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1(38 HISTORY OF DEXTAL SURGERY

II. p. 68. It is possible that it was employeil previous to the last mentioned
date, though certainly not to any great extent, for Harris notes the fact that
it was not until the year 1800 that its use 'became common among dentists.'
* * * Among those of the better class of dentists who, residing in the
large cities, had extra facilities for procuring gold it was early employed, but
the greater number of practitioners did not use it ordinarily till long after
the date mentioned by him.
"Dr. Eleazer Pannly ^ states that tlie first gold filling he ever saw was in
1815, and this was put in by Waite of London; and its iutrodiu tion into
America as a filling is ascribed by Parnily to Robert ^^'ootIendale, who re-
turned to New York from England in 179a. -
"Gold was first used in leaf as prepared by the gold beaters ; Init this,
being very thin, was soon supplanted by rolled gold. For a long time there
was no manufacture of gold expressly for dental purposes. A dentist in
need of gold for filling procured gold coins, (preferably the Brazilian Johannes
[Portugese], the purest of any gold money then made) and had them rolled
by the gold beater into such thickness as suited his purpose." From ten to
twenty grains was the ordinary thickness used. This gold, of course, was as
non-adhesive as tin.
"About the year 181"?-13, Marcus Bull began the gold-beating business in
Hartford, Conn. Here Charles Abbey became his apprentice. While here,
dentists would, to use the language of Mr. Abbey, 'borrow his rolls' to roll
out their 'old Joes' (Johannes). Mr. Bull, arriving at somewhat of a
knowledge of dental wants, gradually brought these customers to use his
))artially beaten gold leaf, taking their Johannes in exchange. In 1816, Mr.
Bull mov€>d his establishment to Philadelphia, where, in 1835, Abbey became
liis partner, and, upon the retirement of Bull, in 1839, took the business him-
self. The house relinciuishel the gold-leaf defiartmcnt in 1835, making dental
foil its sole sjiecialty. This was the first house in the country to be specially
engaged in the manufacture of dental gold-foil and has, therefore, been thus
mentioned.
''The first method emploved in filling with gold was by pellets as has been
described in treating of lead. Sometimes the pellet, aftrr itx introduction, was
pierced centrally with a sharp instrument, and a cone shaped roll of gold

• Am. .Tournal of Dental Science, 1st Series, Vol. Ill, p. 2.
= Introductory lectiue, by J. Brockvvay, Sr., before tlie Tliinl District Dental Society,
Albany, N. Y., 1869, painphlet.
= Am. Journal of Dental Science, 1st Series, Vol. Ill, p. 2.