"THE GOLDEN CHARIOT."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9090, 26 June 1888, Page 3

"THE GOLDEN CHARIOT."

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l shall feel obliged if you will permit me to make a few remarks on this Golden, or more accurately, Brazen Chariot. In the letter written by Dr. Ronnie, and shown by him to your reporter, ho says of Madame Duilot: " Her painless extraction of teeth without fee or reward was a great relief to hundreds as it was the wonder and envy of the dentists." People seem to think Madame Duflot is the first to introduce the free extraction for the poor, when it. was only the other day that another local practitioner and myself offered our gratuitous services to the Charitable Aid Board without any prospect whatever of pecuniary reward, without any likelihood of selling wholesale three and sixpenny bottles of an unknown compound, after each attendance at the Hospital. Another point I take exception to is the " painless extraction," which is " the wonder and envy of the dentists." The poor dentists are indeed to be pitied if such things excite their wonder and envy. The painlessness I deny—at least that it is always the case as the Canadians pretend. That there may not be some cases in which Madame Duflot causes no pain (worthy the name) I do not deny, for extraction (without anaesthetic) declared by the patient to be painless as no new thing, I myself have frequently, during the course of my daily practice, cases in which the patient has affirmed that no pain had been felt. But the shameless assertion that painlessness is universal when Madame D. operates is disproved by the close observation of more than one observer. For in spite of the deafening music, and the ignominy of showing weakness before a lurgc assembly, some children will cry, and some adults cannot suppress all symptoms of suffering. There are some teeth which can satisfactorily be extracted with great rapidity, but undoubtedly there are others which would only be extracted with great rapidity at great risk of serious injury. As a rule when teeth are snatched from their surroundings, instead of drawn more deliberately, the after troubles are in proportion to the speed, and are often of a .serious nature. Another point is the risk attendant on the use of uncleansed instruments. The most distressing diseases have been inoculated by a eliglit scratch from instruments with an almost imper. ceptible amount of septic matter on them. Operating with a principal regard to appearances is a thing no conscientious dentist can do. If such be the object in view a great number of circumstances may be taken advantage of, which would directly tend to apparent wonderful ability, but which would not be to. .the real benefit of the patient. A dentist who wilfully extracts a tooth without careful examination as to whether it should be sacrificed or not, is little if any better than a criminal, and if there is anything immoral and vicious under the sun it is " flash extraction of the teeth." One of your correspondents, " H.," asks in this morning's Herald, " Why not (the dentists) take to golden chariots, or dust carts even, and all the attendant surroundings, if such things will lessen pain ?" This method mights or might not answer the purpose as regards some patients, but would be a very efficacious mode of driving away others, for how many ladies of refinement would submit to be operated upon before a gaping mob of the great unwashed.—l am, &c, J. G. Cox.

TO THE KDITOR. Sir, —Will you allow me a few words in answer to the uncalled for remarks which .appeared in the Hi:rald of Saturday. In the first place, I don't think the writer is truthful in paying , that he has heard " a great howl" from the dentists of Auckland, not even from "the regular dustmen of the dental craft," as he facetiously terms them. Now, sir, I will admit that the exigencies of journalism (particularly in Auckland) demand that the truth shall be very frequently sacrificed to maintain a reputation for clever writing, but I can assure "Mercutio" that the " wrath and contempt" which he in a wholesale manner imputed to the dentists of Auckland, exists only in his too vivid imagination, or is only called up by the perusal of the " slashing article" referred to. " Mercutio" is extremely witty, and he freely uses such epithets as "molar-mauler," &c. Now, sir, my acquaintance with the " polite Billingsgate" of journalism is not so deep as "Mercu'oio's," but did I condescend to slang, I would venture to remind " Mercutio" that I have heard of the terms " inkslinger" and "penny-a-liner' being applied to members of his profession. Even to back up "Mercutio's" reputation for veracity, I cannot admit the " dark staircase," etc., but I do acknowledge that I cannot (without an anesthetic) extract a tooth without causing pain, so for that reason I admire the superor skill shown by Madame Duflot, and the fact that she departs from the usual ethics of the profession does not call up in my mind those feelings of "wrath and contempt" bo freely imputed to us. In conclusion, if the Canadian doctors extract half the teeth they are popularly supposed to do, or if half the cures they effect are permanent, they deserve the thanks of the whole community, and the people of Auckland will have cause to remember with gratitude their visit to this town.—lam, etc., A. L. Smith. Hobson-street.