Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-15
To be continued,
A "FoRTY-NlNER" DENTIST.
Outdoor Office, Big Prices and Nugget
for EiIIiuy

for Filling.
4 smooth boulder for S.hair, high
towering walls of impregnable granite
for walls. and the blue sky for a roof
We're the unique conditions surround
ing what was probably the first dental
Office in California. The dentist was
DR.. S. VI. Harris, then known as Lit
tie Doc" to-day Mayor of Grass Val
ley. Nevada County.
This odd dental office was founded
in the day when men rocked cradles
with more cherished burdens than new
born babies; when caravans of people
focked into California in search Of
gold; when the founders of this great
State took up their habitation in a
wild and desolate country.
When you rived at Or. Harris Of
flee there W Z noticeable absence Of
the plush c. red chair and other ae-
coutrements which usually mark the
dentists office. There was no drill
run by foot power, no bulb 10 wash
out the cavity. For chair the smooth
boulder on which Or. Harris sat when
rocking his cradle answered this requi-
site For a drill. short pieces Of wire
We're used, and when Il cavity was
ready for filling ana 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, hut
there was never trouble over pay
meut, after an aching member was ex-
tracted. One half ounce of gold-the
equivalent of $S-was the fee for ex-
traction. and for filing double that
amount
When patient arrived there were a
few formalities to 70 through, as in
most cn~.,' n,ther knew the other. II
the case VIZ, one of extra the
dentist VOID go to his camp and get
a pair " 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
more slow and tedious nature. The
patient having cavity to fill would
usually make an appointment for sun
| day, as a good part % day was nee
essary for the operation.
The doctor would 90 to his camp
| fire. which was situated about nifty
feet from his cradle. and temper his
instruments. Here small boulder an
swercd very we'll for a forge. When
| the TOYS were got into shape work
was begun ~ the patient,
Su.all pieces of wire from six to
| .sht inches In length and ilattcned
! ont constituted the eXcavators. Con-
slant rubbing of .mooth rock. just
as a knife is SHARPE ned on Il whet-
stone, kept them sharp. Filings were
| made from gold nuggets Scraped with
n pocket knife into small shavmgs,
then amalgamated with mercury. Sit
yer coin was also used at times al
though silver was very scarce arti-
Gle in that day \ heavy piece of wire
served as a plugger to insert the fill
ing. When this filling crystallized il
made a very lasting one
Every day while Or. Harris worked
his claim he had one or more patients,
/ For the reason that he came to Cali
| fornia 20 hunt gold, and not TO fill
teeth. he did not encourage business
| As the country settled around him The
pioneer dentist turned his practice over
to other, who came In later, and wher
! he lei nat section he did not leave
them without dentist.-SaI Francis
! co Chronicle.