The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21
GREAT MEMS TEETH.
How Big Men Conduct Themselves When
Recumbent in the Dentists Chair.

How Big Men Conduct Themselves When
Recumbent in the Dentists Chair.
Washington Letter in Chicago News
Having occasion to visit a dentist the other
day, asked him if l was the most nervous man
he ever had in his chair
"Bless you, no." replied the tooth tinker.
You are only about the average patient, and it
would surprise you to see how some of the big
men act when they come here to get their teeth
fixed. General Sheridan. for example. is one of
the worst men in a dentists chair you ever saw,
and General Logan is even worse than he. Why,
Logan is as tender as baby, and will shrink at
the slightest touch on his nerves, while, sup
pose, there were never two drawer men in battle
than they General Sherman, too, is about as
bad. and acts as if he were going to have a fit
whenever the drill is put into his teeth. He
jumps, and grunts, and groans, and takes on
worse than if he were having his leg cut off,
General Burnside, on the contrary, was one
of the most patient and enduring men ever
saw. / have had him in my chair a number of
times and have filled lot of his teeth He would
sit quietly without making moan or saying
word from the time that he took his seat until
the job was finished He always seemed to be
grateful that had not caused him any more
pain, and when would ask him, as did some
times: Does that hurt you, GeneraP he would
reply: 'Oh, no, not much; go and let's get
done with It.; the sooner the job is over the bet
ter.
Andrew johnson, when he was Vice presi-
dent and while he was in the Senate came to
my ot1ce several times, and was very good
patient, taking things philosophically and max
lug me little trouble once filled four teeth for
him at sitting, and every one of them was in
very bad condition. The job lasted nearly five
hours, and must have hurt him dreadfullv, but
he never WINGED, and did not seem to have any
nerves at all.
"Old Zach Chandler was another good patient
He would sit in the chair almost motionless. and
would let me drill away at his teeth without any
remonstrance show of pain But one time
when undertook to draw tooth for him |
thought the old man would go crazy 1t was a
tough old grinder, and had been troubling him
good deal. being liberated around the roots. /
got good hold with the nippers and the first
time nearly lifted him out of the chair But
it did not come. | took hold again,
and lifted him the same as De-
fore. / saw his face was quite
pale, and asked him if he did not want to rest?
He said: No, | would like to have it out at once
But as the operation was evidently so painful.
and he seemed to keep growing paler. I suggest
ed that he had better take ether He declined,
saying that he never took, an anasthetic in his
life. and never would. Turning around sharply,
he told me to go and have it over without any
further delay. l got hold again and gave jerk
that drew the tooth from his head. He lay back
In the chair entirely exhausted and closed his
eyes, / thought for moment that he would
faint, and brought him glass of water, asking
if it hurt him much Looking up to me, he said:
Yes. it hurts like -