Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-04-18
NUr1BER 40
A FORTY-NINeR DENTIST.
Outdoor ONCE, High Prices and Mug
gets For Filling.

A smooth bowlder for chair, high
towering walls of impregnable granite
for walls and the blue SKY for a roof
were the unique conditions surround
ing what was probably tie first dental
Office in California. The dentist was
DIR. S. NJ. Harris, then known as Lit
tie Doc" today mayor Of Grass Valley,
Nevada county.
This odd dental office was founded
in the day when men rocked cradles
with more cherished burdens than new
born babes; when caravans Of people
flocked into California in search OF
gold; when the founders of this great
state took up their habitation In
wild and desolate country.
When you arrived at DR.. Harris. OF
fee. there was q noticeable absence OF
the plush covered chair and other ac-.
couterments which usually marx the
dentists office. There was no drill run
by foot power, no bulb to wash out the
cavity. For chair the smooth bowlder
ON which Dr. Harris sat when rocking
his cradle answered this requisite. For
n drill short pieces of wire were used,
and when a cavity was ready for NIL
ing and needed cleansing with water
the patient was handed a tin dipper,
and the stream furnished the water
The charge for this work was rather
in advance of present day fees, Dut
there was never trouble over a pay
ment after an aching member was eX-
tracted. One-half ounce of gold-the
equivalent Of $S-was the fee for ex'
traction. and for filling double that
amount.
When a patient arrived, there were
few formalities to go through, as IN
most cases neither knew the other. III
the case was one Of extraction, the
dentist would 90 to his camp and get
pair of forceps-the only article be-
longing to the dentists kit which he
then owned-and extract the tooth;
hut on the other hand, If filling was
the requirement, the process was OF
more slow and tedious nature. Inc
natient having a cavity to fill wouid
usually make an appointment for sun
day, as a good part of day was neces-
sary for the operation.
The doctor would 90 to his campfire,
which was situated about fifty rect
from his cradle, and temper his instru-
ments. Here a small bowlder answered
very well for forge. When the toois
wore got into shape, work was begun
on the patient.
Small pieces of wire from six to eight
inches in length and fiattened out con-
stituted the excavators. Constant ruD-
bing of a smooth rock, just as knlie
is sharpened on milestone, kept them
sharp. Filings were made from gold
nuggets scraped with pocketknife In
: TO small shavings, then amalgamated
,, with mercury. Silver coin was also
used at times, although silver was q
very scarce article in that day. a
heavy piece of wire served as plugger
10 insert the filling. When this hllin9
crystallized, It made a very lasting one
Every day while DR.. Harris worked
his claim he had one or more patients
For the reason that he came TO Gan
fornia to hunt gold and not to I'LL teet1
he did not encourage business. AS the
country settled around him the pioneei
dentist turned his practice over to 9th
ers who came in later, and when nc
left that section lie did not leave then
7 without a dentist. - San francisco
J, | Chroniplp