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DENTISTS
Just as the farrier combined the skills of horseshoeing with those of the veterinarian in pioneer days, so the barber often practised phlebotomy on the side: blood-letting was the panacea. We are told the red-white stripes of the barber poles are indicative of this double profession. And so the medical doctor often was equipped with some of the dentist's tools.
Among the prized possessions of the profession are the old extraction tongs with wooden handle, metal shaft and lug and easily reversible claw. What a painful process it must have been! But, by 1897 the dentists were advertising painless extractins. At least Dr.s Hamilton and E.H. Edit of Stratford were assuring Tavistonians of this in the issues of The Gazette. By the end of the year business must have improved enough to warrant the latter's opening an office in the Wettlaufer's Hotel (The Arlington) on the first and third Thursday of each month. The next year he is joined by Dr. J.A. Bothwell with his office in Jung's hotel (the Commercial) very Tuesday. I suppose the hotels at that time provided the best accommodation for the patients as well as for "pop" whose duty it was to bring them.
By February, 1899, Dr. Bothwell was the sole advertiser. Sometime between then and September, 1902, he was replaced byDr. A. A. Mackenzie, at the Commercial. Joining him at the same hotel was Dr. J.S. Beatty with advertisements in 1906, these are still found as late as July, 1912, and many of our older residents remember Dr. Beatty well. Serving as resident dentist during 1900 and 1901 were Dr. H.M. Kalbfleisch, with an office "next west of the drug store" and Dr. N Millar of Ft. Frances in the same stand: the former moved to Elmira in February, 1901, and the latter stayed only a few months.
In 1916, William O. Kaufman of Casse successfully completed his third year in Dentistry, In 1917, "Doc" Bill as we affectionately called him - those of us who had sound teeth - set up his office in the Lemp Block, where the Bank of Montreal and later Harold Wilker's Grocery Store were located He lived with his brother Charles in the upstairs, In 1920, he moved to the Commercial Hotel, and the next year, to the rooms above the Standard Bank. Many a local lad and lass will remember the double ordeal of the long climb up those long stairs and then the manipulation of "Docs" powerful fingers as they set things, right. Dr. Kaufman served the community in these quarters for 35 years and became associated with many movements that were worthwhile in our village: The Musical Society as secretary, the Bowling Club, the soccer team as centre half and the Rink company. In 1956 he moved his equipment to his home at 189 Woodstock St. N. and continued a limited practice until 1961.
Our village, in 1967, has come full circle, dentalwise, and our people are visiting dentists once again in Stratford, Woodstock, New Hamburg and Kitchener. Would that the Council and the Board of Trade could locate another "Doc Bill"! |
