Page 48 - My FlipBook

32 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH —
facture, he (Dr. N. W. Williams) goes on to say :
" The process being somewhat difficult and compli-
cated, and attended with some danger to health, the
inventors were never able to make it in sufficient
quantities for sale, and the profession were deprived
of a very valuable aid in operative dentistry, Be-
coming associated with Professor Watt in 1865, we
continued to make it for our own use during the
seven years of our association, and I have never
before or since filled teeth with greater satisfaction
to myself and patients. The crystal gold known
under the name of A. J. Watts' crystal or sponge
gold was brought out about the same time as that
of Watt and Taft. At first it was not a success,
as complaints were made that it discoloured in the
mouth and did not give a perfect filling at the
margins. This may have been due in part to bad
manipulation, for, being very spongy, one was
inclined to use it in too large pieces, and then
it would harden under the instrument before it was
condensed throughout the mass. The makers of this
gold have steadily improved it, until now it is a
very valuable gold for saving teeth." It is stated
("Items of Interest," 1901) that Dr. N. W.
Williams showed the late Dr. de Trey how the
original Watt and Taft's gold was made, " the out-
come of which is the Solila gold of to-day."