New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05
DIR. EVANS AND GUTTA. PERCHA
SOME NEW STORIES ABOUT THE LATE
AMERICAN DENTIST TOLD BY AN
INTIMATE FRIEND

George F. Kunz OF TlYanys who was close
friend OF the late DR. Thomas w. Evans. the
American dentist who recently died In Paris. gave
TO Tribune reporter yesterday some interesting
and hitherto unpublished details OF Dr. Evanss
NE DR. Evans said Mr. Kunz. was. when
youth. much impressed with the example OF BenJa-
min Franklin. whose life he read. He attended the
Franklin Institute In Philadelphia, and the direc-
tors gave him. on his leaving. advice which he
never forgot. II was, Learn TO do one thing
better than anybody else" When he left the In
stitute pr Evans made trip through adjacent
counties In Pennsylvania filling and pulling out
teeth He would often fill three or four teeth free
OF charge in return for the privilege OF pulling out
the worst tooth after 1t filed. specimen
OF his work
Before Or. Evans went to Paris he had for some
time felt the want OF a proper substance to use for
filling teeth. This led him to make experiments
with view to hardening india rubber, and the
result OF these experiments was. Dr. Evans always
gutta-percha. |, occurred 10 him TO take sulphur,
mix II with india rubber. and then bake the
stance OF the color and hardness desired He tried
the experiment in Paris. but the result was a
He put the specimen away as a failure. and la
belled it. Tried 70 make ivory, but made ebony"
to whom he told the result, OF mis- experiment, and
showed him cane head and plate for artificial
teeth made out OF the substance that he had made.
Soon afterward gutta-percha. which is made by
combining sulphur and india rubber was patented
In the ultrd states, Dut Ut. Evans always ue-
clared that he was the original discoverer OF II.
In iss2 Mr. Kunz was IN Paris and tried to pre-
vail DR. Evans to send the cane head and the
facts about its production 20 the United States
Museum. so that he might obtain the credit of the
discovery. DR.. Evans said that his next visit
20 America he would present the Facts personally,
but. Il happened when he came here again for
the last visit he ever paid this country II was TO
bury his wife and his discovery was overlooked
DR.. Evans. II Will be remembered. made the Sill
tube which was the means OF proonging the
lie OF the late Emperor Frederick OF Germany for
some time after the operation OF tracheotomy DR..
Evans said that when the operation was per-
formed he stayed up all night and made the tube
OUT OF French franc piece with 4 hammer he
happened 10 have with him.
In Or Evans Mr.. kunz said. Americans have
lost one OF the most cordial and powerful friends
they had with the manager OF the grea' French
exhibitions. He was able TO do great deal for
and the loss Of his help and influence Will be keenly
felt by thos" who exhibit az the exposition OF 1900
DR. Evans probably knew more about the inner
fc OF the English royal family than any on in
Europe outside OF ROYALTIES. ON one occasion he
playing billiards with an English noble
ing on. Speaking to DR.. Evans. his opponent
remarked You ought TO write book about the
royal family. Nobody knows much about IL
a. YOU" The Prince heard the remark. and OBJ
served: Yes. but that's the very reason why DIR.
Evans would not write the book" III, meant that
had no been certain that he could be trusted not
to divulge It.
Dr.. Evans's house I'm Paris full OF gifts from
royal personages With the exception OF two
other weli-k known men. one OF whom Is Bismarck.
he possessed the largest number OF personal decora
orders OF English. German. French. Russian and
ofn nor ~