Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-02-17
For the GaIlipols Journal.
A New Meshod OF saPpivsng Arti8esaf
Tech. By Prof. AIlen.
CINcrNNArI, Jan. q, 1853.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 81, 1853.
MEssRs. EDITORS: As many Of your
readers are interested in the COM
fstruction OF artificial teeth. permit
me 10 call attention 10 a new method
of supply ing them. by Prof. Allen, OF
this city. II is well kSown TO some
that DIR. Allen, few years since, inven-
ted contrivance for restoring the con>
tour of the face, fer which he obtained a
patent, and more recently he has DIS
covered method of attaching the teeth
to the plate by means OF a mineral COM
pound, instead of being soldered on, as
is done by the old method. This com>
pound moi only attaches the teeth to the
plate but unites all the teeth together at
the base, and is carved and colored so
as to represent the natural gums, and
instead of resembling the old fashioned
gum teeth. with a joint between every
tooth, the gum is one continuous piece,
and there is not a joint about the whole
concern. Those who wear artificial
teeth will best understand what | mean,
and will also see its advantages. Prof,
Allen has been engaged in the presence
of the students at the Dental College
during the last week in constructing a
set of teeth on his new plan, to which
he attached the appendages above allu-
ded to for restoring the contour of the
face.
During the progress of the work, |
asked the Doctor to speak to the gentle-
man for whom the job was intended, 10
obtain his consent to let me see IFS prac-
tical application in the mouth, when fin
ished, and the reply he made was that
he would speak TO him on the subject,
but as he had much delicacy on such
matters he did not know whether he
would be willing or not. Yesterday, as
the work was nearly completed, spoke
to the Doctor again. and he said the gen
tIeman had consented TO come to the
College. and give all an opportunity oI
seeing; and accordingly he announced
to the class that they could have an op-
portunity in the morning TO judge
whether mis- improvement was entitled
to any credit, as the gentleman had con-
sented TO be present. What followed
remains for the sequel to show. This
morning Prof. Allen came to the college
at his regular lecture hour, and after
making some preliminary remarks on
the change produced in the features BY
his apparatus, he stated that the gentle.
man above spoken of had promised to
be present, but that il required good
deal OF persuasion, as he did not like to
be made show of. After short pause
he added, that gentleman is now before
YOU" An anxious glance was hastily
cast around the room, but no stranger
was TO be seen. II cannot be one of US
we thought, as we looked one at another
in utter confusion. There we sat, look.
ing like fools, and there stood the doc,
tor, enjoying the joke at our expense
and not a word was spoken.
Being a man of wit and humor, and
seeing the dilemma into which he had
thrown us, he smiled, and pointed his
finger 10 his own teeth, and politely
bowed. The hint was sufficient, and in
an instant more the silence was dis
turbed by deafening shout of laughter
which rang through the room. The
Doctor then placed his hand to his
mouth, and instead of DIR. Allen. there
stood before us an old man in the de-
cline Of life, whose cheeks were deeply
lurrowed, apparently, by three score
years and ten. Ii is true the same dig
ni6ed form, the same brilliant eye, and
the same intellectual forehead were
there, but further than that, no one could
identify the features of DR.. Allen.
The old gentleman stood few mo-
ments, motionless, and much more ereci
than is usual for one of his apparent cd
age, while we gazed intently with utter
astonishment. He then bowed TO the
audience, placed his hand to his mouth
and like some spectral illusion vanished
from our presence, and DR.. Allen again
stood before US, in all the prime Of life
Such, reader, is the change that can be
produced in the human face by artiicia
teeth and other appendages. when skill
fully applied. 1t may be proper to ado
that DR.. Allen always wore piece o.
work similar to the one alluded to, bu
of this fact we were all in the dark, til
the present circumstance occurred.