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76 HTSTOT^Y OF DENTAL SURGERY

operative attention in the care of their teeth by men especially devoted to
this particular calling, or indulged in prosthetic substitution, is not estab-
lislied by any record now known, hut tlie Pilgrim Fatliers of Plymouth
Colony appear to have treated tlicir bodily welfare in this respect with tlie
same considerate care and zeal as that actuating them in spiritual matters.
In 163(3 they brouglit into the colony from London some physicians, an apothe-
cary and three barber surgeons. No record of those barber surgeons seems
to be available, but owing to a singixlar catastrophe which overtook William
Dinely, one of these, his name has been preserved. He was sent for in 1639
by a man living at Roxl)ury to come and relieve him from toothache, which
was causing him intense suflfering. The man sent his maid to show the way.
Dinely and the girl were overtaken by a severe storm and lost their wa)'.
Several days after their bodies were found frozen to death.

JAMES MILLS—ROBERT WOOFFENDALE.
Just who was the first dentist practicing his profession as a specialty in
the American colonies is not nuide entirely clear from annals available. It
has been generally conceded heretofore that Robert WoofEendale, who came
from England in 1766, was the first dentist to practice in New York, but in
a paper publislied in the "Cosmos," in October, 1906, written by Dr. Kirk,
undoubted evidence is submitted that James Mills antedated Wooffendale's
arrival by thirty-one years. The "New York Weekly Journal," of January
6, 1735, contains this card:
Teeth drawn and old broken Stumps taken out very safely and with nuiidi eare
by .Tames Mills, who was instructed in that art by the late James Reading, deceased,
so fam 'd for drawing teeth. He is to be spoke with at his shop in the house of the
deceased near the Old Slip Market.
There is also in evidence an advertisement published in 1766 by one,
James Daniel, a wig maker and hair dresser, and "also operator upon the
teeth, the business so absolutely necessary in this City."
Robert Wooffendale, surgeon dentist, "lately arrived from London," an-
nounces through the public ])ress in 1766:
Having received instructions from the present operator for the King's teeth,
performs all operations upon the teeth, gums, sockets, and palate; also fixes artificial
teeth so as to escape discerning.
The cards of Mills and Wooffendale, it will be noticed, differ materially
in the services offered the public. Mills only claims proficiency in extraction