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236 HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY

Dr. William H. Atkinson, of New York. In fact Dr. Atkinson
revived the use of an old and discarded instrument.^
"Koecker," writing in 1836, thus expresses his disapprobation
of a certain class of operators ; 'But what is more surprising and
repugnant, after the tooth is thus prepared for the reception of
the stopping, some operators actually employ a hammer and
punch to drive the metal into the cavity of the tooth. I have
seen the most alarming consequences proceed from this barbar-
ous practice, particularly in the cases of several ladies who con-

17^

6. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 13.
Varney 's Pliiggers.
suited nre in Philadelphia.^ Many of their teeth, especially the
incisors, or front teeth and cuspidati, had been plugged in this
manner. Some of them had already lost their vitality, and were
discolored when I saw tliem, and others were so tender, from the
violence that had been used, that the least pressure upon them
"
caused exquisite pain.'
It is evident from the above, that if Dr. .\tkinson cannot
be accorded the primary employment of the mallet, yet he de-
serves credit for teaching its use in a less "barbarous" manner.
Fitch also (IS'JO),* following Koecker, mentions a case of
splitting an incisor tooth by the use of the mallet ; and concludes
by observing that he is "persuaded that no judicious surgeon-den-
' History of Dental and Oral Science in America.
- Principles of Dental Snrgery. London, 1826, p. 399.
' As Koecker left Philailelpliia in 1822 the use of the mallet in this country is there-
fore considerably anterior to that date.
* A System of Dental Surgery, New York, 1829, p. 410.