HEATHEN CHINEE DENTISTRY.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1140, 9 January 1874, Page 3

HEATHEN CHINEE DENTISTRY.

The Chinese method of extracting teeth is very remarkable, and, as many •of our readers aTe probably not acquainted with the modus operandi, we will briefly describe it: — In the first place, it must be understood that every Chinamen imagines that the real cause of toothache is a ; black maggot in the tooth, aud that Tvhen that obnoxious bete noir is Teuioved all pain connected with toothache ceases. The Chinese dentist is equal to tl>e occasion ; he is a very «c'ever man, and being perfectly well aware that he cannot extract a maggot where one does not exist, he has made ■& very skilfully constructed pair of forceps ready, and one arm of the forceps is a i«ieee of bamboo painted iblack to resemble the other arm. In the hollow of the bamboo a lot of black unaggots are placed, and after the dentist has wriggled the forceps j>bout for some time in the mouth of the agonised 'Celestial, he squeezes the bamboo, and •down drops the maggot into the patient's tooth. Tins little insect is quickly produced, and his customer goes away immensely relieved in—pocket.—Exchange.