, 1876-03-17
THE SCIENCE OF DENTISTRY.
ITS Remarkable Progress, and Facilities
of Its Most SkilIrul Practitioner
I'm San Francisco.

1--WE are fearfully and wonderfully made"
was the wise conclusion of an ancient phil
osopher, and considering the restricted limits
of scientific research, and anatomical demon
stration in particular, at his period, the
proposition expresses a comprehensive view
Of human nature in the aggregate. Had this
sensible old gentleman lived at the present
day he might have pursued his Investigations
of the human makeup In more satisfactory
detail, and understood the functions and
operations Of the various portions Of the in
teresting piece of mechanism quite perfectly.
He would have concluded further that nature
Is erratic in some Of ils provisions, and while
the human family as rule are blessed with
very comfortable start in life, as far as nature
is responsible for their qualities, the benefits
! of science and the appliances Of art are in
dispensible to maintain the physical organ
iZation in smooth running order until they
have seen enough of life and are ready to
abandon It, The universal tendency to decay
ordinarily first develops itself IN that very i'm.
portant part Of the human mechanism, the
masticating systematic thirty-stamp mill,
as 1t were, through the process Of which the
| bones and sinews receive the substance Of
their strength, the muscles their pride Of
power, and the brain the fuel of its genial
fires. Many people who have not passed the
meridian OF life, possessed of such an acute
ness Of intellect as to penetrate the profound.
est depths Of thought are unable to penetrate
their customary articles Of diet with any de-
gree OF comfort, In consequence Of the great
disparity Of Natures provisions in point of
durability and the necessity Of arrestlng the
process Of decay, or repairing the deA-
cheney, has given rise to one OF the most pro-
gressivs arts Of the age. Whether dentistry
was one OF the arts Of the ancients is doubt
ful; but the evidences Of the Roman sArcoph-
agi, or the Egyptian catacombs, seem To
assure US that the races OF antiquity were
possessed Of effective means OF preserving the
teeth, or singularly blessed with immunity
from the universal III which affilcts mankind
at the present day. The latter proposition is
doubtless the correct one, and the presump-
tion follows that the veXatious proness Of the
teeth to decay In these days is due to the
changed order Of diet and the manner Of pre-.
pairing and partaking OF food attendant upon
the advanced civilization.
Dentistry is essentially modern science and
Its development and the advance made In the
arts pertaining thereto In the past few years
has been marvellous. Within the memory Of
the present generation the manner Of restor.
ing and replacing teeth was rude and unsub
stantial, compared with the present improved
methods; while the dentists office was popu-
larly regarded with the horror Of q chamber
Of the Inquisition. At the present time teeth
are extracted and the operations Of filing and
restoration are performed by the sklllful
practitioner without the inflietlon Of any con-
siderable discomfort on his visitor. Indeed,
those requiring the performance ofsuch seryi.
ces experience little more necessity for ex-
citing special courage for the occasion,
under the hands Of a skillful dentist, than In
sitting for a photograph. Health, comfort
and eomellness OF appearance are ali depend
emit in an important measure, upon the pre-
seryation Of the teeth, and no object is more
readily attained, when the proper precautions
are timely adopted. Yet thousands forego the
| OnnOFtunitv WithOut ID To h.
lively immateriRl expense, until the comfort
they have thus sacrificed TO foollsh neglect
becomes the chief regret Of the remainder Of
their lives. It has been said by some shrewd-
ly observant person that two-thirds Of man.
kind In mature life are lamentlnR the wasted
opportunities Of educational acquisition. or
the other third, accepting q very moderate
estimate, 1t may be remarked with equal ac-
curacy, that the neglect 10 preserve to them.
selves sound set OF teeth ls the burden Of
their regret.
Such Is the requirement at this period for
skill and science In the treatment and preser.
Walton Of the teeth, that the profession Of
dentistry well nigh rivals that OF the medical
practice In the magnitude ofIts field, and the
study, experiment and preparation necessary
for its successful pursuit And the oppor.
tunity has also been opened for legion Of
eharlatans, almost as numerous as those who
have essayed the medical profession for the
4 UTEIEnNIOnN.
For this reason the practice Of dentistry At
the present day, and In San Francisco Of all
other cities In the Union, is only Trustworthy
when commended BY the diplomas OF repu-
table Institutions Of instruction In dental
science, and additionally fortified with reputa-
ton established by successful practice. Drs.
Cochrane and Richmond, who enjoy these ad.
vantages In the fullest measure, having
gained the esteem Of the Oldest members Oh
the profession In the city, no less than estab-
lished themselves In the confidence Of numer.
Gus patrons, have recently associated them
selves In business and located at No. $50
Market street, corner Of Stockton, where they
have spacious and elegantly appointed apart
ments for the reception Of visitors. These
sktf5ul practitioners are accomplished in
every art OF dentistry pursuing the most
effective methods Of treating the teeth which
science has developed, and employing the
latest devised or improved mechanical appli-
ances In their work. Both members OF The
energetic firm have the advantage OF over
twelve years Of active experience, and rank
among the very few now met with In the
profession who are skilled In the manufacture
Of artificial teeth set in every variety OF plate
now In vogue, and In the methods best adapt
ed 10 the desires or means Of the customer.
Their mechanical apparatus is unsurpassed
II equalled on the Paclhc Coast, in combining
every new appliance for the execution Of per.
feet work OF whatever character required In
the dental art; and such superior faclll.
ties enables them 70 confidently Ruaran.
tee their orders In all instances for the essen
tlal qualities Of neatness, comfort and
durability.
The high order OF mechanical genius EN-.
braced In the firm is sufficiently demonstrated
In the invention by DR.. Richmond OF 4 new
automatic mailet employed In the process Of
filing teeth, which IL subject To an Immediate
demand from the profession generally, and will
doubtless Be adopted throughout the country
as rapidly as It can be supplied from the
hands Of the manufacturer. This valuable
Invention is beyond comparison in its opera
ton with implements hitherto employed for
the same purpose, either as regards the ease
apd perfection Of It's action, the convenience
ofthe operator, or the saving Of time and
discomfort 10 the subject. As the preserva-
ton Of teeth BY Sklilful filing is the most
Important and largely practloed tof modern
dentistry, the value Of DR.. Richmond's inven-
tion cannot be oyer-estimated, and his name
deserves 10 be distinguished as one Of the
foremost promoters Of progress in the pro-
fesslon.
Drs. oochrane and Richmond make a spe.
cialty OF the care and regulation Of ehildren's
teeth, which is one Of the leading branches Of
advanced dentistry. Under sklllful treatment
irregular teeth In children are readily reduced
10 perfect order and symetry, which not only
conduces TO improve personal appearance In
after life, but TO the better preservation Of
the teeth, and consequently to health and
comfort In degree that should not be diare-
garded by parents. During their practice in
San Francisco these gentlemen have rendered
much service In this branch Of dentistry, and
invariably with q success that enables them
10 refer TO numerous patrons with pride.
Several cases Of irregular teeth have been
treated by these gentlemen with entire sue
cess after they had been declined BY others
who were uncertain Of accomplishing any
satisfactory result.