Milford chronicle., 1904-02-05
A FoRTY-NINER DENTIST.
Outdoor once, High Prices and Mug
gets For FillInR.

Outdoor once, High Prices and Mug
gets For FiIling.
a smooth bowlder for a 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 the first dental
Office in California. The dentist was
DR.. 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 noticeable absence OF
the plush covered chair and other ac-
couterments which usually mark the
/ dentists Office. There was no drill run
/ by foot power, no bulb to wash out the
I cavity. For a chair the smooth bowlder
on which Dr. Harris sat when rocking
his cradle answered this requisite. Fol
a drill short pieces Of wire were used,
and when a cavity was ready for fill
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, but
there was never trouble over a pay
ment after an aching member was ex-
tracted. One-half ounce Of gold-the
equivalent of SS-was the fee for ex-
traction. and for filling double that
amount.
When a patient arrived, there were a |
few formalities to go through. as in |
most cases neither knew the other. II |
the case was one of extraction. the |
dentist would go to his camp and get a |
pair Of forceps-the only article be- |
longing to the dentists kit which he |
then owned-and extract the tooth;
but, on the other hand. if filling was
the requirement. the process was Of a
more slow and tedious nature. The
patient having a cavity to fill would
usually make an appointment for Sun
day, as a good part of a day was neces-
sary for the operation.
The doctor would 90 to his campfire,
which was situated about fifty feet
from his cradle. and temper his instru.
ments Here a small bowlder answered
very well for forge. When the tools
were got into shape, work was begun
on the patient.
Small pieces Of wire from six to eight
inches in length and fattened out con.
stituted the excavators. Constant rub.
bing of a smooth rock. just as a knife
Is sharpened on milestone, kept them
sharp. Filings were made from gold
nuggets scraped with a pocketknife in,
to small shavings, then amalgamated
with mercury. Silver coin was also
lsed at times, although silver was q /
-Cry scarce article in that day A
heavy piece of wire served as a plugger
o insert the filling. When this filing
,rystallized it made a very lasting one
Every day while DR.. Harris worked I
lis claim he had one or more patients.
Cor the reason that he came to Cali
ornia to hunt gold and not to fill teeth
le did not encourage business. As the
ounTy settled around him the pioneer
entist turned his practice over to 9th.
rs who came in later, and when he n
eft that section he did not leave them
rithout a dentist. - San Francisco