Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-01-13
Slow Start

I'm tell you one thing said tn,
patient, as he composed himself il
the dentists chair. You needn't tel
me I've got bad mouth, because
know 1t. I'm quite aware that it ha.
been neglected. II had taken care
Of my teeth they wouldn't be In bat
condition and in that case l shouldn't
have had to come to you. l want tt
have that understood before / be
gin"
That's understood said the den.
list. Lean back, please, and oper
your mouth and let me see what's
the trouble"
| Wait minute" said the patient
Don't yo1 tell me that you intend
to conduct the examination from the
outside. know that too. I'm n9t
going to open my mouth any wider
| than / can without hurting Il un-
! less It's necessary so you needn't be
alarmed. I know that's t1st pro
fessional Joke. but ! don't like pro-
/; fessional itskes."
II won't make any," the dentist
assured hin.
IF you think you've got to fill the
tooth you 1gedn't get iocular about
the dam that you're going to put into
my month There are twenty-five
dent5sfs in this building besides your
SELF and I'll bet SIC that there isn't
Che of Their that hasn't sprung that
bonmot eve Y time he's pulled sheet
Of rubber over TOOTH"
'.I'll keen It in mind said the
dentist.
II wish that you WOW said the
patient. II be obligo 10 rou. And
while you might be gate right in
surmising that I never expected to
wear a &C den crown until after
went to tt at bourn from whence
that jest, too, will be superf1uous.
Are you ready now?" asked the
dentist.
Gust a word or two more as
matter Of precaution," said the pa
tient. IF you think you have to put
In bridge say so plainly and simply
and don't consider the possibility of
= ferry answering the purpose.
WELL" said the dentist, little
tmpatiently.
1--WE come to have my teeth fixed,
continued the patient. That's the
purpose entertained in visiting you.
l expect to suffer physically. but
haven't any notion OF allowing you
to inflict mental anguish on me at
the same time, II can help It,"
quite right, and there's no oc-
casion for It," agreed the dentist.
you needn't tell me, either that
you aren't going to hurt me" stipu-
lated the patient. THAT might go
down with somebody who'd never
been in a dentists chair before, but
this isn't the first time with me and
I know blamed well that you are
going to hurt me. The painless
claims of dentistry apply strictly and
solely to the practitioner. You need
not ask me II you hurt me. You'll
hear me boiler and feel me jump
and that ought to be enough
without asking fool questions.
should think"
81 haven't any doubt that shall
be able to tell" said the dentist. Il
might put a glass of water handy
for you to throw at me if I don't
seem to understand and you object
to telling, however"
~ don't want to offend you," said
the patient. Don't misconstrue what
I m saying. l want to get this over
with as amicably as possible and I'm
few of the things that
have a tendency to irritate me. You
can't cheer me up with witticisms.
You couldn't make me laugh with
laughing gas and 1t would interrupt
vour work any way, If l INDUCED in
its Of mirth I'll tell you now that
ny worst tooth-the one that spur
ed me to action-has stopped ach-
ng. It stopped just as l was about
o get In the elevator, SO feel quite
about it. Some men
would have turned around and left
he building without paying you
.ent for tlfe effect of your name as
hey read It. in the directory, but I'm
lot that kind"
Are you ready to open your
mouth ar let me begin now?" asked
he dentist,
"Oh, darn it," said the patient
Well, I 81 ppose II mustI must"