Ohio History Journal

DENTISTRY IN THE WESTERN RESERVE

 

 

BY CHESTER STANLEY SZUBISKI

 

The territory of the Western Reserve was a strip of the

"Connecticut Reserve" located south of Lake Erie, north of the

forty-first parallel and extended one hundred and twenty miles

westward from  the  pennsylvania line.  This was a session of

western lands to the federal government made by Connecticut in

1786. In 1792 half a million acres at the western end of the

"Connecticut Reserve" was granted to those inhabitants of cer-

tain Connecticut towns whose property had been destroyed by

Tory raids during the Revolution.  Eighteen hundred and seventy

persons received land. This area was called "The Firelands"--

it consisted of what is now  Huron and Erie counties.

In 1795, the remainder of the Reserve was sold without sur-

vey to thirty-five buyers. One of the prominent land speculators

was Oliver Phelps, who headed the Connecticut Land Company.

Moses Cleaveland was the general agent.

The existing records of the prehistoric inhabitants of the ter-

ritory which is now Ohio are shrouded in the dim past. With the

advent of the Mound Builders there is definite evidence of the

character of the early inhabitants. This civilization of two thou-

sand or three thousand years ago left no system of writing by

which to record their deeds. their wars and conquests or their

rise and destiny which are all shrouded in mystery. Something

is known, however, of their tools and weapons, ear rings and

ornaments, their burial customs, their agriculture and commerce,

and their food products.

It is a story without beginning or end.

The burial mounds which they built and from which they

have derived their name, the  Mound Builders, are their most nu-

merous and prominent remains. It is believed by many archae-

ologists that the Mound Builders were Indians and that they

371

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372  OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

flourished as late as the centuries just preceding the discovery of

Amnerica.  But this problem is open to conjecture.

In one of the graves a human inferior maxillary bone was

found:

This jaw when taken from the grave was considered perfect, but upon

examination, it was found to be an adult jaw with three incisor teeth gone

The loss had been replaced by three incisor teeth of the deer. The deer

teeth have very long roots, but these were cut and properly fitted into the

socket of the human jaw to replace the lost human teeth and make the

ornament appear perfect, as only jaws with a perfect set of teeth were used.

Different parts of the jaw show polishing and cutting. The sym-

physis is cut and some work in polishing done. The sigmoid notch also

shows by notches cut into the bone near the neck that the ornament was

attached at this point. The coronoid process is also slightly polished, and

parts of the body of the jaw show polishing and cutting. The rami of the

jaw is colored green from the copper ear ornaments which were placed in

the grave in contact with the jaw.

Another interesting ornament was made of the upper jaw or superior

maxillary bones and was made by cutting the bone from the face above

the alveolar process and leaving the palate intact. The jaw is perfect

with the exception of the last molar on each side which have been cut

away. The attachment was made through the posterior palatine canal

which had been enlarged by boring.

Among the various and curious customs of the Mound Build-

ers there is one in which the skulls and jaws of captured enemies

were retained as trophies.   The skulls and jaws were also those

of departed relatives.

William   Stowell Mills, in his book entitled The Story of

the Western Reserve of Connecticut, writes that in Conneaut, in

1815, a human jaw-bone was found in a road which had been cut

through a mound. Near the bone was an artificial tooth of metal.

which exactly fitted a cavity in the jaw.

Did these prehistoric inhabitants develop a proficiency in the

art of dentistry?

When Moses Cleaveland, agent in charge for the Connecticut

Land Company, and his party sailed to the banks of the Cuya-

hoga River they had among them a physician.   Among the in-

struments carried by all pioneer physicians were forceps, and it

was common practice for the physician to extract aching teeth.

They did no operative work on the teeth.

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR   373

 

A similar party, under the leadership of David Hudson, ar-

rived on June 5, 1800, in their destined township which con-

sisted of the lands they had purchased from the Connecticut Land

Company. They named the township, Hudson, in honor of their

leader. There were twenty-nine persons in the party, among whom

was Dr. Thompson, the first physician to establish himself in the

Western Reserve.

For many years he was the only physician between Coshocton

and lake Erie and westward from Warren. He was the nearest

physician to the village of Cleveland until 1810 when Dr. David

Long came to Cleveland. Dr. Thompson rode a circuit on horse-

back, and in winter on a "cutter" which was a light sleigh, carry-

ing his instruments and drugs in saddlebags. He rode from     one

settlement to the next, sometimes being away from home for a

week. On one occasion he was called to go to Cleveland, a ride

of twenty-five miles, on a stormy night to extract an aching tooth.

Harry C. Rosenberger in his article entitled "David long.

Cleveland's First Physician'" paints a verbal portrait of Cleve-

land in 1810.

Ohio had been admitted to the Union but seven years previously, and

Cleveland was still an unincorporated village comprising two frame and

six or eight log dwellings, with a total population of fifty-seven people.

During the previous year the county of Cuyahoga had been formed, the

Cleveland postoffice had been in operation for only six years, permitting

the receipt and dispatch of letters every seven days. The surrounding

country was a wilderness without roads, streams were not yet bridged and

settlers' cabins were in places eight to ten miles apart. No professional

colleague was nearer than Painesville on the east, Hudson on the southeast,

Wooster on the south and River Raisin (Monroe) on the west. Of the

ordinary diseases of this frantic life, the agues and dysenteries were the

most prevalent and troublesome. The former was due to the myriads of

mosquitoes infecting the swales and bogs of the river flatlands and the

latter to impure water, improper food and the unavoidable exposure of a

fickle climate and rude living conditions.

Rugged indeed were the living conditions in which the

pioneers of the Western Reserve lived.      Much of the detailed

record of early dentistry in the Western Reserve has been lost

and investigation of whatever record there was left has been

very limited.

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374   OHIO ARCHAELOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

Having set the first scene in which the early dental pioneers

practiced, let us review the characters. The pioneers of the West-

ern Reserve required dental attention and this service was fur-

nished by itinerant dentists.  Probably the earliest itinerant den-

tists, supplying this service, were S. Hardyear and Dr. Wade.

Their mode of transportation was horseback except perhaps in the

winter a "cutter" was used.     There were no wheeled vehicles,

except wagons, in the village of Hudson until 1834, when the new

president of Western Reserve College bought a spring buggy. It

was considered unchristian since it was too suggestive of case and

luxury, and the president was severely criticized for his possession

of this spring buggy. Pittsburgh was the nearest source of drug

supply. There was a semi-weekly connection by stage with Pitts-

burgh.

The first dental advertisement appearing in a Cleveland news-

paper was one placed by S. Hardyear.

Cleveland   Herald, June 30, 1826.

Dentist

The subscriber has taken a room for a few weeks, at the

Franklin House where he offers to perform all operations in

Dentistry.

Artificial Teeth inserted (in most cases without pain) in

such a manner as to be equal in appearance, and nearly in dur-

ability to natural ones.

Persons residing in the village can be attended at their

homes.

S. Hardyear.

The above notice appears in the Herald again on July 14, 27,

28 and on August 4, and to the latter is added "I will remain one

week longer."

Probably the earliest attempt toward preventive dentistry and

interdental method of brushing appears in the form of an adver-

tisement in the Cleveland Herald and no doubt was written by

S. Hardyear:

Herald. July 28, 1826.

For the benefit of those who cannot have the advantage of

proper instruments to remove the tartar, we recommend tile use of

a penknife as a substitute. In many cases the tartar can he readily

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR    375

 

scaled off by it, leaving the teeth perfectly clean and without the

slightest injury to the enamel. Great care should be taken to

remove every particle between the necks of the teeth and gums.

Charcoal prepared by burning bread will be found better than

cologne water. It should be pulverized immediately after burn-

ing, and kept for use in a tight vessel; use it as a dentifrice two

or three times a week. Teeth should be brushed perpendicularly,

in order to cleanse between them; the minor surfaces should not

be neglected; the foul ones of the underjaw in particular.

Another advertisement similar in text appeared on the same

day in the Herald.

Herald, July  28, 1826.

We have often said that the teeth require great care. First

let them be well set in order by removing the tartar, etc.. with

proper instrument, and using frequently a large and stiff brush as

can be procured, it should be used dry two or three times a week;

for this will harden the gums and prevent the collection of ex-

traneous matter and give a fine polish to the teeth. A simple

brush however hard, can never injure the enamel, and a soft

brush is worse than useless.  The best brushes seldom admit

of use more than a month or two, when they become soft and

are good for nothing. Cologne water diluted may be used occa-

sionally, and will be found both agreeable and useful. It will

give a fine clear complexion to the teeth, and preserve the breath

pure and fragrant.

Medical Intelligence

Cleveland in about 1826 was described as a pretty place on

a high bluff and composed of some fifty houses, with about five

hundred inhabitants.

On August 1, 1835, the following notice appeared in the

Cleveland Herald.

Doctors Ware and Bradley have formed a connection in

the practice of Operative Dental Surgery, Diseases of the Eye

and Ear and Practice of Medicine. Dr. Ware will attend to

Operative and Dental Surgery; Dr. Bradley to Diseases of the

Eye, Ear and Practice of Medicine.

The population of Cleveland in 1835 was 5080. At this time

there were probably not more than 500 dentists in America.

Dr. Ware advertised in the Whig on November 4, 1835.

Just received 500 of Dr. Ambler's D. C. Ambler, New York,

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376  OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

1828) premium Incorruptible Teeth, suitable for inserting on

pivot or gold mountings. Also  a large assortment of Tooth

Brushes together with a good article of Tooth Powder, prepared

by the subscriber J. S. Ware, Surgeon Dentist, office Superior

Street."

This same advertisement appeared on April 13, 1836, and

also in the Daily Gazette, May 25, 1836. Dr. Ware's practice in

Cleveland was comparatively short for he left Cleveland for De-

troit, Michigan, in 1836 where he practiced until 1845. The fol-

lowing is a notice declaring Dr. Ware's termination of practice

in Cleveland and announcing Dr. Farnsworth.

Gazette. Feb. 7, 1836.

Dr. Ware having removed from Cleveland, the practice of

Dental Surgery will be continued by Dr. J. H. Farnsworth who

respectively tenders his services to the citizens of Cleveland and

its vicinity. Having fitted a room in the Franklin Buildings,

No. 6, and provided a large supply of Incorruptible Teeth, cus-

tomers can be supplied from one to an entire set, exactly to cor-

respond with the living teeth, set after the latest and most modern

principles of Dental Mechanism. Dr. F -- will make Cleveland

his permanent residence, therefore is prepared to warrant his

operations, and in doing so offers the public an opportunity to

avoid imposition, and the injurious results which so frequently

attend and follow the practice of itinerant dentists. All operations

on the teeth, gums and mouth will be performed with the least

possible pain, and correct professional skill. The only reference

which Dr. F-- deems necessary is his own work. Irregularities

of the teeth in children prevented and remedied in adults. Chlo-

rine Wash, Tooth Powders and Brushes a superior article for

sale. Country dentists supplied with incorruptible silicious Teeth

by the hundred.

J. H. Farnsworth, Dentist.

Four months after Dr. Ware made his announcement of be-

ginning practice in Cleveland another itinerant surgeon-dentist

appears on the scene--this was Dr. E. N. Manning from Roches-

ter, New York. His announcement appeared in the Whig on

October 20, 28 and November 4, 1835.

Dr. E. N. Manning, Surgeon Dentist from    the city of

Rochester, N. Y., will remain a short time at the Franklin House.

where he will be ready to attend to all who may need any opera-

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL                 377

 

tions upon their teeth. Having a good supply of durable compo-

sition teeth, that so perfectly resemble the natural teeth as not to

be detected; natural teeth, pure Gold Foil for filling decaying,

etc., etc., together with skill and experience, in the practice; Dr.

M. can assure all who may favor him, of receiving perfect satis-

faction.

N. B.--References can be made to Mr. Amos Tuffts, Col.

Samuel Stone from Rochester, Mr. Daniel Collins from Brads-

port and other gentlemen from Monroe county, New York.

Although the names of S. Hardyear, Dr. Wade and Dr. Ware

appeared earlier in the Cleveland dental scene than that of Dr.

Strickland, they did not remain permanently. S. Hardyear and

Dr. Wade were itinerant dentists and Dr. Ware practiced in Cleve-

land only a few months. Dr. Strickland was the first permanently

practicing dentist in Cleveland. On November 4, 1835, there

appeared in the Cleveland Gazette, the following announcement:

Dr. B. Strickland, Dentist and Manufacturer of Incorruptible

Teeth, respectfully informs the citizens of Cleaveland and its

vicinity that he has determined to settle permanently in this

village. He now offers his services to the public in every branch

of Dental Surgery. His time will be wholly devoted for the

relief of those who are unfortunately suffering from disease or

loss of teeth. Having had several years experience in the practice

of his profession, he confidently hopes to give perfect satisfaction

to all who may please to favor him with business. Office, No. 21

Central Building, corner of Superior and Water Streets.

Dr. Strickland's practice was not confined to the office alone--

he made calls to the homes of individuals, especially ladies, desir-

ing to have their dental work done at home. The calls were made

in the morning and the afternoon was spent in the office.

Historians are indebted to Dr. Thomas J. Hill for his re-

search on the early life of Benjamin Strickland. According to

Dr. Hill's article, Benjamin Strickland, Cleveland's first dentist.

was born near Montpelier, Vermont, on July 19, 1810. There is

no known record of his early life. After graduating from some

eastern school with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and after a

time in practice, lie came to Cleveland on the Pioneer Fast Stage

Line via Pittsburgh and Wellsville. In 1841 he married Hannah

Walworth, the young daughter of John and Juliana Walworth.

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378   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

emigrants from Connecticut. Juliana Walworth, the older daugh-

ter and sister of Hannah, married David Long, Cleveland's first

physician.

Dr. Strickland had his office at Superior and Water streets

for three years, and then moved it to 107 Superior Street, where

he practiced for many years.    It seems that Dr. Strickland har-

bored the idea of leaving Cleveland in 1838. What his reasons

were for wanting to move from Cleveland are not known. The

consideration for moving from Cleveland must have been serious

if it warranted a special announcement of his decision to stay, in

the Herald and Gazette Dec. 19 to 29, 1838:

Dr. Strickland, having abandoned the idea of removing from Cleve-

land, will attend all calls in his profession at his old rooms corner of Water

and Superior Streets.

In addition to his duties as a dentist, Benjamin Strickland

was a manufacturer of porcelain teeth. He sold these teeth to

other dentists.  Later, in addition to the sale of porcelain teeth,

he sold gold and tin foil, instruments and other dental supplies.

His abilities and professional integrity were soon recognized and

publicly acclaimed by the local dental and medical profession.

On Dec. 8, 1837, the following announcement appears in the

Herald and Gazette:

Dr. Strickland respectfully informs his friends and the public

that he has removed from the third story to rooms No. 9 and 15

in the second story of the Central Buildings on the corner of

Superior and Water Streets, where he is prepared to perform all

operations on the teeth in a style not surpassed by any of his

profession. His rooms are easy of access and retired and he

assures his friends that no effort shall be wanting on his part

which may conduce to render them pleasant to those who may

favor him with a call. As Dr. Strickland intends making Cleve-

land his place of permanent residence, he hopes to afford an

opportunity to ladies and gentlemen residing in the country at a

distance to employ an operator who will be responsible for the

manner in which his business is done.

The undersigned judging from personal acquaintance with

Dr. Strickland, and acquaintance with his professional business,

believe that he is thoroughly acquainted with his profession and

as a dentist we confidently recommend him to our friends and

the public. Drs. Long, Hicks, Mills, Johnstone, Brayton, Hewitt,

Mendenhall. Cushing, Terry, Brown, Otis, Underhill, Inglehart.

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY -- PRE-CIVIL WAR       379

 

This announcement appeared again on January 12, 26, 1838.

In 1841, Strickland was admitted to the American Society of

Dental Surgeons and in 1843 won national recognition by attain-

ing an honorary degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. The career

of Dr. Strickland was full of accomplishment, and it was a long

one; he retired in the year, 1875. He was a charter member,

organization chairman and first president of the Northern Ohio

Dental Association, which was the second oldest dental society in

America.   He played an identical role in organizing the Forest

City Society of Dental Surgeons which eventually became the

Cleveland Dental Society, and he was also chairman at the organi-

zation of the Ohio State Dental Society.    The dental profession

of Cleveland may well be proud of the man who was destined to

be the founder of the resident dental profession of this community.

In the 1837 directory of the city of Cleveland appears the

firm  name, "Coredon & Sargeant, Surgeon Dentists, 6 Franklin

Building."  Their names do not appear in the next directory pub-

lished in 1845--their stay in Cleveland must have been short.

While they were practicing in Cleveland they placed this adver-

tisement:

Advertiser, June 5, 1837.

Richard Coredon, M.D., Surgeon Dentist, respectfully in-

forms the Ladies and Gentlemen of Cleveland, that he has taken

an office in the Hancock Block, corner of Seneca and Superior

streets, where he will be happy to attend to all those who may

favor him with their attention.  His extensive practice in his

profession, both in the U. S. and Europe, entitles him to say,

that in no operation on the teeth, however critical, can he be

excelled, in point of case and elegance, by any other operator

whatever.  Silicions, metallic or incorruptible Teeth inserted,

from one to a full set. Teeth filled with Gold.

The following advertisement appeared during June and July

1 to 18:

Advertiser, July 5, l837.

Richard Coredon, M.D., Surgeon Dentist, Member of the

Royal College in London: Office, No. 31 Superior St., next door

to the Post Office.

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380   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

During most of July appeared this advertisement:

Cleveland Daily Advertiser, Aug. 4, 1837.

Drs. Coredon and Sargeant, Surgeon Dentists, No. 6 Frank-

lin Buildings, Water Street.

There were other personalities which appeared in the dental

scene and their story can best be told by a chronological presen^-

tation of their advertisements:

Advertiser, Mar 2, 1837.

The Teeth, Articulation, Health and Beauty.

Dr. J. A. Cody, Surgeon Dentist, respectfully intimates to

his friends, and citizens of Cleveland, that he has taken an

office in the City Block, where he will at all times he ready to

perform operations on the teeth, surgical and mechanical. All

defects of the mouth, corrected and made, not only to resemble

nature in her beauteous workmanship, but also to add comfort

to the afflicted. All manner, shape, and form of teeth, set with

neatness and dispatch, on pivots, plates of gold, or platina.

Herald and Gazette, Mar 1, 1838.

Dentist.--A. Blakesley, Dentist from Utica, N. Y., has taken

rooms at the Franklin House where he will remain a short time

and where he will attend all calls in his profession.

Reference may be had to Rev. S. C. Akin, N. C. Baldwin,

Dr. W. A. Clark and Alex Seymour.

The advertisement given above appeared also March 8, April

5, 12.         Blakesley introduced Watt's crystal gold foil to Cleve-

landers.    (A short time afterwards, 1839, he sailed for Cuba,

fell overboard and was drowned.)

On May 10, 17, 24, July 5, appeared the following:

Herald and Gazette, May 3, 1838.

J. A. May respectfully informs the citizens of Cleveland

and vicinity that he has taken Room No. 14 at the Franklin

House where he may he found at all times to receive calls in the

line of his profession.

The advertisement indicated below appeared on October 31,

and every day in November, December, 1838, and on January

1, 1839.

Herald and Gazette, Oct. 30, 1838.

Surgeon Dentist.

D. V. Bradford, M.D., Surgeon Dentist, has opened an

office on Superior Street in the Brick Block adjoining the Com-

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR                  381

 

mercial Bank of Lake Eric. Dr. B. having pursued the practice

of Medicine and Surgery together with Surgeon Dentistry for

several years in the State of N. Y., is of the belief that his

knowledge of the Anatomy and Physiology of the teeth, together

with operative dentistry, will enable him to give satisfaction to

his patrons.

References: Drs. J. Mills, C. A. Terry, M. L. Hewitt, J.

Foote.

The second of the advertisements below appeared in Decem-

ber, 1840, and January, February, 1841, January, 1842.

Herald and Gazette, Sept. 18, 1839.

Drs. Bennet and Hervey, Dentists, from the City of New

York, would respectfully announce to the Ladies and Gentlemen

of Cleveland and vicinity that they have taken rooms at the

American House. They will attend to all calls in their profes-

sion either at their rooms, or at private houses as may be com-

venient. Drs. B. and H. having had several years practice con-

sider themselves fully competent to perform any operations in

Mechanical or Surgical Dentistry. Artificial teeth inserted from

one to an entire set so as not to be distinguished from those

formed by nature, even by the closest observer. Particular atten-

tion given to plugging, cleaning and extracting carious teeth.

W. C. Bennet, Chas. P. Hervey, References, Prof. H. A. Ackley,

M.D., M. L. Hewitt, M.D., S. Starweather, Esqu., Rev. Levi

Tucker, Alexander Sackett, Wm. Sutton.

Herald and Gazette, Nov. 25, 1810.

Dental Surgery--Dr. Wright has located in the city of

Cleveland and opened an office over the store of Messrs. Han-

derson and Punderson, where he is prepared to perform    all

operations connected with Dentistry in a correct and scientific

manner. He has numerous testimonials among which is the fol-

lowing from H. A. Ackley, M.D., I have been acquainted with

Dr. M. L. Wright, Surgeon and Dentist for six years, during

which time I have had numerous opportunities of observing his

treatment and operations on diseased teeth which have uniformly

been successful. I most cheerfully recommend him to the public

as well versed both in the theoretical and practical part of his

profession, and in all particulars a skillful and judicial Dentist.

Nov. 1, 1840, H. A. Ackley.

Charges will be reasonable and all operations performed to

the entire satisfaction of his Patrons. He may be consulted at

his office, or at his residence on St. Clair St., Dr. W. very

respectfully solicits a share of patronage.

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382   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

The second Cleveland Directory published in 1845, includes

the names of four dentists.    The name of Dr. M. L. Wright, 94

Superior Street, appears for the first time.   Two of these names,

Samuel Spencer and William Baily, do not appear again.

The parade of personalities in the dental scene up to 1840 is

over--some came and stayed, some came and left for various rea-

sons, others just visited as itinerant dentists.  The number which

followed increased as the size of the population grew. Orth, in

his History of Cleveland, presents the following statistics:

Year                 Population             Pentists

1835    .................   5080                 .................       1

1837   .................                      9000              .................                     3

1860   .................              43,437       ................                                 22

1890 ...........  ..... 261,353            .. ...............      88

"Advertising effects the decline in progress of any science or

art, and anyone who is interested in a special subject, can read

between the lines and gain valuable historical information."    This

is how Dr. Henry Lovejoy Ambler introduces his section on ad-

vertisements from   newspapers in his book, entitled, History of

Dentistry in Cleveland. When one reads a few of the advertise-

ments this becomes very evident.

Perhaps the earliest    American advertisement by a dentist

appears in the Boston Gaselle and Country Journal, on Monday,

August 20, 1770.

ARTIFICIAL TEETH

Paul Revere,

Takes this method of returning his most sincere Thanks to the

Gentlemen and Ladies who have employed him in the cure of

their Teeth, he would now inform them and all others, who are

so unfortunate as to lose their Teeth by accident or otherways,

that he still continues the Business of a Dentist, and flatters

himself that from the Experience he has had these Two Years

(in which Time he has fixt some Hundreds of Teeth) that he

can fix them as well as any Surgeon-Dentist who ever came

from London, he fixes them in such a Manner that they are not

only an Ornament but of real Use in Speaking and Eating: He

cleanses the Teeth and will wait on any Gentleman or Lady at

their Lodgings, he may be spoke with at his Shop opposite Dr.

Clark's at the North End, where the Gold and Silversmith's

Business is carried on in all its Branches.

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR         383

 

The first Cleveland newspaper was published in 1819, and the

first dental advertisement appears in the issue of July 24, 1823.

These advertisements are taken from the compilation by Dr. Henry

Lovejoy Ambler in his book:

Cleaveland Herald, July 24, 1823.

Philosophical Amusement

Mr. Beecher would respectfully announce to the Ladies and

Gentlemen of Cleaveland, that he intends offering for their

amusement, this Evening, at the house of Mr. A. Kingsbury,

an exhibition of some very interesting Chemical Experiments.

In addition to which, will he exhibited the powerful and aston-

ishing effects of the Nitrous Oxide, or Exhilirating gas, which

will afford sensations of pleasure and delight to those that breathe

it, and afford amusement to the spectators. The above experi-

ments have their foundation in Science and Fact, and are calcu-

lated to enlighten the human mind. Exhibition will commence

at half past 7 o'clock. Admittance, 25 cents, Tickets to be had

at the Bar. Seats reserved exclusively for Ladies.

It must be remembered that a dollar represented more then

than it does now. Common labor received 37 1/2 cents and skilled

labor 50 cents for a twelve-hour day, and the physician's charge

for an office call was 25 cents and for an obstetrical case, $2.00.

Other examples of advertisements follow:

Herald, Dec. 7, 1826

N. E. Crittenden next door to the Franklin House has on

hand a quantity of gold leaf. Advertises Toothbrushes, July,

1829, Aug., 1830, Jan., 1832 (silver picks). July, 1834. Cleveland

Advertiser, Aug., 1831, Teething Rings.

Herald April 15, 1830.

Cambrian Toothache Pills which give immediate relief with-

out injuring the teeth. On trial this will be found one of the

best remedies for this painful complaint. Price 50 cents per box.

Herald, May 30, 1830.

British Antiseptic Dentifrice. For cleaning, whitening and

preserving the Teeth and guns. The present proprietor wishes

most particularly to recommend to the attention of the public

as perfectly exempt from all those acids which in general form

the basis of tooth powders in common use, and which, although

they may whiten the teeth for a short time, must inevitably de-

stroy the enamel by their deleterious action on this beautiful

covering of the teeth. The consequence is, that the enamel,

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384   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

which is the shield provided by nature to protect tile spongy and

nervous internal structure, is rapidly corroded by these acid in-

gredients, become more discolored than ever, and exposes the

inner portion of the tooth to caries and a rapid and certain

decay. By the use of the British Antiseptic Dentifrice in the

morning, as occasion may require, with a brush moderately

hard, and cold water, the accumulation of tartar will not only be

prevented, but the teeth rendered beautifully and permanently

white, and the gums restored to that freedom  from  soreness.

that hardness and efflorescence which are the sure tests of their

healthy state, and the best guarantee of that natural fragrance

of the breath which never can be expected in connection with

foul teeth and scorbutic, unhealthy gums. Price 50 cents per box

at Dr. J. Mills Drug and Medicine Store.

Herald, Dec. 7, 1821.

Handerson and Punderson, Druggists, advertise: a lot of

superior Tooth Brushes, and July 12, 1833, Teeth Extractors

with ivory and ebony handles, and Chlorine Tooth Wash: Weekly

Whig, March 31, 1835; One case superior Dentists' Instruments,

for sale cheap.

Advertiser, Aug. 29, 1833.

Dr. Thomas White's Vegetable Toothache Drops. The

only specific ever offered to the public from which permanent

and radical cure may be obtained from that disagreeable pain

the toothache with its attendant evils, such as fracturing the

jaw, thence to the head, producing a rheumatic affection, many

other unpleasant effects, such as a disagreeable breath, bad taste

in the mouth, etc., all of which are produced from foul or de-

cayed teeth. I am happy to have it in my power to offer to the

world a remedy, that will not only remove the pain nine times

out of ten, if properly applied, but preserve the teeth from

further decay, and arrest the disease in such as are decaying

and have not commenced aching, restoring them to health and

usefulness.

Advertiser, Jan. 22, 1835,

T. White's Toothache drops are recommended by Wm. I.

A. Birkley, Philadelphia, and in Oct. it is signed Jonathan Sage,

Dentist, 5 Chambers St., N. Y.

Advertized extensively in 1834-1837, 1839.

Herald and Gazette, July 6, 1836.

Dr. M. Hitchcock's Magnetic Odontica.-The       Utopian

dreams of the alchymist are realized and a remedy discovered

for preserving those important and beautiful appendages of the

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR              385

 

human system, by the use of Magnetic Odontica, which by its

attractive and purifying and strengthening qualities removes

all extraneous substances from the teeth and preserves them in

their natural brilliancy and the gums in soundness and beauty.

It is ascertained from experience that when used, the teeth will

never decay, but remain till the latest age of man with their

natural wear. When they are decayed, its progress will be

arrested and the teeth preserved and prevented from aching. The

use of it will save the great expense of filling, which when per-

formed by unskillful persons is very injurious to them. A gentle-

man not long since came to me whose teeth were fast going to

decay; they were loose, his gums were spongy and feverish, his

breath fetid, I advised him to use my Odontica, which he did,

and in one week his teeth were firm in their sockets, his gums

resumed their health, his breath was corrected. All this cost 50

cents, a brush and a little excertion. I repeat, I do not believe

the teeth will decay if this is used as directed. The preparation

is on different principles than any other in use. Since this was

written, another and another, have called on me and expressed

their gratification for the great benefit they have received from

the use of my Odontica. They say no money would induce them

to be without this invaluable article. Sold wholesale and retail

by A. Hitchcock & Co., 117 Genesee St., Utica and by Hander-

son & Punderson, sole agents, Cleveland.

Whig, Nov. 24, 1835,

Kresote for curing Tooth Ache.--This substance, of a recent

German discovery, comes highly recommended as an effectual

cure for the Tooth Ache. It destroys the sensibility of the nerve

without causing any pain. For sale by Stickland and Gaylord.

Herald and Gazette, Feb. 22, 1838.

Cambrian Tooth Pills.--The relief is immediate without

the least injury to the teeth. Price 50 cents a box. Same Aug.

22, for sale by Stickland and Gaylord, Handerson and Punderson.

Daily Herald, Aug. 15, 1839.

Orris Tooth Wash

Sound teeth and whole teeth are the most valuable portions

of poor humanity; but how many neglect the attention necessary

for their presentation, even when surrounded by all the means

needed.  Among these we know of none more pleasant and

effective than the Orris Tooth Wash, it cleans and whitens the

teeth, strengthens the gums, purifies the mouth and sweetens the

breath. We recommend its use to all, young and old.--Boston

Morning Post.

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386 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

The Orris Tooth Wash is the best detergent we ever used

on our enamel.--Boston Transcript.

Herald, Jan. 8, 1840.

I have used the Orris Tooth Wash and having been made

acquainted with the various articles of which it is composed,

feel great pleasure in recommending it as an agreeable, whole-

some and efficient wash for the mouth. Eleazer Parmley, No.

11 Park Place, N. Y., Jan. 1833-39.

Similar recommendations were signed by John Randall, M.D.,

Boston, Sept. 7, 1839; Walter Channing, M.D., Boston; Dr. G.

Parmley, Dentist, Augusta, Ga., 1839; T. W. Parsons, Boston.

Sept. 10, 1822, and sold by Stickland and Gaylord, Cleveland,

and at the Ohio City Drug Store.

Herald and Gazette, Dec. 4, 1839.

Toothache, Toothache, Toothache.

Wm. Brown, chemist, 481 Washington St., Boston, has

invented an article that will remove this tormenting pain also

takes away all unpleasant smell of the breath, and causes the

decayed part of the tooth to he as white as the outside and fits

them to be filled. Hundreds of gross have been sold in the last

three years and many a comfortable night's rest, which other-

wise would have been spent in misery.  It does not injure the

teeth like many articles now in use. It is considered by our

dentists the best article now in use prepared. For sale in Cleve-

land. Druggists supplied by Messrs. Henshaw, Ward & Co.,

Boston. Same "ad" in Daily Herald, Mar., Apr., May, June, 1840.

The Western Reserve was first inhabited in 1786 and Cleve-

land was founded in 1796. The first Cleveland newspaper was

published in 1819. The Trump of Fame, published in June 9.

1812, at Warren in Trumbull County, was the first newspaper

published in the Western Reserve. Original research into the

newspapers revealed but one article pertaining to dentistry of

special interest to present-day oral surgeons. There were no

dental advertisements or obituaries from which one could tap

information pertaining to oral hygiene in the Reserve. The lone

article which appeared in the Wednesday, September 7, 1814. issue

of the Trump of Fame read as follows:

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR          387

 

Wed., Sept. 17, 1814.

Cure for Cancer

From the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Mr. Potter.

I send you the following recipe because I believe it has

been the means, under Providence, of saving the life of a man

who was afflicted with a cancer.  I hope you will have the

goodness to give it a place in your paper. The person is Abraham

Oothout, jun. of Schenectady. In February, 1813, a pimple which

he had on his tongue for two years, became a running sore. He

was alarmed at it, and had it examined by the medical faculty

of Schenectady and Albany, who pronounced it cancer. From

this time till the last of July means were used to effect a cure

without success. By this time the sore was as large as a quarter

of a dollar, the tongue was so much swelled as to make his

speech unintelligible, and his whole personal appearance indicated

a deep decline which it was thought would terminate in death in

a month or two. At this time he was informed by Dr. Stern

of Albany that nothing more could be done with hope of success

but to cut out the affected part of the tongue. It was at this

time that I saw him; within a clay or two of this time he received

the following recipe, and by the first of October, by its use alone,

his tongue was cured, and he restored to perfect health in which

state he still remains. In the hope that it may be useful to

others, I send it to you.

I remain, sir, yours,

Cornelius C. Cuyler

Pastor of the Reformed

Dutch Church, Poughkeepsie.

 

Recipe

Take the narrow leaf dock root, boil it in soft water, wash

the ulcer with the strong decoction warm as it can be born,

fill the cavity with the liquor for two minutes; then scrape the

bulk of the root, bruise it fine, put it on every part of the ulcer,

dip a linen cloth in the decoction and repeat this 3 times in 24

hours and at each time let the patient take a wine glass of the

tea made of the root, with 1/3 of a glass of Port wine sweetened

with honey.

• 17
 

388     OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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"Artificial Teeth--Paul Revere," Boston Gazette and Country Journal,

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Cleveland Directories, 1837--.

"Early Doctors Recalled," Cleveland News, March 15, 1932.

Trump of Fame--published in 1812, Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio,

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Bremner, M. D. K., The Story of Dentistry, Brooklyn, N. Y., Dental

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Dittrick, Howard, Pioneer Medicine in the Western Reserve ... Illus-

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Fowler, Silas W., History of Medicine and Biographical Sketches of

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Mills, Edward C., "Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio, the Cradle of

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Mills, William Stowell, The Story of the Western Reserve of Con-

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Orth, Samuel P., A History of Cleveland, Ohio, I. Chicago-Cleveland,

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• 18
 

OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY--PRE-CIVIL WAR 389

 

Physicians', Dentists' and Druggists' Directory of Ohio. Cincinnati,

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Price, A. M., Dentistry--Cleveland, Ohio: Advertisements and Mis-

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Thorpe, Burton Lee, "Contribution of Pioneer Dentists to Science,

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Tyler, James J., "Dr. Luther Spelman, Early Physician of the Western

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Waite, Frederick C., The Parting of the Ways of Dentistry and

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Waite, Frederick C., An Episode in Massachusetts in 1818 Related to

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Waite, Frederick C., "The Equipment of a Country Doctor of Northern

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Waite, Frederick C., An Historical Sketch of the Willoughby Medical

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Waite, Frederick C., "Jared Potter Kirtland, Physician, Teacher, Hor-

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XXX, 1930.

Waite, Frederick C., "The Medical Education of Women in Cleveland

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Waite, Frederick C., Moses Thompson--Pioneer Physician. Reprinted

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Waite, Frederick C., "Ohio's Influence upon the Development of Ameri-

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Waite, Frederick C., "The Professional Education of Pioneer Ohio

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• 19