Salem, Oregon, Thursday, December 13, 1956
THE CAPITAL JOURNAL
Section 2 Page 1
EARLY DENTISTRY HERE RECALLED
Whiskey Played Important Part in
Pulling Teeth During Early Days
By BEN MAXWELL
Capital Journal Writer
Whisky, they say, followed the
flag. Then came Oregon's early
doctors and dentists. Whisky fol
lowed them, too. One hundred
yiars ago, under pioneer condi
tions, there was no other procur
able narcotic and the bewhiskercd
pioneer about to have his teeth
jerked needed a dram or two to
sustain his resolution and fortify
his courage.
Some of Salem's early dentists
proudly displayed the white pledge
of temperance. It is not likely that
they offered a frantic patient a
wig from the bottle before the
cruel turnkey tightened upon the
offending molar. Instead they
dexterously twisted the bloody key
that heaved the offending tooth and
let the patient howl.
Toothaches Widespread
L. E. Wilkes in "By an Oregon
Pioneer Fireside" mentions that
nearly every person in pioneer
times was afflicted "with tooth
ache. The only-real cure was "out with
the aclier." Usually this was an
operation for some willing amateur
who lived nearby, sometimes for
the blacksmith and alwnys done
without anesthetics or considera
tion for surgery.
Wilkes' pioneer father was one of
those handy and willing dentists I
who was o'tcn called from his beri
lr.ie at nisht to go to a "pullin.'
Louis Barzeee was born at Jef
ferson Jan. 5; 1864. Years Inter he
wrote a book about his youthful ex
periences called "Oregon In The
Making." Here he relates of his
epcrience with an aching tooth
and the rustic who extracted it 80
years ago. White bearded Uncle
Ed Simmons pulled teeth without
charge in Barzee's neighborhood.
Ynung Barz?e with a swollen jaw
ai::l an aching tooth found this
patriarch, asshled by his son, cut
lir? srato with a scythe.
"Fe:ch my turnkeys" he told
the boy and ordered Barzee to lie
down on the ground with his face
up and mouth wide open. When
the turnkeys came Uncle Ed an
chored Barzee with his weight,
slashed the gums with his pocket
knife and applied the turnkey; Aft
er agonizing tv.-irts and jerks the
outrage! ja.vbm'e snrrenf creel the
tmlli. l.'.clc Ed iVn rs'-arc
Brnv.ee frtm his fir1, v.i-e ?'
the hb'wiy lurnl;?y v i h a r'cl b"
dana handkerchief and the den
tistry was over. . -First
Salem Dentist .
Salem's first known dentist was
If. H. Dunning who advertised in a
local newspaper, Nov. 29, 1853,
that he was a surgeon dentist and
In town only for a short time to
Kerform any dental operation that
e might be called upon to do.
Itinerant dentists travelling
through the Willamette valley in
the 1850s led a hard life. Popula
tion was scanty and they made
their way over uncertain roads in
winter that were sloughs of mud.
They carried their few instruments
In saddle bags and improvised
their own laboratories on a kitchen
table. When gold or silver foil
was needed they sometimes placed
a coin upon a blacksmith's anvil
and pounded out their own with
a planishing hammer. But in those
times extractions comprised most
of their practice.
However badly needed, most
pioneers could not afford dental
plates then made, of gold and sil
ver. Photographs made 100 years
ago of older men and women show
the shrunken mouths of those long
accustomed to "gumming it."
Dr. L. S. Skiff, Salem's distin
guished oldtime dentist;' estab
lished himself here during July
1858. At .first he was an itinerant
but later set himself up in an of
fice on State street. His formal ed
ucation was limited, his dental
training was that of an apprentice
In his native state of New York. ,
Sarah Hunt Steeves in her "Book
of Remembrance" relates how Dr.
Skiff got himself a wife. On one
of his itinerates he met Mary. Old
Mr. Gardner's attractive daughter.
Abner Gardner a pioneer of 1853
hsd settled in Fox Valley near
Mehama. When Dr. Skiff ap
proached Abner about marrying
Mary the pioneer was skeptical.
"What would Dr. Skiff do for a
living after he got all the teeth
of folks hereabouts pulled and
filled?" Dr. Skiff somehow over
came Abner's conception of a stat
ic world and married Mary on May
1, 1859.
Skiff Office Remembered
Oldtimers well remember when
the Skifl office for both father and
son, Mark, was located on Liberty
street at the site of today's Mont
gomery Ward store. There they
saw the Skiff collection of extrac
ted teeth before the moment came
for them, too, to writhe in his
dental chair.
Oldtimers also recall that Dr.
Skiff was also a most skillful den
i nnh.,nip A hinrrranher in 18,12
asserted that "he takes a high K
rank as a skillful and successful
operator, having produced some of
the finest and most artistic work
ever made on this side of the
Rockies." In 1874 he adapted a
water motor to his dental engine
that burred teeth preparatory to.
filling. And Dr. Skiff was consci
entious about his work the filling!
would endure long after the pain
was forgotten.
That is what Dr. Skiff hoped.
When this writer was taken to Dr.
J C. Griffinth 50 odd years ago to
have hw baby teeth fixed the den
tin had an engins oprated by a
foot pedal. He told his yoima pa
tient bear jwrrw. Tty i t
pjrQruiarly aterestirig storias aad
long aw forgott hot n patient
fens art wet hraore Ua dental
rmina W Umoenbag "T
Damui trtvwUMd
Urs. H. Suiiui and Ciorie H.
Coca er tvlvtmat 1"
at tanfital on oertreanfi do
lijti tir nre to tar rti
baA tod m t& m m
Impoved styles. Including vulcan- dentists, offering plates from $5
ite Coralite and amber base as!to m a set in goId piate, ejiver
32, JS, J5SL"S5 r" .CST PWta. antine. vulcanite and.
natural teeth being utterly dis
carded in their practice." Smith
and Chance gave particular atten
tion to diseases of the gums and
jaws: also to the regulation of chil
dren's teeth.
Rugged pioneer conditions were
somewhat ameliorated following
the Civil War. Folks in the Wil
lamette Valley were giving more
thought and consideration to the
care and preservation of their
teeth. Those needful of false teeth
(the expression "dentures" be
came common about the time the
undertaker became a mortician)
were offered falsies in a number
of less expensive materials includ-
hard red
rubber. :"
. Anesthetics Come .
Agony associated with extrac
tion was also ameliorated in the
1870s. Dr. Chance advertised that
the danger of chloroform was
avoided in his painless extractions
by use of nitrous oxide (laughing
gas) or Richardson's ether spray.
But Dr. O. D. McCauley, an M. D.
and a dentist, did not fear any
danger from chloroform or ether
"in judicious hands." In 1872 Dr.
McCauley was located the first
door east of Salem's "Cheap John
Store."
' Come 1872 and Dr. Skiff had also
fallen in line with painless dentist
ry. His advertisement through sue-
ins the Ions DODular.
rubber. Salem Daily Press for cessive issues of the Salem Weekly
May 2, 1870 carried the advertise-1 Mercury had a strange relation
ment of Smith and Meredith, local ship to Perry Davis and Son's Pain
Killer, a "positive relief for tooth
ache." These advertisements al
ways appeared, one above the
other, in the .same column. After
74 years one wonders: Did Dr.
Skiff's dentistry suggest the neces
sity for a pain killer?
Dr. T. C. Smith. Salem's painless
dentist in 1886; offered to pain con
scious patients nitrous oxide, vi
talized air, chloroform, ether, or
the freezer (cocaine) for painless
extraction, in 1888 he added elec
tricity as the very latest painless
method of extraction.
A little later Dr. C. A. Bonham
over Squire Farrar's grocery store
advertised that gold fillings were
a specialty with him and that "my
local pain obtunder (a narcotic)
has no equal" when applied to the
gums but five minutes renders
extraction painless."
Trained as Apprentices
Salem's early dentists were most
ly practionecrs trained under an
apprentice system by master den
tists. Dr. Skiff had dozens of ap
prentices in his Salem office over
an interval of 30 years.
However, late in the 1880s, the
apprentice dentist was losing
ground to the fellow trained in
a school of dentistry. Such was
Dr. James Madison - Kecnc, born
on French Prairie in 1864 and
a graduate with honors from Phil
adelphia Dental College in 1868.
Dr. Keene was quite a blade. On
July 4, 1887 he and others as
cended Mt. Hood with 100 pounds
of powder that was touched off
that night on the peak to illum
inate the crag with red fire ob
served in Portland, Salem and
elsewhere. Even so late as 1902
Dr. Everett, M. Hurd. a Salem
dentist, saw fit to proclaim on
the cover of the city directory for
that year the fact that he was
a graduate of the Missouri Den
tal College.
Advertising. Opposed
From 1910 onward advertising
dentists became a thorn in the
flesh of dentists concerned with
high standards and ethics for the
profession. They may not have
seriously frowned upon a Capital
Journal advertisement by those
well known partners, Drs. Epley
and Olinger, in 1900, when they
took front page space to announce
new aluminum and rubber plates
and gold crowns for S5 upwards.
But they did not condone Dr. R.
E. Wright's flamboyant spread in
1904 when that advertising prac
tioneer proclaimed acquisition of
8000 teeth, the largest shipment
ever received by a dentist on the
Coast; for 30c on the dollar. Nor
did they approve of his plates for
$5, fillings for 50c, free extrac
tions or extractions without pain.
Cleavage Wldenes
As the years advanced the cleav
age between the dentist, who ad
vertised, and the doctor, who did
not, widened. When a gaudy itin
erant with flares and a chair
mounted on a wagon bed appeared
on Saturday night at the corner
of State and Liberty streets and
ballyhooed extractions for "four
bits" he was anathema among Sa
lem's established dentists. Adver
tising dentists implied that the
practitioner with a conservative
sign on his door was a member
of the dental trust concerned only
with the elite in his lucrative prac
tice. Non-advertising dentists sug
gested that his advertising com
petitor was unethical and some
times incompetent.
Residents of Salem for the past
30 years will recall Dr. H. C. Ep
ley. a local practitioneer for 40
years; who composed songs and
was active in choir and chorus.
His partner for many years was
Dr. H. H, dinger; legislator,
member of Salem school board
and the capitol planning commis
sion. Olinger field was named in
his honor.
In 1853 Salem -had but one den
tist, Dr. U. H. Dunning, an inlin
erant. Now, 102 years later, the
phone book mentions 72 dentists
and dental practitioners. Dean of
these, most probably, is Dr. W. W.
Darby who started practice here
in September, 1904 and has been
continuously a dentist on State
street for 52 years. He continues
active in his dental practice.
AVIATION STIMULANT
WASHINGTON (UP) The Ar
my, whose aviation program was
curbed recently by the Defense
Department, will hold in all-Army
model airplane meet next August.
The Army said one purpose of the
meet is to stimulate interest in
Army aviation.
DENNIS THE MENACE
- By Ketcham
. . . AH0 WHEN THEy START CALLW 'A GREAT BIS
MAN', WATCH CUT J SCMfMV ' IS GONNA HUCTj
limfiTimrPfnfnWI
if
BROWN'S JEWELRY
184 N. Liberty .
DOLLAR BARGAINS FRI. & SAT. ONLY
$2.00 Indian Brait Belli
$2.00 Earrings, new arrivals, 2 for. , .
$3.95 Jewelry Sets, gift boxed
$5.00 Berry Spoons, sterling handles.
$5.00 Billfolds, leather
15.00 Cuff Links Tie Pin Set!...'..
$
1
2.S0
The Family Store
Regular 59c Boxed
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Choose from 5 different assort
mants of beautiful cards, Includ-
- ...
Ing religious.
AT
ANITA SHOP
Corner State & Liberty Sts,
CLEARANCE SALE
FALL DRESSES
Smart Style . . . Beautiful Fabric
$5 -7 -$9
. . Former Values to $15.99
F. W. WOOLWORTH CO.
Liberty and State St.
TOY CADILLAC CAR
Battery Operated Goes For
ward and reverse, Sturdy me'
to I construction. Colors Blue
or Red. ' ' - i
1S5 N.
Liberty
Ph.
3-3191
MONTGOMERY WARD
Christmas Gift Suggestion
88
Words Airline
PHONOGRAPH
o 3 Speeds
Protected Arm that
Saves Needles & Records
Limited 'Quantity
Rea.
.19.95
AT WEISFIELD'S
Reg. 6.95
Lazy
Susan
3.99
S Ceramic Dishes
on Revolving Base
305 N. Liberty
No Money Down
PEiMVEY'S
Fabulous Value!
Men's Cofton
SALEM, OREGON
DURENE KNIT UNDERWEAR
Briefs or
Undershirts . . .
All Sizes...
MAIN FLOOR
for
SJ50
ILEKrS
234 N.
Liberty
SEAMLESS HOSE
The finest . . . made by a well known manufacturer.
Perfects. 400 needle. Colors Copper, Tan and Cor
sage. ForFabulou$'$fl09
Friday Only
The Family Store
100 WOOL
260 N. Liberty
BLANKETS
Regular 9,98. The perfect gift
that everyone can use. 100
wool guaranteed 5 years against
moth damage.
moo
(2)
BROWN'S JEWELRY
184 N. Liberty
Imported China
Cups & Saucers
Fri. & Sot. Only
Values to $100
2.50
THE PIKE
Ice Creom and Sherbet
138 S. Liberty At the Bus Stop Ph. 3-6828
Tu-Fer" Ice Cream Sale
Featuring
'ST ICE CREAM
One Round Half Gallon $ Q
95e in Reusable Carton A for ltW7
W GREF.N STAMPS Open Daily and Sunday 'til 11 P.M.
260 N. Liberty
u'.'ium:m:.
e Family Store
REG. 59c A YARD
Poinsella Organdy
7
Ideal for aprons,
table cloths and many
other decorator ideas.
c
yard
ylioimi not. stoiV
WW
Reg. 3.98 yd.
Heavy Satin
BROCADE
$199
yd.
39" wide. Oriental patterns
in assorted colors.
Fabrics, 2nd Floor
NAPKINS
Reg. Pf
15c
Pkg.
(Limit Two)
NEWBERRYS ,
Reduced! Boys Suits
2 pc. suits with flannel trousers, corduroy and
part wool jackets.
Regular 5.93 $77
Sizes 2-8 i3
Subject to Prior Sale
BOYS WEAR B A S li M K N T
MARILYN'S
148 N. Liberty
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Claislc Flrece-I.inrd
MEN'S SLIPPERS
To mikt him
comfortiblt,
It PR. 5.95
Many Olltir
StyUt at Thau
Saving
At BROWN'S 184 N. Liberty
SAVE Vi OR MORE ON QUALITY
BINOCULARS .
Open (Urn Reg. U.C0 9.M
7UJ kd. 3?. 15.88
0J0 fco. M OO 29.88
7i3l Ireo. MOO 39.48
7i0 Rep. W.I0 49-88
SivA mrtrfl lens. Individual form,
l.eMfr no twlortwl. (iWrasOTSt 1
tt.-, Ko wiry down 50 trkly.
r
The Family Store
200 N. Liberty
FIRST QUALITY
CSIS NYLONS
tururf sheer, Hi Twill, 60 giugt, IS denier
famoji lor besurf end wear.
Yeater TV & Appliance Co.
"Just Across from Lipman't" 315 Chemekela St. Ph. t-6835
Salem's Best Buy! 1157 Model . . . 21-Inch
Packard Bell Console TV
Only
Solid wood cabinet Cenctalad control tor horii. and
Aluminiiad piclwra tuba vart. control.
Powar tun -tor mar for longar trf Channal indicator
Tntad fjlatt R'diot itart at $13 3 . . .
Too control tuning Hi-Fi Coniola $199. f$
BROWN'S JEWELRY
184 N. Liberty
DOLLAR BARGAINS FRI. & SAT. ONLY
Wotch Bands, Ladies', Men's
$1.95 Ash Troys, sterling silver, 2 for
$1.95 Salt and Peppers, silver plated.
$2.00 Value Rogers 3-Pc. Baby Set. .
$2.00 Candy Dish, 22K gold trimmed
$2.00 Cake Plate, 22K gold trimmed.
$2.00 Cigarette Sets, 22K gold trimmed
6 pes
$
11
O
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