Page 18 - My FlipBook

6 world's history and

acids. Porter is a good thing to color them, and will not hurt but preserve
them; but they must not be in the least pricked. You will find I have altered
the upper teeth you sent me from Philadelphia. Leaving the enamel on the
teeth don't preserve them any longer than if it was off, it only holds the color
better; but to preserve them they must be very often changed and cleaned;
for whatever attacks them must be repelled as often, or it will gain ground
and destroy the works. The two sets I repaired are done on a different plan
than when they are done when made entirely new; for the teeth are screwed
on the barrs instead of having the barrs cast red hot on them, which is the
reason, I believe, they destroy or dissolve so soon near the barrs.
"Sir, after hoping you will not be obliged to be troubled very soon in the
same way, I subscribe myself,
"Your very humble servant,
"John Greenwood.
"Sir, the additional charge is fifteen dollars.
"P. S.— I expect next spring to move my family into Connecticut state.
If I do I will write and let you know, and whether I give up my present busi-
ness or not I will, as long as I live, do anything in this way for you if you
require it."
The following is Washington's reply:*
"Mount Vernon, January 6, 1799.
"Sir: Your letter of the 28th ult, with the parcel that accompanied it
came safe to hand, and I feel obliged for your attention to my requests, and
for the directions you have given me.
"Enclosed you have bank-notes for fifteen dollars, which I shall be glad to
hear has got safe to your hands. If you should remove to Connecticut, I
should be glad to be advised of it; and to what place, as I shall always prefer
your services to that of any other, in the line of your present profession. I am,
sir,
"Your very humble servant,
"Geo. Washington."
"Thus Dr. Greenwood is best known to the profession of to-
day through the fact of his having been the dentist of the first
President of the United States. As near as can be learned Dr.
John Greenwood died in New York City in 1816."
"Horace H. Haydenf was born October 13, 1768, in Windsor,
Conn. At the age of fourteen he went to sea as a cabin-boy. In
1784 he abandoned sailing, and being thrown on his own resources
by the poverty of his parents, he became apprenticed to an archi-
tect, which business he followed until his twenty-fourth year
when, being in New York, and having occasion for the profes-
sional service of a dentist, he visited the office of Dr. Greenwood.
While under treatment he determined to study dentistry. He
settled in Baltimore, in 1804, with little practical knowledge of
* "Magazine of American History," Vol. XVII., p. 438.
t "The Rise, Fall and Revival of Dental Prosthesis," by B. J. Cigrand.