Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-07-07
From the st. Louis Reveille.
The LetIleoIl.
BY solitaire. !.


From the ST Louis Reveille
The Letheon.
BY soLTAIRE.
!. :. An enthusiastic friend Of ours, who has,
for some years past, been a close observer
of the modern progress of science, no soon.I
er observed the numerous and respeciable1
testimonials in regard to the letheon prepar-
alton, than he instantly resolved,t to try its
efficacy in propria persona. The only
mar he had to his beauty were a pair Of de-
cayed teeth, and rather than undergo the
pain of extraction, he had suffered them to
bold undispated piaee in what was other
wise very handsome opening in his
countenance. Having once made up his
mind, he forthwith set about carrying. out
his resolution, and for this purpose came to
our city, where he had noticed advertise
nents of operations being performed while
under the influence Of the genuine letteon!
Having repaired to one Of our dental
operators-a quiet and skilful professor Of
the science-he made known his intention,
pointed out the defective incisors, and was
politely requested to take a seat in the
operators chair. He obeyed! Thus far
everything had progressed satisfactorily.
The professor appeared confident, and
prepared his instrument for the little job
with all the care and precision usually
distinguishing the man conscious Of his
ability and skill. Directly opposite our
friend was glass case containing some
finished specimens of the dental art, some
of them full sets, and others, portions of the
jaw, finished in block form; besides numer-
ous-specimens of single teeth. On this case
he fixed his eye, when he commenced in
haling the preparation. Sack! began the
patient, which was followed by slight
wrggle. Suck! again, followed by a
contortion, and wild stare. Another suck,
and a still more violent movement. At
this stage of the proceedings our friend
says his Imagination became very lively,
and he fancied that the teeth in the case
were taking a kind Of quiet sober, steady
grin at him. Another suck, and he fancied
the full sets opening their lipless grinders
into genuine broad laugh, while the sin.
gle teeth commenced an impish kind of
dnnce. a strong inhalation now set his
blood on fire, anu he fixed his teeth upon
the valve with clench like death; and
snorting and struggling like frightened
steed bound by the harness, he reached fol
the head of the professor, who was struggl
! ing to take the valve out his mouth. The
dentist was exerting his utmost to hold him,
but every succeeding suck made it apparen1
to his mind that it was impossible to do SC
safely much longer; so, dropping at once
both patient and leiheon, he sloped through
the parlor door; and, as he cleared the
threshold, his beautiful case, with oil its
elegant sets of teeth, was hurled into frag-
ments against the wall ovcr the entrance
by which he had made his exit. ...s.
The operation had now become decidedly
interesting. Our friend, full Of the lethe
and looseness, began to make the furniture,
instruments, cases and spittoons, fly in all
manner Of directions, at any object which
struck his lively fancy. He stuck teeth
probes into the door, threw sPittoon at a
looking glass, and run round the room
hunting for something to attack. While he
was having his good time all alone, he
fancied that time was at an end, himself
the slast man, and the dentist the d-H
The latter (the dentist, we mean) hearing
his patient pause moment. opened pair
Oh lOlulllS uOOTS W lOOh dI HlIis
"Open them wide" shouts Lethe; 81 don't
care how hot it is, Pll go in npeacably."
The dentist knew better than to open it
yet, and his prudence saved him, for the
next moment a spittoon was dashed TO frag-
ments against the door. The effects ofthe
ether began to disappear after this last
effort, and in state of complete bewilder-
,nent he surveyed his hands and his person,
which were all besmeared with blood. In
tossing about the glass fixtures of the room
he had severely wounded both his hands,
and was to perfect astonishment at the
wreck around him. The dentist took a
second look at his customer, and Ending him
docile, he entered and coolly set to work
picking up the fragments. After setting
things to rights he quietly remarked to his
patient: '
"That mixture may be Llethe to soma
constitutions my friend, but there is such
preponderance of electricity in your COM
position that if you ever sleep | consider it
G miracleG'
'sYou think it no go, then, with mea' in
caired the patient -ts /"
e eyes, sir,' says the dentist, sit is oil go
with you when you take it; but if should
ever administer it to you again, would
take the precaution to knock you in the
head when it began to work on you."
That last remark was settler, and our
friend, tying up his fingers, bade adieu to
all his delightful ideas of'escape from pain
through the Lstheon.e sso.;.5} o,s. s@sse.a1e
A Challenge Repealed. @