Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-30

fett that the simple cry of danger
IN such n manner rs is done in his
article, III reference TO any agent or
method, not clearly understood by
the public, is very liable to breed
in the minds of the people, suspio-
ions MS to The capabilities or homes
ty of those resorting to them, and
this is especially SO with reference
to doctors, drugs and such matters,
and thcref ore we should he par
doned If we should entertain some
doubts us to the disiutercstedness of
the motives ofDr, Moflttt in writing
his articles and also it we shall be-
licve he was really prompted hy
jealousy Of some brother practio.
tioncr or the desire Of gain, rather
than by the public good alone.
DR. Mohctt's article il not as he
would have it appear. The body Of
the physiological CD remarks which
he presents as original, are copied
almost word for word from tho De-
ccmber number of the DENTAL Cos
mos 1879. Had DR., Mofiett un-
derstood the subject he pretended
to discuss, and had presented his
honest convictions, gathered from
his own experience or study, ho
would not have plogiarized from
the journal oitod, for the original
statements published in the "Don-
tai Cosmos did not meet with the
approval of the more educated por-
tion of the profession, and is but q
jargon of half conceived theories at
the best. The principal fault laid at
the door of Nitrous Oxide by its
greatest enemies, is really q word in
its praise, viz: the facility with
which toeth can be removed by its
use-render our patients TO much
disposed to sacrifice their teeth to
the forcep rather than submit to
the tedious operations Of preserving
by filling. Anaesthetics are not alone
administered to render surgical OPP
crations painless, but more partic-
ularly TO prevent the nervous pros
tration or orther injurious after ef-
fects which otherwise are liable to
ensue. Many cases are on on rec
ord in which the shock from the
simple extraction Of a tooth has re-
suited in death.
Contrary TO what Dr. Moflett
says, every educated dentist, as well
us every eduactcd physician is
presumed to understand the nature
and uses of hpaesthctics, and this
implies tho ability to discriminate
among his patients MS TO who may
be safely anaesthctized and who
may not. Every complete work on
dental surgery contains n treatise
on this subject, and in oil reputa-
BILE dental colleges the nature and
uses of annesthctic agents are taught
and experimentally exempliiied.
With reference TO the agents
most in Use, Nitrous Oxide and
Sulphuric Ether are the safest, and
these two are nearly absolutely safe
when properly administered.
Among the tens Of thousands
who have taken Nitrous Oxide Gas
that some have died afterward
from various diseases is not sur
prising; many thousands are dying
daily from the same diseases who
have not taken the gas. 1t is just
rs reasonable To say that the taking
of gas makes psople liable 10 be
struck with lightning, or killed in u
tornado.
But not TO make this article long
or, we would state that we have
requested a member Of the medical
profession Of this city TO write an
article on the nature and uses of
anaesthetics. The public may then
know that personal interest cuts no
figure in this discussion, and may
not fear 70 avail themselves Of the
great advantage Of undergoing pain