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REVIEW OF DENTISTRY. 5

Soon after, having engaged in this business, Dr. Gamage, of
New York, requested young Greenwood to extract a tooth for
one of his patients, which he did very successfully. This was the
commencement of his practice as a dentist. He, however, con-

tinued at the manufacture of instruments, and added ivory turn-
ing to the trade; he practiced dentistry as opportunities afforded,
the demand for his services, however, in this last departure soon
increased to such an extent that he was compelled to abandon
his other occupations. His practice grew rapidly and he became
obliged to procure assistance; Dr. William Pitt and his brother
Clark acted in the capacity of professional assistants. It has
been said that Dr. John Greenwood was the first dentist in the
United States to strike up gold plates to serve as a basis for arti-
ficial dentures, without a knowledge of it having been done across
the sea. During his professional career, while in New York, he
immortalized himself, and his profession as well, by carving from
the tusk of the hippopotamus a full set of artificial teeth for the
great American "who was first in war, first in peace, and first in
the heart of his countrymen."
The following letter of Dr. John Greenwood to Gen. George
Washington as an historical treasure is fully worthy of space. It
reads:*

"New York, December 28, 1798.
"Sir : I send you inclosed two sets of teeth, one fixed on the old bases in
part, and the set you sent me from Philadelphia, which, when I received it,
was very black, occasioned either by your soaking them in port wine, or by
your drinking it. Port wine, being sour, takes off all polish, and all acid has a
tendency to soften every kind of teeth and bone. Acid is used in coloring
every kind of ivory, therefore it is very pernicious to the teeth. I advise you
to either take them out after dinner and put them in clean water, and put in
another set, or clean them with a brush and some chalk scraped fine. It will
absorb the acids which collect from the mouth and preserve them longer. I
have found another and better way of using the sealing-wax when holes are
eaten in the teeth by. acids, etc. First observe and dry the teeth, then take a
piece of wax and cut it into small pieces as you think will fill up the hole; then
take a large nail or any other piece of iron and heat it hot into the fire, then
put your piece of wax into the hole, and melt it, by means of introducing the
point of the nail to it. I have tried it and found it to consolidate, and do bet-
ter than the other way; and if done properly, it will resist the saliva. It will
be handier for you to take hold of the nail with small pliers than with tongs;
thus the wax must be very small, not bigger than this (*). If your teeth grow
black take some chalk and a pine or cedar stick; it will rub off. If you want
your teeth more yellow, soak them in broth or pot liquor, but not in tea or
* "Magazine of American Hiitorj," Vol. XVI, p. 294.