Date of Award

6-1930

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Dentistry

Abstract

Just when gold foil was first used is a matter of some conjecture. All historians differ in their views and it is so with the historians of dentistry. According to Dr. J. A. Taylor, it is said that Egyptian mummies exist, showing evidences of gold fillings, but at present their whereabouts are unknown. The History of Dental Surgery, Vol. 1, by Chas. R.E. Koch, cites the above incident also and further states that this gold leaf may either have fallen into the cavities or that it was placed there, similar to a gold foil filling. These statements however cannot be substantiated since the whereabouts of the Egyptian mummies in this specific case are unknown. In the "Cosmos" for February 1881, Dr. Xavier Landerer of Athens, quotes a friend of hie who gathered Helenic skulls. Among several hundreds, perhaps two thousand years old, two "stopped teeth" were found. One tooth was filled with a mass as hard as stone. On analysis this proved to be hydraulic lime, made from volcanic ash, Santorin earth and lime. The hollow of one tooth in the other skull had been filled with gold thread or gold leaf. This metal was pure.

Comments

Being a thesis submitted for the degree of Bachelor of Science + Doctor of Dental Surgery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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