James Scott c. 1770-1828. First resident dentist in Glasgow. A contribution to dental history / [J. Menzies Campbell].

  • John Menzies Campbell
Date:
[1949]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: James Scott c. 1770-1828. First resident dentist in Glasgow. A contribution to dental history / [J. Menzies Campbell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “Mr. Scott, Surgeon Dentist, 28, South Bridge, Edinburgh, intends annually to visit this city, to give the Ladies and Gentlemen an opportunity of consulting him concerning the removal of the many unattended to diseases in childhood, originating from dentition, the arrange¬ ment of the second teeth, the prevention of the premature decay into which they are subject, and the restoring unto them their natural whiteness in a safe manner, when, through neglect, they become yellow or black, with proper directions to keep them clean, or, when they become loose or fall out, the proper means to fasten them and supply their want by Mineral Paste or otherwise. “It is only of a very late date that the regular Practitioner in Medicine has paid any attention to the diseases in an ad¬ vanced period of life originating from the morbid state of the gums, Carious Teeth, etc., so often baffling them and affording an advantage to advertising Quacks such as Tooth-Ache, Head-Aches, erroneously termed Rheumatic and treated as such; general and partial debilities of the ner¬ vous energy often the cause of a wrong formation of the chest, during the period of ossification, which period ends about 14 years, and the other Diseases or de¬ rangements in the animal economy aris¬ ing therefrom. “The late Dr. Darwin of Derby, the most celebrated medical author and re¬ spected rational practitioner in the quar¬ ter where he resided, was so conscious of the effect of the above causes and diseases and the inattention of regular practi¬ tioners to them that the first step in his practice was to have the Gums and Teeth examined and cured; then, in general, with the depth of judgment and rationality of practice for which he was remarkable, he succeeded in being of benefit in many cases to those who applied to him. Mr. Scott mentions this incontrovertible authority as it agrees with his own prac¬ tice, and he could mention many other re¬ spectable names with a view to convince individuals as well as the regular practi¬ tioner of the necessity of bestowing more attention to this source of disease. Mr. Scott, conformably to the opinion of the celebrated late John Hunter of London, in his Treatise on the Natural History of the Teeth, would at the same time guard the Public from applying to many who style themselves Dentists, without the co¬ operation and opinion of a regular Prac¬ titioner in Medicine. “Paterson’s Lodgings, “No. 21, Glassford Street. “Enter by Garthland Street.” * * * On this occasion his stay in Glasgow was restricted to two weeks, but, before returning to Edinburgh, he visited, in a professional capacity, Paisley, Greenock, Port-Glasgow and Ayr, remaining in these areas until at least the beginning of July. Although Scott made specious claims to specialised knowledge, acquired at the University of Edinburgh and in London, no evidence can be unearthed to substan¬ tiate these, but misleading Press notices were very prevalent in the early nineteenth century. The only persons, whom he men¬ tioned by name (Hunter and Darwin) were then deceased! Had James Scott been a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons or possessed any medical de¬ gree, he, such a blatant advertiser in his early years of practice, would certainly not have failed to inform the public ac¬ cordingly. It, therefore, seems safe to as¬ sume that he did not possess any such qualification. Increasing Practice His practice in Glasgow must have in¬ creased rapidly, because in The Glasgow Courier, December 10th, 1802 (when he was practising at Miss Dickson’s lodgings, 59 Glassford Street), he announced his de¬ cision to stay in that city. He thus became the first practitioner permanently resident in Glasgow to restrict his activities to den¬ tistry. He was not, however, far ahead of a well-trained dentist, D. McLean, who, it is known, had served seven years’ ap¬ prenticeship with Robert Spence, of Edin¬ burgh; and, later, acted as assistant to Mr. Grice, of London, and Mr. Lea, of Edin¬ burgh. On November 2nd, 1802, McLean had announced his intention of residing permanently in Glasgow( but this was not immediately effected), and continuing to practise at “The Buck’s Head,” Argyll Street. Another dentist, John Alexander, was, in 1803, also practising, as a resident dentist, at 449 Gallowgate.
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