Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1892 — Painless Dontistry. [ARTICLE]

Painless Dontistry.

Many years ago, writes a Western correspondent of tho Youth’s Companion, a group of cowlwys rode into the frontier town of Prairievlllo, and while cantering down the principal street came to a sign—-“ Painless Dentist.” They emptied the contents of their revolvers Into it, and then one of tho Company dismounted and announced Ids intention to go in and get a sore tooth attended to. “And I don’t pay no fancy price for it„ neither," he muttered as ho walked noisily into the office. . The dentist was a quiet-looking young man of 25. “See here!” shouted the cowbpy, as ho advanced toward the chair, “I want a tpqth fixed, and I don’t want any high-toned prices charged, either.” Ho threw himself Into the chair, hitched his bolt around In front of him, laid his revolver across his lap, and told the dentist that ts ho hurt him ho would shoot tho top of his head off. “Very well,” replied the dentist, with a slight laugh; “then you must take tho gas, for this Is a bad tooth and will give trouble.” The cowboy swore, but finally yielded, and with a parting threat submitted to the respiration, and presently was Insensible. With great skill tho man of the forceps pulled the tooth, and then, before his customer regained consciousness, he securely tied him hand and foot to tho. chair, which was firmly screwed to the floor. Then tiiking tho bully’b revolver out of his bolt, the dentist took up his position whore tho patient could see him when ho came to. As tho cowboy struggled back to consciousness the flrst thing of which ho was sensible was the dentist pointing tho revolver at him, and saying in quiet tones: | “Now, then, don’t move. Just open !your mouth as wide as possible, and I will shoot tho bad tooth off. This is the painless process. No danger, sir, unless you happen to swallow the bullet, ykre you ready? Then here goes! One, two, three.” Bang! want the revolver, knocking a hole In. the floor under the chair, and the dentist rushed forward holding out the tooth in his hand to show tho now terrified bully, who roared for mercy and begged to be released, thinking that he had fallen Into the hands of a madman. The dentist finally cut his bonds on condition that his customer should restore the riddled sign outside the office. And after paying #5 for the extracted tooth, which the dentist grimly declared to be the regular price for painless operations, the crestfallen cowboy departed, convinced that appearances are sometimes deceitful, and that even a tenderfoot may have nerve.