The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-13
Terms $500 per- 0nna1na, In ADVANCE
affected by its use. I have also seen many
others who do not appear to be at all affected

affected by its use. / have also seen many
others who do not appear to be at all affected
by it. hla
The nameess dentist, having, doubtless
only this latter class OF persons in view, Is in
all probability the reason why he wa led to
say in his communication OF the 10Th ult :,
shat if the author OF the article in the 1st ult,
or his eminent dentist had been at all enlIght-
ened on the subject, they would not have set
themselves up before the public as mark OF
ignorance and contempt"
Realizing this fact, and also knowing that
there are other instances where many very
learned men, have been known to make up their
opinion OF case after noting the evidence Dion
ly oneSide, therefore very cheeriully taket
present opportunity, and have no doubt but
that the author to whom he refers would join
with me, IN thank him for informing the pub
lie OF our ignorance as to the red rubber,
mercury and its effects.
find in the printed report Of the meeting
of the Illinois State Dental Society holden
last May, that the following resolution was
passed, viz: "That this Society considers rub
Der unfit lor dental purposes as base for ar
tificial teeth"
In all the large cities, as New York, Phil
adelphia, Baltimore, many OF the histclass
dentists have never used 1t, preferring gold or
platinum. The question may very approprl-
ately be asked, why was it ever used at all oy
any dentist? 1 answer, by saying that prevl-
Gus to the rise of gold, it was used only
by that class Of dentists who took more pride
i'll doing cheap dentistry, than they did In
trying to see how neat and skilltul they could
perform their operations.
Our nameless Dentist says In his article,
that it was estimated by the agent OF the
Hard Rubber Company that previous to the
rise of gold there were about three thousand
iafa urb0 usUU tho vnhhor NOw I
ask 10 better evidence than this agents esti-
mate, to prove my answer to the above ques-
tion. There were at that time about ten
thousand dentists in the United States.
Therefore this estimate (3,000) three-tentbs,
was just about thr number that were striving
to get business by under bidding In prices,
and the rubber exactly answered their pur-
pose. And Icontend that II gold had not
gone up to so high premium, the use Of
rubber would have mainly been confined to
this class of dentists.
Therefore it was not for its superiority over
gold, but rather for the reason that the public
demanded something cheaper than gold at
that time. This was excusable whilst gold
was at so high premium, as is has been Tor
the past eight or nine years. And now 1t
might be we'll to have something cheaper than
gold if at par, if anything could be iound that
would prove to be as healthy to be worn con-
stantly in the mouth. e-.-i
Immediately after the consultation with the
physician spoken OF In this article, l sent 10
New York for a preparation OF rubber that
had not particle of yermillion in It. And
find it to be twice as strong as the red rubber,
and therefore judge it must be more durable,
not being halt as likely to break. And l
know OF no reason why other dentists cannot
do in like manner. This rubber ID somewhat
darker, hut cannot conceive as this need be
any particular objection to its use.
There are other materials sucl az Allamin-
um, Weston's Metal, and also R,se Pearl and
Pyroxyline, each IF which find have many
good qualities. Therefore see ho such great
cause of alarm as appears since this discus
sion commenced-tO have sprung up among
that class OF dentists who do not understand
how To fit teeth on gold or silver, having en-
tered the dental profession since rubber came
into use. w. r. JOHNSON.