Bad TeethA Closer LookHenry Whipple wrote about how he learned to do dentistry in 1862: "During this journey several Indians came to me and said, putting their hands to their cheeks, “wi-bid-akosi’ (my tooth is sick), and asked if I could extract it. I was obliged to say ‘No.’ But on my next visit to Chicago I called on my old friend… a celebrated dentist, and asked him to teach me to pull teeth… On my next visit ….at White Fish lake…a chief came to me and with his hand on his cheek , said, ‘Wibidakoski.’… I boldly answered, ‘I will help you.’ … I followed to the letter of the good doctor’s directions and I did pull…I used salt as heroically as I did forceps, and… I heard the old chief telling his people that ‘Kichimekadewiconaye was a great Medicine-man.’” From: Lights and Shadows of a Long Epsicopate |
