Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1876

ROBERT ARTHUR (1819-1880) A treatise on the use of adhesive gold foil. Jones, White & McCurdy 1857 86 [1] pp., illus. 22.7 cm.

Arcolani (see No. 122) is generally recognized as the individual who first used gold leaf to fill dental cavities in the early sixteenth century. Following that time, gold as well as base metals were used to fill teeth, and gold fillings began to gain in popularity in the United States at the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, it was not until 1855 that Arthur announced his discovery of the cohesiveness of gold, allowing it to be welded under pressure of the dentist's instruments. Arthur was one of the first individuals to receive a dental degree from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and later practiced in Washington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. He was one of the founders and the first dean of the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. Arthur also introduced a system of decay prevention known as "Arthurizing" in which the teeth were separated and selected portions were filed away to prevent and arrest decay. Arthur had published two short articles on the use of gold foil and, as his method gained in popularity, he received requests for additional information about his techniques. As a result, he published the present monograph in order to correct some misunderstandings concerning the proper use of gold foil and also to give more detailed instructions for its successful use. He noted that tin foil, a silver and tin amalgam, and gold were then being used for dental fillings and discussed their strengths and weaknesses as dental fillings. The use of gold in the form of tape, rope, and pellets is presented with special emphasis placed on using the proper instrument for putting the filling in place.

See Related Record(s): 122

Copy 2: Gift of John Martin, M.D