which is connected with a thousand pleasing 
 recollections of the past. It is her whom nature has 
 designed for nursing and superintending the manage- 
 ment of her own children ; and how, may I ask, can
 
 51 
 
 she be better employed ? The destinies of the race 
 depend more on its future mothers than on anything 
 else; they are born to be the makers of the future men. 
 Clever women are of great importance to the world. 
 Woman has most to do with all that awakens the 
 young spirit in its early freshness, and makes that 
 child, which is to be " Father to the man." 
 
 We have sufficient evidence from the annual regis- 
 ters of the dead, that one-third of the children of 
 Great Britain are sent to " that bourne from wdience 
 no traveller returns," under six years of age. Now, 
 this is very plain, that if the deaths of those children 
 were a natural evil, animals of the lower creation 
 would be as liable to die as man at this age, but we 
 find it by no means the case. 
 
 " In cliildreu teething, and the diseases arising from interrupted 
 dentition, are the most formidahle to which they ai'e liable. Indeed 
 on reference to the bills of mortality of the metropolis, it will be seen 
 that of those who die under tlie age of 15, four per cent, die from 
 teething. This will at once show that too much attention cannot be 
 given by those engaged in medical studies to dentition and its coin- 
 cident disorders." — Tomes on the Teeth ; Surgeon Dejitist to the 
 Middlesex Hospital. 
 
 " The treatment of the varions diseases in dentition, requires only 
 a reference to their cause, to be rational and generally successful. 
 Of the general remedies the most important are, those which are 
 directed to the digestive organs, and others to act upon the skin 
 and liver, with the use of the warm bath ; the gums should be care- 
 fully examined, and wherever there is any unusual redness or tur- 
 gescence over the part where the next tooth is expected to appear, 
 the including parts should be freely and effectually divided. It is 
 not sufficient that the incision should merely pass through the gum ; 
 the lancet must be carried down to the rising tooth fully, and only 
 stopped when the resistance of its point is felt against the edge of the 
 instrument." — Bell on the Teeth; Surgeon Dentist to Guy's Hospital 
 F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., dc, dc. 
 
 FOOD FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 Nature not only points out the food proper for an 
 infant, but actually prepares it. The mother's milk, 
 or that of any healthy nurse, is unquestionably the 
 
 F 2
 
 52 
 
 best for them. Children may seem to thrive for a few 
 months, without the breast ; but when teething, small 
 pox, or any other disease incident to childhood comes 
 on, they generally perish. Cramming an infant, as 
 many persons are in the habit of doing, with such in- 
 digestible stuff as syrups, cordials, oils, and sweets of 
 various descriptions, whether they be requisite or not, 
 can scarcely fail to make it sick, and is more likely to 
 occasion disease than prevent it. If the mother or 
 nurse has sufficient milk, the child will seldom need 
 any other food until the third or fourth month, it will 
 then be proper to give it, once or twice a day, food, 
 the most easy of digestion, such as water pap, milk 
 pottage, of good light bread and milk, and not to 
 overload the stomach ; as soon as it shows an inclina- 
 tion to " chew," give it a crust of bread. This, not 
 only nourishes the gums, but promotes the cutting of 
 the teeth, and obviates the necessity of resorting to 
 improper things for that purpose ; such, for instance, 
 as hard coral, ivory, metals, &c., &c. If you wish to 
 give it something to amuse it, procure an India- 
 rubber ring, that is more adapted than any other toy. 
 But a crust of bread is better, it will induce a flow of 
 saliva, which, by mixing with the nurse's milk in the 
 stomach, will afford an excellent nourishment, too 
 valuable to be lost. 
 
 Many people imagine that the food which they 
 themselves take, cannot be improper for their children. 
 But this idea is very absurd and erroneous. I have 
 seen parents allow them, as soon almost as they can 
 walk, to eat all kinds of food for human purposes, 
 and which, for them, is quite opposed to the proper 
 course of nature. The all-wise Creator has furnished 
 his creatures with a diet, affording the most nourish- 
 ment for the different periods of life. The instruments 
 most suitable for trituration are also arranged in such 
 order as to tend to the support of health, life, and 
 comfort; and it is for His creatures to use them with 
 discrimination for their well-being.
 
 58 
 
 Animal food, fermented liquors, bacon fat, and 
 salted provisions of any description, are very hurtful 
 to children; they cause flatulency, distend and relax 
 the stomach, and produce gross humours. Their diet 
 should be of the plainest kind and nourishing ; varied, 
 of course, according to circumstances. 
 
 THE TEETHj AND TIME OF THEIR APPEAEANCE. 
 
 The first or temporary set vary in their develop- 
 ment. Nature appears to make a digression from her 
 wise laws, in certain cases, as in the comparative 
 excess of suffering that some children will have to 
 endure over others, during the progress of dentition. 
 
 When the first teeth are complete, which happens 
 generally about the second year, they are ten in the 
 upper, and ten in the lower jaw; and although small, 
 they are sufficient to fill the jaws at this age, and like 
 the teeth of the permanent set, are subject to decay. 
 
 Attention to the growth of the temporary teeth is 
 not of the same importance, as in the permanent set, 
 although, while shedding them, great care is requisite. 
 This event takes place about the age of six or seven 
 years from birth. They should therefore be carefully 
 watched from time to time by the family dentist, for 
 upon the management of them at this crisis, depends 
 in a great measure, the regularity of the teeth in the 
 second dentition, and any deformity in their arrange- 
 ment may by him be prevented. 
 
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERMANENT 
 TEETH. 
 
 The second or permanent teeth when complete, are 
 thirty- two in number, and generally appear in the 
 following order : — 
 
 Between the ages of seven and twelve years^ the 
 temporary teeth, which are twenty in number, are 
 replaced by the same quantity of permanent ones ; 
 during this period the jaws enlarg-e sufficiently to
 
 54 
 
 admit of the second molar teeth coming- throug-h. In 
 the course of the next eig-ht or ten j^ears, the jaws 
 ag-ain enlaro'e, ndmitting- the third molars, or dentes 
 sapientce, generally termed the wisdom teeth. They, 
 at times, in their development, g-ive much pain, and 
 soon fall to decay. There are four of them, one on 
 each side, at the extreme end of the upper and lower 
 jaw. 
 
 The teeth offer an anomaly to all other structures comprised in 
 the animal body. Thus, when the permanent ones have arrived 
 at their full growth, they depart not from this feature, unless they 
 decay ; affording an example, quite opposite to those necessary ap- 
 pendages, the hair, and the nails of the hand and foot. 
 
 IRREGULARITY OF THE TEETH. 
 
 The permanent teeth are liable, in some instances, 
 to various irregularities, as reg'ards closing* the upper 
 and lower tog-ether, and likewise in their temporary 
 and permanent position ; occasioned probably by the 
 absorption of the fang's of the first set, not keeping- 
 pace with the advancement of the teeth of the second 
 dentition ; the former forcing- the latter to take an ir- 
 regular direction, and in their prog-ress, an unnatural 
 position. This would require a process of surgical 
 and mechanical treatment to remedy, if not arrested 
 at an earlier period of their g-roAA th. Sometimes it 
 will occur from an overcrowding- of the permanent 
 set, and the irregularity may be caused by a want of 
 sufficient room in the jaws for the usual number of 
 teeth. Of course, I would not advocate the extraction 
 of the temporary teeth, either hastily or indiscrimi- 
 nately, for the supposed purpose of g'i^■ing• free liberty 
 to those of the ])ermanent set ; nature will intimate 
 the proper time for their removal, — See Engraving. 
 
 Mr. Bell, surg-eon-dentist to Guy's Hospital, has 
 shown that Mr. Fox, dentist, and the author of a 
 cleverly written work upon the Teeth, was in error, 
 when he advised the removal of the temporary teeth, 
 for slight causes, and cites a case which came under
 
 55 
 
 his own knowledg-e, in which much mischief was done 
 by a person acting- under this impression: — 
 
 •' On examining the mouth of a young person, I have frequently 
 been grieved to find an irregular permanent tooth removed, and the 
 temporary one, the cause of the irregularity, still remaining. And 
 the canine tooth, the most serviceable in the upper jaw, whose space 
 has been encroached upon by the bicuspide, too early developed, 
 extracted, because it projected, while the latter, which might have 
 been spared, was left in its place. To those who have paid more at- 
 tention to this subject, such errors (betraying, either carelessness or 
 want of observation) may appear incredible, but unfortunately, there 
 exists too many evidences to confirm the truth of those obser- 
 vations." — J. Chitty Clendon, Surgeon-Dentist to the Westminster 
 Hospital. 
 
 " The conclusions I draw from the foregoing remarks may be 
 summed up in a single sentence. I believe that Dental Science has 
 not advanced so generally in England as ui the United States, 
 althougli this home truth may not be very palateable to the profession 
 generally, but I make the assertion advisedly and without in the 
 remotest degree reflecting upon the many able and scientific men in 
 England who may be said to represent the very quintessence of dental 
 knowledge and mechanical skill in their own country. 
 
 " It will be remembered that Burdmore was the first writer in 
 England, so far as we are aware, who drew attention to the subject, 
 or systematized the practice of Dental Surgery, in the year 1770. 
 It was he who first drew attention to ' the disorders and deformities 
 of the teeth and gums ; ' and although his notions were somewhat 
 crude and at variance with our present knowledge, his writings at this 
 early period exhibit a somewhat extensive practical acquaintance with 
 the subject ui:)on which he wrote. Subsequent writers have not, I 
 think, given Burdmore that fair share of credit and praise to which 
 he is entitled, if we for a moment consider the untrodden path of 
 science into which he was the first to adventure. Burdmore found 
 the practice of Dental Surgery, such as it then was, in the hands of 
 barber surgeons, shoemakers and mountebanks, and their knowledge 
 of the subject as narrow and circumscribed as was their practice, it 
 being limited to the mere extraction of teeth. 
 
 " It was in this primitive state that Burdmore found the dental 
 pi'ofession; he raised it from obscurity, and made it of sufficient 
 importance to attract the attention of the celebrated Hunter, who 
 wrote in 1771. Although Hunter did turn his attention to the sub- 
 ject, nevertheless Dental Surgery advanced but slowly, and all the 
 theoretical knowledge that existed upon the subject up to that time, 
 was derived from Hunter's works. 
 
 " In 1803 the work of Fox appeared, which not only treated the 
 teeth medicinally and surgically, but also embraced a portion of the
 
 56 
 
 mechanical treatment ; and the novel and interesting field of enquiry 
 which it opened up, naturally attracted the observation of the scientific 
 and curious. For many years subsequently the art appears to have 
 remained in abeyance, medical pupils being to much engrossed with 
 their studies upon General Anatomy and Operative Surgeiy to pay 
 any serious or continuous attention to this part of the human frame. 
 In fact, specialists who devoted themselves exclusively to the know- 
 ledge and study of one portion of the body, were looked upon, even 
 at this period, with something like suspicion and distrust, and the 
 treatment of the teeth by medical men was confined to mere extraction. 
 
 " Although a few abstract treatises followed by these standard works, 
 it was not until the appearance of the scientific publication of Bell, 
 in the year 1829, upon the Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology of 
 the Teeth, that Dental Surgery may be said to have engaged any 
 particular attention, or to be studied as an important collateral branch 
 of Medicine and Surgery. It was only then that the teeth were first 
 pointed out as an integral part of the human economy, and as such, 
 entitled to form an important element of consideration in the treat- 
 ment of nervous diseases of the cranium. Works of a similar theo- 
 retical character had appeared upon the Continent, but no work so 
 comprehensive and perfect as that of Bell had yet been produced. 
 The author, a man of pro found physiological and pathological obsei-va- 
 tion and acquirements in the departments of human and comparative 
 Anatomy, could not have failed to produce a work worthy of his cor- 
 rect views, his eminent position and his great talents. Although some 
 of his theories have within the last few years been questioned by 
 modern writers ; yet, as a whole, the talent and research it displays 
 are universally admitted, wliile, as a sound, rheoretical work, it has 
 never been sm'passed. 
 
 " It may, perhaps, be scarce necessary to mention, that some 
 valuable works supporting the views of Bell subsequently appeared, 
 and numerous smaller compilations and contributions to this depart- 
 ment of science, in the shape of pamphlets, of which it is unnecessary 
 to mention more than the titles. The year 1830 was prolific in these 
 ephemeral publications, varjing in price and quality of matter." — 
 Extract from an Address by James Robinson, D.D.S. to the Society of 
 the Alumni of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.
 
 PART IV. 
 
 IMPOSITIONS PRACTISED IN 
 DENTISTRY. 
 
 Perhaps this, of all the other parts of this little 
 work, treats of a subject which is of the greatest im- 
 portance to the general reader, who may feel the neces- 
 sity for artificial teeth. Because, although the subjects 
 already treated of may, and will, no doubt, interest 
 many who find their cases to be similar to some therein 
 spoken of, yet this one must tend, if properly digested, 
 to the certain ultimate relief of those ills under which 
 they now suffer. It is a duty which we owe not only 
 to ourselves, but also to mankind generally, to expose 
 and hold up imposition whatever may be its guise ; but 
 more especially is it our duty so to do, when the prac- 
 tice of that imposition entails on its unhappy victims, 
 not merely pecuniary loss, but physical suffering, re- 
 sulting at times in the most fearful consequences. And 
 that this is the casein Dentistry is unhappily but too true. 
 Indeed there are but few professions, if any, in which 
 imposition is carried to such an extent as in this ; and 
 to give aught like a complete exposure of the manifold 
 phases which it assumes, would be to extend this 
 pamphlet far beyond its intended limits. However, 
 though I may not be able to give a detailed account 
 of the impositions in Dentistry, I will go so far into 
 the matter, as will I trust show persons having occasion 
 for the application of the art, the absolute necessity of 
 care in their choice of a dentist, and the many dangers 
 
 G
 
 58 
 
 to which they are Hable if they are not careful. Indeed 
 this will be more in keeping with the proposed charac- 
 ter of this my production, which professes rather to 
 convey a clear idea of the matters treated of, than, by 
 the use of technicalites, and by becoming diffuse, to 
 confuse the reader, and cause him to fall into error. 
 
 An early chapter of this work alludes to the extremely 
 complicated and delicate machinery of the mouth — 
 machinery than which nothing can by possibility be 
 more beautiful, and at the same time more liable to be 
 disarranged by mal-treatment. And yet strange as it 
 may appear, this delicate piece of divine workmanship 
 has been made the basis of imposition the most pal- 
 pable — imposition entailing on the sufferers by it an 
 immense amountof pain and inconvenience — imposition 
 robbing them not only of their worldly means to an 
 extraordinary extent, but of their health ; for it is but 
 too well authenticated that lack of knowledge in opera- 
 tions in Dentistry has, in a vast number of cases, sown 
 the seeds of permanent disease, which have germinated 
 with immense rapidity, and brought on dreadful suffer- 
 ing and early death. Surely if the public were but 
 thoroughly aware of this fact, they would not rush 
 forward, as they now do, and prostrate themselves under 
 the wheels of this latest Juggernaut. Surely they 
 would no longer allow themselves to be blinded by the 
 terms of advertisements, the very professions of which, 
 if the matter were thought over by a sensible person, 
 must convince him that they cannot be true, but that, 
 by exaggeration and positive untruth, they seek to trap 
 the unwary, and, if possible, to lead them on to their 
 destruction. However, we will return to the considera- 
 tion of the impositions, and the impostors themselves. 
 And first of the impostors : — 
 
 If my reader will but take up the most convenient 
 country or metropolitan newspaper and scan its ad- 
 vertising columns, he will observe, under various attrac- 
 tive headings, the announcements of professional, or
 
 59 
 
 professed dentists. In a vast majority of these cases, 
 he will, on a close examination of the name, be struck 
 with the extraordinary likeness which it bears to those 
 of Judaical mould. Perhaps the name, though spelt 
 somewhat differently, has the precise sound of one with 
 which he is perfectly familiar as belonging to some 
 respectable Jewish tradesman in the town, in or near 
 which he resides. Or it may be that, to the exact let- 
 ters of the beginning of the name of some Hebrew 
 friend, he finds tacked on some English termination, 
 giving the whole a hybrid appearance, and calculated 
 to give rise in the least suspicious mind to shrewd ideas 
 with respect to its Hebrew origin. Indeed the fact is, 
 that nine-tenths of the impostors in Dentistry are 
 members of the Hebrew race, and either not being 
 willing to disgrace their faith by the fact being known, 
 or for other reasons, they endeavour by a total change 
 of name, or by the alteration of a letter or syllable, to 
 convey the impression that they are men of English 
 origin. These men have, perhaps, by some means or 
 other, obtained the least possible smattering of the art 
 of Dentistry, and never heeding that line of Pope's 
 which says 
 
 " A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," 
 Which perhaps in no case ever applied so well as in 
 this, hesitate not to announce themselves as proficients, 
 and venture without the least compunction to affirm 
 that their mode of treatment stands singular in its 
 results, which in fact it does, though not exactly in the 
 sense they would wish to convey. A large and respect- 
 able-looking house is taken in some good thoroughfare, 
 and huge announcements of the name &c., of the gen- 
 tleman make their appearance, on Brobdignagian brass 
 plates at the door. He has, by the advice, or at the 
 particular request, of "numerous friends," been induced 
 to open a branch establishment here, in connection with 
 
 his principal one in where he has been in a most 
 
 flourishing practice for -nobody knows iiow long. He 
 
 (; 2
 
 60 
 
 has — that is, he says lie lias — the recommendations of a 
 large number of " the faculty" in testimony of his sur- 
 passing abilities. Even royalty itself has been under his 
 hands and been fortunate enough to come in for a share of 
 those blessings — in the shape of operations in Dentistry, 
 which it is his sole aim to scatter abroad among his 
 fellow-creatures. Emolument cannot be his object, 
 No; he has a higher aim. He wishes to see the mani- 
 fold advantages of artificial teeth extended to suifering 
 humanity wherever it is to be found, no matter whether 
 among the high or the low, the rich or the poor, and 
 to this end he has devoted his life. Admirable philan- 
 thropist! Often has he burned the " midnight oil" 
 in active and untiring research after such means as 
 will enable him to carry into efifcct his good Samaritan 
 views. And at last he has been successful. Close 
 attention to the subject has enabled him to establish 
 a line of practice peculiar to himself, and if the public 
 do not avail themselves of his experience and talent, 
 they willnever cease toregret it. Thesemen, as we have 
 said, do not hesitate to take regular establishments, 
 and too often at the expense of their dupes. There is 
 another class to whom I cannot possibly do justice. 
 Gifted with a genteel exterior, cultivating, enormous 
 moustachios, exhibiting a considerable quantity of Bir- 
 mingham jewellery, and possessed of any amount of 
 assurance, they may be called birds of passage. For 
 their stay is not long in one place. Suddenly they make 
 their appearance, in couples, in our large towns " for 
 a limited period." Handsome apartments are engaged, 
 and advertising is carried on with great spirit. They 
 profess to do the thing "cheap." Their talents are 
 even greater than those of their more settled brethren, 
 and as a consequence they are the more desirous 
 that no person shall be debarred the benefit of them. 
 Thus a long residence in one place would give one 
 town an unfair advantage over another, in the in- 
 estimable benefit to be derived from their knowledge ;
 
 01 
 
 and so their stay in every place is but brief. Cer- 
 tain ill-natured persons are constantly asserting that 
 if they were not to make short stays, they would run 
 a great chance of making very long ones in certain 
 colleges established in most large towns, for the express 
 purpose of taming wild spirits — the recommendations 
 to which colleges are thickly bestowed by individuals 
 known among the vulgar as county court judges, 
 magistrates, &c. It really is astonishing that people 
 can be found to say such ill-natured things; and yet I 
 have heard it said of a gentleman, who visited Hull 
 about twelve months ago, and who left it some- 
 what hastily I confess, that he was precisely the same 
 individual who had been in that town a few years 
 before, — he having altered his name, and shaved off 
 his upper lip decorators. However, I would not be mis- 
 led by any such tales as these. Have I not their adver- 
 tisements before me in which a sufferer from any 
 damage in the teeth is shown the most easy way to 
 have it remedied, and that, I must add, without re- 
 sorting to the most indispensable machinery of a 
 Dentist's laboratory. 
 
 And now, having spoken some little about the hn- 
 postorSj I will turn to the impositions. 
 
 The first mode of imposition practised, wliich I 
 shall notice, will be the overchar^-ing' system. And 
 in briefly treating of this subject, I hope to be excused 
 if I may in aught seem prolix ; for really this of all 
 other impositions is so gigantic and generally practised 
 that too much pains cannot be taken to caution ])er- 
 sons against subjecting themselves to it. In consider- 
 ing this imposition we shall see the object of the 
 advertised 5s. tooth. It is simply to attract persons 
 to the establishment, where, having had the teeth in- 
 serted, such a charg'e is then made as astonishes the 
 patient ; and, should he refuse to pay, means the most 
 extraordinary are used to draw forth the money. Few 
 persons would credit to what an extent this is carried.
 
 62 
 
 Perhaps the following- case, which was narrated to me 
 by the iiidi\i(lual alluded to, will throw more light 
 upon the subject than anything- I could write. 
 
 In August, 1842, Mr. B., a gentleman fanner, who resides a few 
 miles from Manchester, was desirious of having replaced a left central 
 incisor, the loss of which subjected him to considerable inconvenience. 
 Like all other sensilde men, he took a newspaper, and in the adver- 
 tising columns of the journal he patronised, he found, very prominent, 
 the announcement of just such an individual as he thought he ouglit 
 to consult. Of course he wanted sldll, and this the individual evidently 
 had who advertised, for his announcement discoursed fluently of his 
 extraordinaiy skill in fixing artificial teeth — of the wondeiiul improve- 
 ments he had recently made, and the vast superority which Ids teeth 
 possessed over all others, a fact which was peculiar to his own practice. 
 "Verily" quoth my informant, "if I had only had that son of Israel 
 in my farm yard I would have shown him with a horsewhip, a peculiar 
 practice of mine, which lie would not easily have forgotten." Then 
 again he wanted cheapness, and surely no one could complain of 
 five shillings, or even ten shillings for a tooth, at wliich prices the 
 advertiser's extensive practice in the manufacture of teeth enabled 
 him to offer them, and which terms, owing to the great advantages 
 he possessed over other dentists, could not be approached. Well, it 
 was evident here was the man to su])ply the incisor wanted, and 
 accordinglyjour friend in unconscious ignorance visited him and allowed 
 him to take an impression of his mouth. He was desired to call 
 again on the following market day to have the tooth fixed, and 
 was punctually in attendance. The " specimen of art," the 
 palate of which was of silver, and wliich was mouiited with a com- 
 mon French flat tooth was inserted, and the piece was fastened with a 
 wire which encircled the i-ight central tooth. "SVlien the operation 
 was completed the charge was asked. " Seven Pounds Ten ShiUings" 
 was the modest answer. I need hardly say that our friend was 
 astonished, — particularly after the five shillings announcement. In- 
 deed he was excessively indignant, and in no measured terms informed 
 the operator that he was resolved not to be imposed upon. That 
 individual in a very easy manner answered that it was no imposition, 
 adding coolly tliat it was a very moderate charge. Of course our 
 friend felt determined not to pay the sum demanded, and drew the 
 attention of the gentleman to his terms as advertised. " Oh," said 
 he " the present transaction has nothing whatever to do with those 
 charges. J have replaced for you one of my very best teeth, and I 
 desire no more than will be commensurate for my labour." My in- 
 foimant ofi'ered One Pound Ten Shillings for the tooth, thinking that 
 ample remuneration. He laid that sum on the table and made his 
 way to the door. But he was not to bo allo\\cd to escape in that way. 
 Oh no ; the operator very coolly locked the door, put the key in his 
 
 I
 
 03 
 
 pocket, and then with the most consummate impudence, informed his 
 victim tluit lie was his prisoner imtil the full amount was paid. 
 Thoughts of sledge hammers flitted across the mind of our friend as 
 he witnessed this action, but as they were not at the moment avail- 
 able, he was compelled to fret and fume for some time longer in 
 durance vile. He was kept there so long, that his resolution was 
 completely worn down, and as moreover he was neglecting important 
 business, he paid over the sum demanded, and was then allowed to 
 depart. But now hear the sequel. The tooth supplied he could 
 never w-ear in comfort, and further it was the means of his losing the 
 adjoining central incisor, in consequence of its being such a worthless 
 piece, scarcely having the slightest claim to art. Both the teeth he 
 has since had replaced by a respectable surgeon dentist, who fitted 
 them for him of a first-rate quality on gold plates, and wearable with 
 comfort for considerably less than one half the cost of the single useless 
 incumbrance for which he had paid so dearly. 
 
 Here^ then^ is one instance^ authentic I pledgee 
 myself, of the voracity, I may call it, of these harpies. 
 Unfortunately for the victim in this case, it was suc- 
 cessful, and the public may rest assured that it is by 
 no means singular. Perhaps another instance (in 
 which, however, the attempt was not successful) will 
 be interesting". 
 
 In September, 1848, Miss G — a governess at Hull, found it 
 absolutely necessary to consult a dentist, and through a sense of 
 delicacy — I might call it false delicacy — not wishing to ask the advice 
 of her family surgeon on the subject, as to what dentist she should 
 consult, she came to the conclusion to visit one whose advertisement 
 in the newspaper she had noticed. From the imposing appearance 
 of this person's establishment, she at once concluded him to be a re- 
 spectable practitioner. On entering the house, every thing seemed in 
 keeping with its external appearance. The gentleman e.xamined her 
 mouth, and then in order that she might not take a leap in the dark, 
 she inquired what would be the charge for the teeth she required. I 
 should mention that she wanted four teeth and a block ; this block is 
 a piece of bone that is inserted upon the plate of the teeth, at the 
 posterior part of the mouth, and was at that time (and indeed, is some 
 times now), for the loss of the grinders. The answer to the lady's 
 enquiry was, that he really could not give an estimate, unless he had 
 the impression of her mouth. At his request she allowed it to be 
 taken, and she was then told that if she would call in the course of 
 a week, he would be able to give her an idea, of what the cost would 
 be. At the expiration of the time appointed, the lady waited upon 
 him agam, when lo! the teeth were made, and ready for insertion too. 
 This time, however, he had reckoned without his host. He showed a
 
 G4 
 
 very great Jegi'ee of attention to tlic Ituly, ami was very anxious to 
 insert the teeth. But Miss O. was not so to he done. She requested 
 before she liad tlie teeth, to know the price of them. "Twenty Pounds"! 
 was his answer. She very plainly told him that she should not take 
 them on such unreasonable terms, and intimated to him, that as she 
 had not ordered them, she shoukl be perfectly justified in going else- 
 where. He told her that he could compel her to pay for them, inas- 
 much as he had the model of her mouth, and the teeth were made to 
 that model, and therefore lie had sufficient evidence of the order being 
 given. " Sir," she said, " you know it is an untruth, — you know that 
 I did not give any such order. My visit to-day you are well aware, 
 is for the sole purpose of learning your terms. Both the ladies I have 
 brought with me, require an equal number of teeth as myself, and 
 unless you think proper to reduce your charges, not only will I refuse 
 to take your teeth, but tliey also with me, will go elsewhere. You 
 made the teeth on your own responsibility, take the consequences. 
 If 3'ou take the case to court, as you intimate you shall, I shall not 
 hesitate to meet you there, confident in the justice of my cause !" This 
 appropriate reply, coupled with tlie prospect of losing another prize, 
 had its effect. The price was reduced from Twenty to Ten Pounds — 
 the teeth were then inserted, and the money of course was gathered 
 into the coffers of this Shylock. 
 
 Now this like its predecessor, is but one, out of some 
 hundreds of similar cases, which have occurred, and 
 are constantly occurring. Of course these swindling 
 scoundrels, do not care one jot for recommendations, 
 and consequently, the more they can get out of the 
 victims, who fall into their hands, the better for them- 
 selves. I have known cases in which, by a process 
 similar to the one in the last case, Fifty Pounds, Sixty 
 Pounds, Seventy Pounds, and even as high as One 
 Hundred Pounds, have been demanded, and in some 
 instances obtained. Process of law you arc threatened 
 with, if you refuse to pay, and many persons are thus 
 intimidated, and they pay ; and in some cases I am 
 sorry to say large sums have been got, by these vaga- 
 bonds, in courts of law where the cases have been 
 heard. This, however, is not always the case, for in 
 one or two instances, when the teeth have been pro- 
 duced, — like Peter Pinders razors, to have been made 
 to sell, — but where the parties have been compelled to 
 pay extravagant prices for them, orders have been
 
 65 
 
 made that the money be refunded, and the teeth re- 
 turned. Even here, however, the victims have been 
 done, for the victimiser has without the least hesitation 
 absconded, and thus effectually prevented any return 
 of money on his part. I know that, in many cases, 
 persons are thus excessively charged, because, thinking 
 that Dentists, like surgeons, are honourable professional 
 men, they do not deem it right before hand to inquire 
 their charges. Now, I would respectfully suggest that 
 it would be well if persons on applying to a Dentist 
 without recommendations as to character and skill, 
 particularly to strangers, migratory persons, and Jews, 
 would, before giving their orders, make an agreement 
 as to terms, and the principles upon which they pur- 
 pose having the teeth fixed. For it is a fact that all 
 Dentists are well aware what the cost will be after 
 examining the mouth, or before taking a model. There- 
 fore, should any individual, 1 care not who he be, dare 
 to equivocate as to his ability to give an estimate, the 
 patient may depend upon it that his intentions are 
 not honourable. 
 
 Another system by which the overcharging imposi- 
 tion is carried out is, by what I will call double 
 charging. Let us suppose for a moment that you 
 have followed out my suggestion, and made an agree- 
 ment, of course you then will imagine that you are 
 safe. But it is not so, if you chance to have fallen into 
 the hands of one of the harpies I have described. Your 
 teeth are made, and you expect you know what you have 
 to pay for them. However, you are perfectly astonished 
 on hearing a demand for considerably more than you 
 agreed for. If you venture to hint to the gentleman 
 that the charge is not exactly in accordance with the 
 agreement, he will coolly inform you that, that was 
 simply for making the teeth, or something of that kind, 
 and that the extra charge is for replacing, and so forth. 
 Now, no Dentist has any right to make any of these 
 extra charges, for if he undertakes to make a set of 
 
 H
 
 66 
 
 teeth, and agrees as to the chart^e for so doing, he 
 includes beyond all doubt the replacing of them, and 
 that too in such a manner as they may be worn. 
 No respectable Dentist would for a moment think of 
 future unlimited fees, but these gentlemen of whom I 
 have treated, have no sense of moral honesty. Their 
 motive is that of somebody else, of whom we have read, 
 " Get money, honestly, if you can, but, if not get 
 it," and following this out to the letter, so long as 
 they can by any means draw forth from the pockets 
 of their victims large sums of money, they laugh at 
 all talk of honesty, honour, and such like attributes, 
 which ought to adorn and distinguish the professional 
 man. 
 
 Let us now turn our attention to another form of 
 imposition in which these individuals are great adepts, 
 which however, can only be carried out in large 
 towns. Two, three, and indeed any number of these 
 swindlers, form a partnership in iniquity. One will take 
 up his residence in one part of the town, another in 
 a different part, and so on. No partnership is an- 
 nounced, but when one of them gets a patient, he 
 first draws as much from him as possible, and then 
 having supplied him with teeth that never were in- 
 tended to fit, after many pretences to adjust them, he 
 tells his unfortunate victim that this is a peculiar 
 case, and that Mr. So-and-so (his partner be it 
 remembered) has made these cases his particular study. 
 Then Mr. So-and-so is consulted, and after he has 
 got as much more cash as possibly can be extracted, 
 he either tells the person that the case is hopeless, or 
 turns him over to a third harpy, and so on. Of course, 
 the larger the town the better for the purposes of 
 these gentlemen, and at present London swarms with 
 them. Many persons are apt to imagine that Lon- 
 doners are a class of persons extremely difficultto cheat. 
 Nothing can be further from the fact. In their city 
 flourish greater and more enormous frauds, — fed too
 
 67 
 
 by the Londoners themselves, than in all the rest of 
 the large cities and towns in the provinces. And this 
 is the case, particularly in Dentistry, more especially 
 with respect to the imposition of which I am now 
 speaking. Owing to its vast extent, London offers 
 great facihty for this double dealing. Perhaps a case 
 which came under my notice this year, illustrative of 
 the manner in which it is carried out, may not be 
 uninteresting. 
 
 A lady in Loudon, wanted a new set of teeth, and seeing, as she 
 wentalongoneof the leading thoroughfares, a neat glass case, containing 
 pattern sets of teeth, which was affixed to a doorwaj', she was induced 
 to enter. Everything within led her to believe that she was in the 
 establishment of a respectable person : she expressed to the individual 
 who made his appearance, her desire to be furnished with a set of 
 teeth, and she made an agreement as to the price, that price being 
 Twenty Five Pounds. Consequently he took the impression, and 
 of course dispensing with all preliminaries in preparing the mouth 
 for the reception of teeth, such as removing loose stumps, or levelling 
 others firm in the gum, or without the slightest consideration of the 
 healthy or diseased state of those parts at the time the teeth were 
 inserted. But in they must go. The money perhaps was wanted ; 
 we will not say that he did not know better, to take the charitable 
 side of the gentleman's abilities. But on taking the model of her 
 mouth on her first visit, he, after that operation, demanded a deposit 
 of one-half the price, a condition which is not unusual, but a cus- 
 tomaiy rule amongst Dentists, for this very reason, that the teeth 
 when made are valueless to any one but to the pai'ty whom they 
 are made for, and if that person takes no further notice of 
 them beyond giving the order, it will be so much loss to the 
 Dentist. However, the demand was readily and unsuspectingly 
 comphed with; she was then requested to return at the end of a week 
 to have the teeth inserted. " The end of a week," exclaimed the lady, 
 " why, I undei'stood from your advertisement that, in consequence of 
 your great improvements, you were enabled to complete the teeth the 
 first visit, and save your patients the trouble of a second sitting ; and 
 it will in a measure inconvenience me to remain in town for a week, 
 as I have pi'eviously made certain arrangements and appointments. 
 But if you cannot do them in less time 1 must submit." At the 
 expiration of that time, the lady again paid him a visit, and the set 
 was inserted in due form. After this was done, a demand was 
 made, beyond the sum agreed for. of Fifteen Pounds. She felt very 
 indignant at this, but she was told so much about them, that she 
 paid the money, and left. However, the teeth lacerated her mouth 
 to such an alarming extent, that, after persevering with them for 
 
 H 2
 
 68 
 
 some few days, she was obliged to call in her medical adviser. Sub- 
 sequently she visited the dentist again, and, after several altera- 
 tions, for which he charged, he told her, that hers was a very 
 peculiar case of malformation in the structure of the mouth, — that 
 he had done all he could for her, and urgently recommended 
 her to consult a dentist who had made these peculiar cases his 
 particular study. Accordingly she went to this second individual, 
 who quickly told her that the teeth must be taken to pieces. She 
 inquired the charge, but he could not tell her at that time. She 
 must allow him to take an impression of her mouth. This she did, and 
 then went away, promising to call again. At the appointed time she was 
 punctually in attendance. He told her that he had made the requisite 
 alterations, and produced the teeth. " But," says the lady, " I gave no 
 instiiictions as to alterations." " O, I beg you pardon, madam, but you 
 are labouring under a mistake ; it was my impression that it was per- 
 fectly understood; in fact it would be impossible for you to wear them, 
 I can assure you, in their previous state." " Well, what do you propose 
 charging me, for I have paid a considerable sura for these teeth already? 
 what with alterations, &c., they will, I am afraid, impoverish my finances, 
 and I begin to regi'et having speculated in such an expensive under- 
 taking." " Well," says he, " I have had very coiasiderable trouble with 
 them, they have been a very difficult case indeed, and if you will be kind 
 enough to be seated, I will fit them in." To this she consented, and 
 after he had completed them, he said, " Beautiful! beautiful fit, madam, 
 this case deserves Fifty Pounds, I can assure you, but I shall only 
 charge you Twenty Five Pounds." Of course she felt veij much sur- 
 prised, "and was it a verj' difficult case, do you say; dear me, I 
 cannot speak plain," says she. "Extremely so, but you will soon 
 speak fast enough, madam ;" and this she had every reason to do sub- 
 sequently. If I must draw my conclusions from circumstances, I 
 should not hesitate to give an opinion as to what class of persons 
 these belonged. The teeth were not one step removed or altered for the 
 better, if altered at all, from their former position, for there was 
 neither make, nor fit, nor anything to recommend them. The gold 
 used was very little better than forty shilling gold, and was calculated 
 of itself to produce severe inflaraation in the parts it rested upon. The 
 result was the lady had to seek medical advice. Thus, then, she paid 
 no less than Sixty Five Pounds, for what? For a piece of mechanism 
 composed of materials which, in all probability, would have undennined 
 her constitution, could she have worn it. This, however, fortunately 
 (I may say) for herself, she could not, and the teeth were utterly 
 valueless. 
 
 Here, then, is another instance of extortion, the most 
 villanous — of a double-handed swindling, which stands 
 ahnost without a parallel in the darkest annals of rob- 
 bery, and dishonesty. I am perfectly aware that few
 
 G9 
 
 persons will give credence to all these facts (for facts 
 they are), more particularly if they themselves have 
 been fortunate enough always to fall into the hands 
 of those who have been honest and straight forward 
 with them, and under whom they have experienced 
 some of the benefits derivable from Dentistry, when 
 applied by those who thoroughly understand their pro- 
 fession. Still I would have them fully impressed with 
 the truth of what I state, . because I know that is ne- 
 cessary for the amendment of it. If, however, they 
 think the cases I have already quoted extraordinary, 
 I beg to assure all, that such is not the case. On the con- 
 trary, they are, if anything, better than the generality. 
 
 The most astonishing circumstance of all in the 
 history of this matter, is the perfect ease with which 
 the public are gulled. Of course every body thinks 
 himself the most difficult to cheat of any body, till his 
 turn comes, and then he is perfectly astonished at the 
 innocence which he has displayed. No matter how 
 broad the lie may be, or how glaring soever the impro- 
 bability which may appear on the face of an announce- 
 ment, it deludes numbers. Indeed the higher the 
 flight which the advertiser's imagination may take in the 
 regions of fiction, the surer is he of receiving large num- 
 bers of applicants for his wares. That this is the case 
 is beyond a doubt ; it is more thoroughly proved every 
 day. Hence it is tliat the five and ten shillings gentlemen 
 succeed in drawing into their net so many dupes. Again, 
 on the other hand, it may well be asked, — why do you 
 support an individual who makes professions such as 
 these, for it is but a poor compliment to pay any per- 
 son, if his practice depends upon the ingenious skill of 
 an advertisement, whoever he may be, respectable or 
 otherwise, or he who seeks patronage by charges con- 
 trary to common honesty ? He is the very person 
 to make a dupe of you, and impose upon you some 
 worthless trash. " Why ?" Because he has no character 
 to support, no connection to estabhsh. He is here to-day
 
 70 
 
 and gone to-morrow ; he will make something for you in 
 the shape of teeth, but what guarantee have you that 
 the materials are such as not to endanger your health ? 
 You have none whatever. And again, supposing they 
 may require after-adjustment, he is not here to do it ; 
 and then you discover that the expense will be greater 
 than it would have been, if you had first applied to a 
 respectable and established Dentist. In that case you 
 would have gone, in all probability, to an individual 
 who has a character to support, and whose very exis- 
 tence depends upon the manner in which he does his 
 work, and the recommendations he thus secures. It 
 is true there is considerable difference in the skill of 
 Dentists. One may be perhaps a clever mechanist in 
 the art and yet be incompetent to fit the teeth; he may 
 insert teeth, and you may wear them, but the question is, 
 are they useful to you in mastication? are they so fitted 
 as to guarantee perfect symmetry of form and expression 
 of the features, and a perfect equalization of pressure ? 
 These are considerations important in themselves, and 
 most essential, not only to the future comfort and con- 
 venience of the wearer, but in the fact that a saving may 
 be effected in their use, by their being substantially made 
 in their several parts, by a clever mechanist, and well 
 adjusted by a practical man. And this unity can be pur- 
 chased by those who value perfect success in the use of 
 artificial teeth, and who seek not economy in low tariff, 
 or place implicit reliance in strangers and their recom- 
 mendations of advertisements. Thus the fact remains 
 that the only true way to obtain the real benefits of the 
 art is to consult a respectable practitioner ; if you do 
 not this, as I have before said, you in all probability 
 place yourself in the hands of a person who is not only 
 thoroughly ignorant of all the principles of Dentistry, 
 but whose sole aim is to cheat and rob, by almost any 
 means, the victims who may fall into his trap. 
 
 I have spoken of the easy way in which the public 
 are gulled, and whilst speaking of this subject I cannot
 
 71 
 
 refrain from mentioning- a couple of instances^ which 
 thoiig-h they may be laughed at as incredible^ are still 
 facts. In a small town famed for its horse fair^ not 
 five hundred miles from Howden, there lived a respect- 
 able tradesman^ who chanced to be minus a front tooth. 
 Now this in some way annoyed him^ and he resolved 
 that the vacancy should be supplied on the first elig'ible 
 opportunity. This opportunity was not long* in coming*, 
 for one of the tribe of Israel, in the course of his per- 
 ambulations, visited the town alluded to. Now was 
 the time or never. The obliging* Hebrew would not 
 even trouble our friend to leave his own house, but with 
 great kindness waited upon him there. Down sits our 
 toothless friend in a chair, and over him stands the 
 operator. Forth from the latter's waistcoat fob comes 
 something* very much like a piece of bone, and 
 into the vacancy in the front rank it is placed. " Now 
 sir," quoth the de?itistj ^'jovl must sit in that chair 
 perfectly quiet for two hours, and at the expiration of 
 ihat time the tooth I have inserted will become quite 
 fast in its place !" The money was paid, and out 
 went Shylock. Quietly and patiently did our friend 
 abide in the chair. Patiently I said, but hardly that, 
 for his eye was on the clock, and in his mind the leng-th 
 of every minute seemed tenfold what, under other cir- 
 cumstances, he ever knew it. At leng'ththe time arrived. 
 He had sat his tooth fast at last, so he thoug-ht. 
 Happy moment ! up he jumped and down went the — 
 piece of bone, for that it was, — in all its nakedness on 
 the floor. This was too much for human nature. He 
 had performed the feat of sitting* two long* hours motion- 
 less, and that, too, without in any g*reatdegTee destroying* 
 his mental equilibrium. But now ! what could he do ? 
 Forth sallied he in search of the man of — bone, but 
 meeting* some of his friends he let slip the fatal truth, 
 and then g*ushed upon him such a flood of banter and 
 ridicule that rather than bide "the pelting* of the pitiless 
 storm," he took shelter in his own domicile, and saw no
 
 72 
 
 more ofthe Jewish practitioner. Long* after was it a mat- 
 ter of gossip with his neig'hbours^ and loud were the 
 exclamations of wonder and surprise, that he should have 
 have been bit in such a way. Gross as this may seem, 
 it is still a secondary imposition to one which came to 
 my knowledg'e as having* occurred in a small ag'ricultural 
 town some sixteen or seventeen miles out upon the 
 Bridling'ton railway, from Hull. The stor^^ was first 
 told me by a g*entleman of the leg*al profession, resident 
 in Hull. I have heard of it also in the town itself, 
 and the fact was acknowledged in my hearing* b}' one 
 of the parties actualty eng-ng-ed in the imposition. Two 
 individuals ofthe Israelitish race, one of whom had 
 practised in Hull, as a " Chiropodist," vulg*arly called 
 "Corn Doctor," and the other had visited that town in 
 the capacity of " Surg-eon Dentist," but had been 
 oblig*ed to " make himself scarce," through fear of those 
 limbs of the law, commonly known as "bums," entered 
 into partnership. The one did the business ofthe corns 
 on the feet, and the other did the business ofthe teeth, 
 in the head,- both did the public. Among-st other 
 places to which their circulars extended, was the ag'ri- 
 cultural town of whicli I have before spoken ; and one 
 of them chanced to fall into the hands of the wife of a 
 respectable tradesman there. This g*ood dame, be it 
 known to m}^ reader, had a vacancy in hermouth, which, 
 in her " sunny days of childhood," had been filled b}^ 
 five admirable teeth, now, alas, no more. Moreover, 
 this vacanc}^ was in the front ])art of the mouth, and, 
 as a matter of course, was a defect visible to every one. 
 It will naturally be supposed that this was no balm to 
 the lady's mind, but somewhat the other way. Indeed, 
 it was a fruitful source of annoyance to her, and in her 
 inmost mind, she had long- determined to have this 
 vacancy ag*ain filled. The circular stirred up anew 
 these inward determinations, and piled so much fuel 
 upon the fire that it blazed outrig'ht. One of the two 
 g"entlemen — I know not \\liich — thoug'h I ^\ill charit-
 
 73 
 
 ably suppose it to have been the "Dentist" waited upon 
 her at her request^ and received instructions to supply 
 the want of teeth under whicli she laboured. I will 
 not scrutinize too closely the manner and material in 
 which, and of which, these new teeth were made. Suf- 
 fice it, they were made and fitted upon what the opera- 
 tor denominated a silver plate. So rude, however, was 
 the piece of mechanism produced, that when put into 
 the lad3^'s mouth she was as completely g"ag'g*ed, as she 
 could possibl}' be, — the only time when this feeling- did 
 not exist being* when the teeth threatened to fall out. 
 Of course it was evident they could not be worn in this 
 way. What was to be done ? " Oh," quoth our friend, 
 the dentist, "it is all rig-ht, all artificial teeth are in this 
 way at first. You must lay upon your back the whole 
 day, when you will find that the teeth will have not only 
 become fast to the g'ums, but they will be exactty like your 
 own, and you will be able to speak admirably." Will 
 it be believed — can the most staunch believer in the 
 g'ullibility of humanity swallow it, our fair friend 
 actually extended her frame on the bed, and remained 
 in a quiescent state for some hours. Yes ! The lady 
 was still in both ways, and remained so until her 
 husband came home in the evening*. He was some- 
 what surprised to find his better half in bed, especially 
 as he had left her in the enjoyment of perfect health 
 in the mornino* and had not heard of her havino- been 
 il] in the day. He asked her what was the matter, 
 but alas, no answer could he g*et; she had not the power 
 of utterance, and fearful lest some calamity should 
 have befallen the " wife of his bosom," he rushed into 
 another apartment, and inquired of his daug-hter what 
 on earth was the matter with her mother ? The 
 answer was prompt. "Oh you must not speak to mother • 
 she has had some new teeth inserted by a g-entleman 
 Avith moustachios, lodging- at Mr. J — 's the jeweller, 
 and she is now lying- on her back till they g'row fast." 
 An indignant exclamation burst from the husband, and
 
 74 
 
 as the passion rose "furious and fast" he hastily visited 
 Mr. — 's for the purpose of having a httle conversation 
 with the gentleman in moustachios, but fortunately 
 for himself, that individual had departed, and was not 
 to be found. Need I add, that the whole affair was 
 one of the grossest swindles ever perpetrated. The 
 teeth neither fitted, nor were they ever meant to fit. 
 On the contrary, their workmanship was of the rudest 
 kind, and the great wonder is, how the lady could 
 have allowed them to be put into her mouth. This 
 wonder, however, ceases, when we consider the fact, 
 that she was laid on her back for some hours after- 
 wards to allow them to grow fast to her gums. 
 
 Such, then, is a mere outline of the present state of 
 Dentistry, and, though it may probably appear in the 
 eyes of some, to savour of caricature and exaggeration, 
 yet I can assure them, that it is a plain statement of 
 facts, illustrated without the slightest ill-feeling or 
 prejudice against any particular person. No one, I 
 think, can have perused it, imperfect though it be, 
 without being satisfied that the present position of the 
 Dental profession is very unsatisfactory. Intimately 
 allied with the science of medicine and surgery, it is 
 altogether neglected by the powers that be. It is open 
 to the attacks of the vilest impostors, who are not dis- 
 cernable from the truly scientific professional man. 
 It is hardly a profession, for it is practised by the most 
 unlearned and ignorant persons. How is it possible 
 that a man absolutely unacquainted with the mechanical 
 department, who can scarcely twist a clasp without 
 breaking it, — how is it possible I say, that he can be 
 fit to practice as a Dentist ? and yet, how man)'^ are 
 there, both Jews and Gentiles, who are in this position. 
 Let it not be understood that, in writing this, I would 
 condemn those persons who, by their own intelligence
 
 75 
 
 and perseverance in inquiry, have made themselves 
 thoroughly acquainted with the practice and science 
 of Dentistry. Far be it from me to do any thing of 
 the kind. All honour, say I, to the man whose tastes 
 and intelligence have enabled him to raise himself from, 
 it may be, a lowly condition to commence in the pro- 
 fession. He is worthy of all praise. But it is not such 
 as he of whom I am speaking. I allude to those in- 
 dividuals who without the slightest pretension to talent, 
 or knowledge of the art, practice it for the sole object 
 of extorting money. As a Jew " Chiropodist" who, by 
 the by, had just assumed the title of Surgeon Dentist, 
 once remarked in my hearing, "you Englishmen can 
 work very well, but you cannot make money like the 
 Jew." "No" retorted I, "neither should I wish to so 
 cover with infamy the name of Englishman, as it is 
 the practice of you and your compeers to do." The 
 fact is. Dentistry has been most grossly neglected by 
 the members of the profession themselves. They have 
 scarcely endeavoured at all to place the art on its 
 proper footing ; they have allowed the public to be 
 imposed upon, without doing aught to prevent it. 
 They have heard the people cry " We want a guarantee 
 for the honesty and skill of the Dentist ; we have no 
 means of knowing the skilled from the unskilled. You 
 all live in respectable places, and offer seemingly the 
 best guarantees for your integrity and respectabihty. 
 And yet we are most shamefully victimized ; we dare 
 not venture to endeavour to obtain relief, because we 
 are met on all hands with imposition and double 
 dealing." This has been the cry of the people, and 
 what has been the response ? Almost nothing. True, 
 a few pamphlets have been issued on Dentistry by 
 leading members of the profession, but they have done 
 little more than refer to the subject. Mr. Robinson, 
 in his " address to the Dental College at Baltimore," 
 has perhaps dwelt the most particularly on the state 
 of Dentistry, but neither he, nor any one else, has
 
 76 
 
 entered fairly into the spirit of the matter, and en- 
 deavoured by the pubHcation, in an easily attainable 
 form, of a work calculated to infuse new blood into the 
 members of the profession, and arouse them from their 
 lethargy, to put the profession on its proper and 
 legitimate footing. Little or nothing has been done to 
 hold up those who would run riot in the profession, 
 and to provide the pubhc with the means of distin- 
 guishing the respectable from the disrespectable prac- 
 titioner. Is it not high time that something were done 
 for the protection of the public, and the benefit of the 
 profession ? Why should not the dental profession be 
 put upon the same basis as its brother, surgery ? There 
 a man is required to make certain gradations, and any 
 one practising the science of medicine without having 
 made such gradations, is liable to the punishment of 
 the law. Why should it not be the same in the dental 
 profession r Is the science not sufficiently important 
 to warrant the formation of a College for its teaching 
 and thorough cleansing ? Most assuredly it is ; and 
 there is only one thing which is required to bring 
 about a " consummation so devoutly to be wished,'' 
 and that is the moving in the matter of those most 
 eminent in the profession. Mr. Robinson, in his 
 address to the Baltimore College of Dental Science, 
 well says : — "I will spare no exertions, I shall hesitate 
 at no sacrifices that may aid in rescuing it (the dental 
 art) from the odium which attaches to it in England, 
 and placing it in the high and honourable position 
 which it occupies in the United States. I feel satis- 
 fied that until the barriers of professional jealousy and 
 private interest arc broken through — until a kindly 
 and more liberal feeling is established among the 
 leading members of the profession — until unanimity of 
 purpose and honesty of intention prevail, — until a. 
 
 COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCE IS ESTABLISHED, 
 
 and competent examiners appointed to test the qualifi- 
 Gations of all aspirants, and ascertain that their claims
 
 77 
 
 to practice as Dentists are founded upon a sound and 
 solid basis, Dental Surgery can never hold its proper 
 position in England, or assume its legitimate place, 
 beside its parent science, medicine." Here is the 
 gauntlet thrown down in language at once forcible, 
 dignified, intelligible, plain, and to the purpose. It 
 remains to be seen whether it will yet be taken up by 
 those members of the profession who lack neither 
 means nor ability to carry out the suggestion. I am 
 persuaded that amongst the gentlemen whose names 
 are mentioned in the course of these pages, are 
 several fully qualified to set the machinery in motion, 
 and if they will but do this, they may rest satisfied, 
 that not only will they have the assistance of all the 
 respectable members of the profession, biit they will 
 receive the heartfelt thanks of their compeers, and of 
 the public at large. 
 
 The effect of such a College as the one I would now 
 advocate, would be to secure to the public in a great 
 measure fair dealing, which is alone the true secret of 
 success in a professional career. At the same time it 
 would retard the progress of no one. If it would, then 
 would I cease to advocate it. It is not to procure the 
 emoluments which may be derivable from the profes- 
 sion, for the benefit of the few, that I seek to have a pro- 
 fessional filter so to speak, established ; but it is to 
 abolish the trade of the impostor and swindler, and to 
 do away with the extortion of quackery in any guise. 
 There are individuals whose tastes and talents may 
 have led them to obtain for themselves a thorough 
 knowledge of some, even of the most learned profes- 
 sions, — even though they have been in a very low scale 
 in society. And so in Dentistry. If a man does but 
 make himself thoroughly conversant with all the prin- 
 ciples and practice of the art, then he is our equal. 
 It is so in all professions, and how many are there in 
 the present day, who have shaken oft" the trammels of 
 mediocrity, and fought their way, step by step, through
 
 78 
 
 the most difficult and adverse circumstances, to the 
 highest pinnacle of honour, — men who have shone in 
 the briUiancy of their intellectual greatness, and have 
 written their thoughts in language that will make them 
 admired and beloved by future generations. Most of 
 our greatest orators and statesmen, who have done 
 much for the happiness and prosperity of their country, 
 and their fellow-men, have thus risen. No College 
 would exclude men such as these from the practice of 
 Dentistry. The force of their genius, the transcendent 
 glory of their talent will ever secure for them a place 
 amongst the greatest and most worthy of the profes- 
 sion ; and they will rise far above those, who, while 
 endowed with worldly means, lack the glorious attri- 
 bute of mind. No! The men whom a College 
 would keep back, are the swindlers, the impostors, the 
 cast-offs of society, who, under specious pretences, 
 now gnaw the very vitals of a credulous public. 
 
 I take my stand on legitimate grounds of complaint. 
 I do not seek to injure those ^^ ho have themselves 
 acauired thorough knowledo-e of the art, and who 
 practice it fairly. M3' shaft is anned against those 
 who, without the least practical knowledge, 3^et assume 
 the title of Surgeon Dentist, and practice as such. 
 A man may throw upon him the gown of a Divine, but 
 will it make him alViest?he may clothe himself in 
 the robes of a statesman, but will it qualif}^ him for that 
 dignified and responsible position ? he may announce to 
 the world, that he is a man of letters, and arrogate to 
 himself unjust titles, yet he may be an ignorant booby; 
 he may assume the name of the most distinguished of 
 the faculty, or call himself Physician, Surgeon, or 
 Dentist, and yet be thoroughly unacquainted with 
 their first principles. But if he })roceed to practice them, 
 and extols himself as the heau ideal of that which he 
 assumes, then I say that man is a quack, and a base 
 impostor. 
 
 THE END.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 THE FOLLOWING ENGRAVINGS ILLUSTRATE CASES REFERRED 
 TO IN PREVIOUS PAGES OF THIS WORK. 
 
 Fig. 1. 
 
 Front view of an iiTegular set, showing the opposite teeth shutting 
 over the irregular ones. See page 54. 
 
 Fig. 2. 
 
 Fig. 3. 
 
 Two teeth on which, through neglect, tartar has been allowed in 
 different degrees to deposit. See 2)age 30. 
 
 IsH 
 
 Fig. 4. 
 
 Six upper front teeth of a child about seven years of age, showing 
 the absoi-ptiou of the roots, a, a, The central incisors or front teeth 
 witli the roots absorbed, which when in the head at this age are quite 
 loose ; b, h, the lateral incisors which remain in the head some time 
 longer than the centrals ; c, c, the cuspidati or canine teeth, with the 
 roots nearly peifect, these teeth being usually in the head until about 
 the tenth year. See page 53.
 
 Front view of a pivotted tooth. — See page 26. 
 
 Fig. 7. 
 
 Fig. 8. 
 
 
 Artificial teeth constructed on three different principles, a, A 
 tooth attached l»y wires twisted round the adjoining teeth ; h, tw^o 
 teeth where the wires act as springs, and being forced over the broad 
 pait of the adjoining teeth, grasp them tightly at the edge of the gum ; 
 c, two teeth without wires or clasps, that, from their perfect adapta- 
 tion, are finn in the mouth, without anything whatever being obser- 
 vable in the front of the teeth. 
 
 Fig. 9. 
 
 A complete set of artificial teeth showni in the position they occupy 
 in the mouth ; a and h the sideblocks of the upper and lower teeth ; 
 c the spring in its proper position when the mouth is closed ; d and 
 e the pins by which the spring is attached to the upper and lower 
 teeth ; / and g the front teeth.
 
 Aitificial teeth for au edentulous upper jaw, sliowiug, a the base 
 of gold ; h the niolar teeth ; c the front teeth ; d the right side of 
 the base, with pins soldered for fixing the teeth. 
 
 a The gums, d the base of the teeth, e the band, c the fore-finger, 
 and h the thumb. 
 
 Fvj. U. 
 
 A peculiar structure or malformation of a lower niolar decayed 
 tooth having five fangs, extracted with the forceps by Mr. F. Corn- 
 wall, of Beveiley. now in iny possession.
 
 82 
 
 Caution to Nurses. — An iuquest was held a few days since, in 
 London, on the body of an infant, Harriet Gardiner, aged nine weeks. 
 It apiieared from the evidence of a nurse, named Petit, that deceased 
 was brought up liyhand, and that she gradually sank until the period 
 of her death. ^Iv. Archer, surgeon, said that when born deceased 
 was a fine healtlily child, but at its death was extremely emaciated, 
 and ultimately died from the want of proper food and nourishment. 
 If it had had the breast it would have lived. He was sorry to say 
 that, out of eveiy three children brought up by tlie hand, two died 
 from this treatment, and if they lived they were delicate miserable- 
 looking children. Verdict, " Deceased died from the want of proper 
 food and nourishment, and the jury further feel it their duty to call 
 upon the press to give publicity to the inquiiy, as it will be a warning 
 to mothers and nurses to be cautious in the mode in which children 
 ai-e brought up." — From the Hull Packet, Friday, Oct \Oth, 1S5 I. — 
 Seepage 51, " On Food for Children." 
 
 THE KEY INSTRUMENT. 
 See page 41, " On the Extraction of Teeth."
 
 83 
 
 (effects of quackery.) 
 
 The above Engravings I have formerly adverted to in page 3S. 
 
 The development of a biscuspide tooth of the second dentition : 
 marked a is shown ; b and c represent the alveolar process or jaw 
 bone, containing molar teeth. 
 
 It is surprising that medical and dental empirics, in the plenitude 
 of their ingenuity in devising schemes to gull the public, should 
 never have started with some pretended preventitive against disease of 
 any and every kind. Why they should put limits to their skill, and 
 thus deprive their fellow creatures of the fulness of their knowledge 
 I am at a loss to imagine. Why do they not at once announce a 
 discovery that will exempt poor suffering humanity from the invasion 
 of all diseases that flesh is heir to? It is a complete burlesque to say 
 that they can only cure certain diseases, when they, as a class, can 
 or profess to command such untried resources. It surely cannot 
 emanate from modesty or false delicacy. Might not my brother 
 dentists, those of course of extraordinary talent, I mean, who con- 
 tiibute so much to the advancement of the art by their discoveries 
 and inventions, might not, I say some of their number boldly and 
 uublushingly affirm that he has discovered a certain Elixir, or rather 
 a Seed Powder, to make new teeth grow up like mushrooms. I 
 merely throw out the hint, and, I trust, it will be of service during 
 their researches. But they must guarantee to make them spring 
 up without pain — that must not be omitted and such stipulations 
 would ensure its immediate success amongst credulous thousands. 
 The house of the empiric, if he professed to practise, would be 
 thronged with patients eager to swallow his nostrums, oi* apply his 
 seed powder. But, however, I must pass 'over this part of my 
 subject, and assert my protest and say, that it is most discreditable 
 to the government and legislature of this country, in all its boast of 
 civilization, to allow its subjects to be so shamefully plundered and 
 genteelly assassinated, and that to such a frightful extent, without an 
 effort on the part of the medical profession. They ought to take 
 decided steps with the view of putting down the intolerable nuisance. 
 If fairly brought before parliament there cannot be a doubt that 
 some decisive measures would at once be had recourse to, for the 
 purpose of strangling the many-headed monster of medical empiricism.
 
 84 
 
 It is much to be desired, that some authentic information wci'C acces- 
 sible respecting the number of deaths which annually result from 
 the effects of quackery, in its various stages in Great Britain. An 
 annual registry of cases that have died under such influence, and 
 made known to the Legislators, would of itself speak volumes for 
 the important necessity for alterations of the laws affecting quacks, 
 and quack medicines. That a vast amount of mortality is attri- 
 butable to the agency of those persons, is unfortunately a too well 
 attested fact. That more than Two Hundred Thousand persons are 
 yearly the victims of quackery, is no exaggerated supposition. The 
 Yearly revenue that Government derives for Stamps upon Patent 
 Medicines alone, amounts to between £50,000 and £60, 000, setting 
 aside the large quantity of those poisons sold unstamped. 
 
 Dr. Thomiton made a calculation some years ago, that several 
 thousand children were annually killed by a quack medicine adver- 
 tised as "Cakes for the cure of worms." What then, must be the 
 total number sacrificed at the present time, by the various nostrums 
 advertised for all diseases for which children and adults are subject 
 to ; I should like to know '? I have it from unquestionable 
 authority, that in London alone upwards of £200,000 are annually 
 expended on quack doctors and quack medicines, and very many of 
 these persons are driving a most lucrative business in human flesh. 
 It really is most scandalous that such a thing should be permitted, 
 when there are thousands of educated and duly qualified gentlemen, 
 who are thrown entirely into the shade, and obliged to pine and 
 weep at their unfortunate struggle, after spending a fortune and 
 years of study in a profession, which is no more protected in reality 
 than the unsuspecting public themselves. 
 
 .T. PCl.LtYN, PKINTKl'. AND STATIONER, SILVER-STREET, HULL.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
 
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