Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-10
nrrwEEN HIS TEETH.
AN Illustration Of tho Progress OF the
Dental Science.
From me Mar Iorf ir'bu7e.

From me Mar l0rF i,fhu7e.
A slender man OF quiet and respectable
appearance sitting i'm sixth avenue
elevated train last evening drew from
his inner coat pocket narrow steel rod
about six inches in length. The rod was
nat and the width of an ordinary lead
pencil. Al one end there was small
slot IN it. SO curious an Implement and
the preoccupied manner OF the man at
tracted the attention Of the other pnssen-
gers in the car. A lady opposite, accom-
panied by a little boy, glanced with alarm
toward the conductor, who was lnieutly
watching the man, a5 the latter put the
slotted end Of the steel rod in his mouth.
The man shut bis teeth together and his
face underwent series of violent con-
tortions as be worked his hand with
motion as # ne were tightening up a loose
nut on a bolt. The lady became SO agita-
ted that she left her seat and took one
nearer the door.
You needn't be frightened, m0rm,'
said the conductor, II guess that's only
Barnum's Man with the Iron Jaw
What IN the worlds the matter with
himW asked the lady.
II guess be is only tightening up his
jaw, narm,' replied the conductor, con-
sOlingly.
The man had now finished the operation
and he restored the steel rod to his pocket.
Then he took out a memorandum book
and made some entries in it carefully,
and having finished these entries, he re-
marked TO his neighbor IN an adjoining
seat, as he closed The book:
Science does remark able things in
these days" The neighbOr nodded.
Now, don't suppose you would have
the least idea that | had a jaCk-sCreW be-
tween two Of my teeth"
"A jack-screw inquired bis neighbnr.
yes" returned the man, smiling. Pm
undergoing a dental operation. one of
my teeth had been extracted and one OF
those adjoining it began to grow over in
the vacant space. 1t was "a good tooth
and didn't want it pulled, but the den
list couldn't get it back to its place, until
one day an idea struck him and he said
he'd put iack-screW in there. SO he
made enc. 1t is less than "a quarter of an
inch long, but it is on the same principle
as the other jack-screws- just like those
used in hitting up Cooper Institute, only
on Il small scale, you see"
lis there no danger Of its slipping
out?"
''Oh, not at all, my dear sir. 1t IS
very ingenious little cOntriyance. The
whole thing is made Of gold and the nut
by which it is turned is next 10 the face
you saw me turn it just now? Well, l
turn it once around every twenty-tOur
hours and that turn is equal to about
two hundred and tiftieth part of an inch.
Then. YOU see, make memorandum of
each turn. Generally l turn it twice
day, but only half way around each time.
l expect that it will take two or three
weeks to straighten the tooth.
"Is it uncomfortable? No not especi-
ally. A little unpleasant when | am
turning it.tMakes me grit my teeth some,
but l soon got used to having it there.
The only objection is that gold is little
too soft a metal where there is 50 much
pressure brought to bear. You see, the
screw is a very slender wire and the
thread on 1t is very delicate, though it
feels as though the whole thing was
foot long and as big as those used under
building. A day or two after / began to
use it the thread snapped under the
strain. Then / thought there was a dyn-
amIte cartridge in my mouth and the
whole top Of my head was coming off.
But it did not hurt me. The dentist is
going to make one of platinum in case
this should give out. That is a harder
metal. This is my station. Good night"
and the man with the jack-screw between
his teeth LETT the train.