"No man could better gild a pill,
Or make a bill,
Or mix a draught, or bleed, or blister,
Or draw a tooth out of your head,
Or chatter scandal by your bed,
Or tell a twister."
Amongst the vagaries of Dr. Monsey, says Mr. Jeaffreson, was the way in
which he proceeded to extract his decaying teeth. Around the tooth
sentenced to be uprooted he fastened securely a strong piece of cord, or
violin string, to the other end of which he attached a bullet. He then
proceeded to load a pistol with powder and the bullet. By merely pulling
the trigger of the pistol, the operation was speedily and effectually
performed.
It was seldom, however, that the doctor could induce his patients to adopt
this original mode of extracting undesirable achers.
One gentleman, who had agreed to try this novel process upon a tooth, got
so far as to allow the whole apparatus to be adjusted, when, at the very
last instant, he exclaimed,--
"Stop, stop! I have changed my mind--"
"I haven't, though; and you're a fool and a coward, and here's go," which
saying, the doctor pulled the trigger.
"Bang!" went the pistol, and out flew the tooth, to the delight and
astonishment of the patient.
Taking this anecdote alone, it is scarcely credible; but considered in
connection with what we have already selected from the life of Dr. Monsey,
and what we may write of his eccentricities in our chapter under that
head, this may be believed as being nearly correct.
[Illustration: MODERN IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTISTRY.]
[Illustration: CHARITY NOT SOLICITED.]