Page 262 - My FlipBook

230 HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY ;

adorned by elegant carving and even with jewels : and instrument-cases were
so made as to exhibit, in all their radiant splendoi-, the then costly imple-
ments of the profession to tlie wondering gaze of the dazzled patient.
"The scalers were originally of very much more importance than they now
are, and bore a much larger numerical proportion to the cutters. It must be
remembered that cutting was at first only little attempted—at least in com-
parison with modern practice—and, when done, a few chisels and spear-
shaped drills suiRced for the necessities of the operator and of the case.
Nothing so clearly indicates the radical change in modern from ancient dental
practice as this difference in the comparative value and number of these two
classes of implements."
The above was written in 18T6. Since then the increased and successful
treatment given to cases of pyorrhoea has resulted in fully restoring the scal-
ing instruments to their former relative importance and if a practitioner of
one hundred years ago could see the great variety of forms and the accuracy
of their adaptation to the purpose required of them in modem scaling instru-
ments, it would cause him as much astonishment as would the increased
number and efficiency of cutting instruments.
"TIio drill was originally and, for many years, (even in some cases to tlie
present) rotated simply in the fingers and without guards or any mechanism
for the protection ol the skin. * * * It was not until 1846 that even
a partial change in the method of drill handling was introduced. This con-
sisted in the finger ring and drill-socket devised by Dr. A. Westcott.
"The above date, however, does not express a time anterior to the intro-
duction of the drill-stocl'; although, prior to it, this instrument was in use
in a crude form, only in isolated instances.
"The first recorded instrument of this character is that of Dr. J. F. Flagg
of Boston, which was the simple 'bow-drill' of the watchmaker."
A considerable number and variety of contrivances for rotating drills
were brought out Ijefore the first dental engine made its appearance. It will
suffice to give the names of some of the inventors. Dr. Maynard devised one
Spencer's drill was introduced in 18-19, J. D. Chevalier's in 1850, as also that
of W. W. H. Thackston.
"In 1858 appeared the greatest improvement until that time in drilling
instruments—Merry's drill, the invention of Charles Merry, of St. Louis.
* * * The tool-holder and the driving handle were connected by a flexible
wound wire."