The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-31
DOG TREATED ny DENTIST.
A Pet Gordon setter Has SIX Teeth
Filled with Gold.

From the New York Times.
Rex is the name OF a remarkable dog.
which probably has the distinction Of be-
ing The only canine in existence that has
ever had its teeth filled in a scientific
way. And no plain soft or amalgam MI
ings. either. but genuine gold
The buzz and whirr OF the drill, the
cutting of the cavities and the ramming
in of the gold, which so rack the hui
man system and make people dread the
dentists chair, were endured in stoical
way by Rex and many a man would be
proud to have possessed his nerve.
As his ma ster said. Rex seemed to think
the operation a ne essity, and an OcCa-
siOnal blink when the drill hurt most was
all the sign of pam which he evinced
Rex Is a Gordon setter with "A fine pedi-
gree. His SIS ters and brothers have Ia
ken various prizes n the dog shows, so
he has reason to be proud of his family.
Rex's master is DIR. +. S. Van NOstrq nd.
young dentist living a COlun IL ave
nue. and Eighty eighth street. The al
most human intelligence exhibited by the
dog and his particularly fine face and dis
position caused his master to become very
fond of him
The dentist was playing with Rex some
time AGO, and. happening to look into the
dogs mouth, he noticed that the enamel
on several teeth In the lower Jaw had
worn down very thin In some parts. and
two teeth had cavities in them. The dog
had evidently gotten hold Of something
when he was puppy VIII 70 stood in
fair way % spoil his teeth.
The dentist resolved to tneat his dog.
But the way to 90 about it was puzzling.
He could not put rubber dam In the
dogs mouth, and he thought IL would be
impossible to train the dog to sit up in
his dentists chair, lean his head back,
hold his mouth open, and submit to the
operation quietly
He finally hit upon a scheme, and for
the rubber dam a towel was substituted.
Accordingly. for the next two weeks, Rex
was taught TO sit up In a chair with
towel between his Jaws and tied around
the back Of his head. The first few days
Rex strenuously objected, but after
practice he would sit quietly for half an
hour at a time, but with a curious ex-
preston on his face, as II anxious about
Then the doctor began his work. Rex
was placed in the chair and the towel
placed in position. and a friend of the
dentist assisted by holding the dogs head.
The easiest tooth was begun on first
and the enamel cut away. Rex squirmed
somewhat at first, but as his master was
doing 1t he thought 1t his duty not to
object, and quietly submitted. 1t required
nearly half an hour 10 complete the job
but the doctor built out the tooth and
fixed 1t up as we'll as he would treat a
human being.
Another tooth was tried a few days
later, and so on until six of them were
treated. One tooth required over an
hours time but Rex did not complain.
Now, however, he is as proud of the job
as his master, and when asked to show
his gold-hlled teeth will open his mouth
very wide, draw his tongue in, and let
you look at them.
Like individuals. Rex has hts peculiari-
ties. One of them is his adherence of
women. 1t is his custom to sit In his
#Dh h i'm rrshF
treating a patient, but whenever that pa
tient is a woman. no amount of coaxing
can get the dog into the room. He will lie
down outside the door and grunt until the
woman goes out
Rex has been trained 10 be useful HIS
master has only to I'LL his laundry bag
and hand 1t to the dog, who will take II
to the Chinaman in the next block below
and wait for the empty bag, which he
takes to the house He possesses his own
dinner bucket, which he keeps In the doc
tors laborat tory. Whenever he gets hun
cry he will get his bucket and place 1t
at his masters feet. The doctor will MI
it, and after Rex finishes eating he will
carry it back TO its place in the labora-
tory. When the newsboy slips the papers
under the doctors door, Rex gathers
them up and puts them on the table
A block of the cable cars occurred the
other day in front of the office, and Rex
happened to be looking out of the window.
The people crowded around and Rex
seemed 10 realize tnat something was
wrong, so he jumped down and ran to his
master and insisted upon his going to the
window. The dentist said: That's all
right, Rex; it's only a blockade of cable
cars" and the dog seemed satisfied.
Rex was sent to Johnstown the other
day to have his summer outing, and the
doctor says it seems as If he had lost his
best friend. He intends to go after him
next month, as ne wants TO get him in
condition for the next dog show. Rex's
number is Al 125' in the American Kennel
Club, and no doubt he will attract much
attention ct the coming show with his
gold-filled teeth.