We give a fac-simile of his autograph, written at the age of 40. M.B. Cushman 8 2146 III FRANCIS LE ROY,8 b. 22 May 1817, d. 27 Nov. 1834, ae. 17. 2147 IV CHARLES THOMAS, (3096) b. 29 June 1821 in Oneida county, N. Y., m. Jane Adeline, dau. Capt. James Shaw of Columbus, Ga., 16 July 1850, by Rev. Geo. Francis Cushman, then Rector of "St. John's in the Wilderness," Ala. She is of English descent, and of a name honorably famous in its history. He was raised in Oneida county, N. Y. When he was thirteen years old his father died, he became separated from the parental home, and since that period has relied upon his own energies and resources, aided by a small patrimony and such assistance as a good mother could afford. In 1840 he turned his attention to the profession of dentistry, and after two years' preparation he commenced the practice in Columbus, Ga., which he has continued in that city to this time. He has an extensive and valuable business, and is popular and successful in his profession. He is a "self-made man," having had but small advantages of an early education. While necessity has been his teacher, he has proved a very diligent and worthy pupil, going far ahead of many on whom wealth has been lavished and every aid furnished that the influence of friends could procure. It is, nevertheless, an axiom in human life, that if a man does not make himself in every thing that is great, good and valuable, neither wealth nor friends can make much of him. With a full determination, with an unbending purpose to be at the head of his profession, almost any become so. one may Such was his design, and the result has been in accordance with all our experience and the uniform laws of our organization. He has now been in the practice of his profession about thirteen years, and possesses one of the largest dental libraries in America about two hundred volumes which have been obtained with great research and expense. He says of himself, "My aim has always been to attain the highest degree of practical excellence, rather than mere profit or fictitious renown. How well I have acquitted myself I may not say." But others may speak of him. Says Dr. Harris1 of Baltimore, after examining some of Dr. Cushman's operations, " I have never seen better ;" and again, in 1850, he writes, "I would be glad if you would give me an opportunity of frequently enriching its pages (Am. Jour. Dent. Science) from your able pen." The editor of the N. Y. Dental Recorder, in 1849, said, “We have long known Dr. Cushman as a neat and expert dentist, both in the surgical and mechanical departments." The editor of the Cincinnati Dental Register, speaking of an article on the extraction of teeth by Dr. Cushman, says, "We should be glad to get many such articles, presenting the difficulties in practice, and manner of overcoming them." In 1850 the unsolicited and unexpected honorary degree of "Doctor of Dental Surgery" was bestowed on him by the Faculty of the Baltimore College; and the same year he received a silver medal for an exhibition of artificial dentistry, at the Fair of the Muscogee, Ga., Agricultural Society. The inscription on that medal was as follows: "Awarded by the M. and R. A. Society to Dr. C. T. Cushman, for sets of Artificial Teeth. Fair 1850." In 1854 he was "duly elected a member" of the Society of the Alumni of the Baltimore College. While he has thus, by his industry, skill and perseverance, accomplished so much and attained so high a standard in practical dentistry, he has not neglected the scientific and literary part of it. He has written often and well on subjects connected with his profession, for its periodical press. Our limits will only allow us to give a list of most of the articles he has written on dental subjects. 1 Professor in the College of Dental Surgery; Editor Am. Jour. Dental Sci. ; Author Princ. and Prac. of Dent. Surgery, &c. 1. An Essay on Dental Surgery and Practice in 1844. 2. Mechanical Dentistry in 1849. 3. Drilling Diseased Teeth, 1849. 4. Luxation and Transplantation of Teeth, 1850. 5. Enameling gold plates, 1851. 6. Extraction of Teeth; four papers, 1851 to 1855. 7. Dental Periostitis and Necrosis from pressure, 1852. 8. Replacement of Teeth, 1853. 9. Second article on same subject, 1853. 10. Reasons for preserving Children's Teeth, 1854. 11. Curious case of non-development of Teeth, 1855. From the 10th article we give an extract, from the Albany "Family Dental Journal," Reasons for preserving the temporary teeth of children, by C. T. Cushman, D. D. S., Columbus, Ga.: "I am constrained to put in a plea in behalf of the deciduous teeth of children, because the universal prevalent opinion is, that they are of but little or no consequence. "But they truly rank of equal importance with their successors, during their term of existence, a period of five to ten years, for the subservience of health, comfort, mastication, digestion, speech and beauty. "Who has not seen occasion to lament the premature decay of the teeth of some bright and lovely child, otherwise of unexceptionable grace! "How unnatural it is repulsive, even - to see the infirmities of age engrafted upon childhood! the tender rose-bud and a withered leaf-fresh from the hands of God,' yet blighted with the seeds of death! "This class of patients hardly come under the province of the dentist they more properly belong to the care of parents and guardians although I have successfully plugged with gold the teeth of a young gentleman of twenty-one months- probably the youngest patient of the kind on record. "But the great conservative agent is WATER. A child may be taught to use a tooth brush for himself at three years of age; from one year old till then his mouth should be regularly cleansed for him using a fine napkin or small, soft brush, and sweet soap. "This is a labor of love' that brings its own reward. What more charming picture than the unaffected smile of childhood, revealing these miniature mouth-pearls, like polished brilliants in a ruby casket glittering dew drops in a newly opened rose. "Let it ever be remembered that Cleanliness is Health." The foregoing is an example of his practical style of composi tion, written for popular instruction. But the practice of a laborious profession, which in his case comprises the threefold capacity of metallurgist, mechanician and surgeon, and the scientific studies connected with it, have not engrossed his whole attention. A lighter style of writing is a favorite amusement for his leisure hours, and miscellaneous articles from his pen have occasionally appeared in the periodicals of the day. Those are appreciated at least, to that degree, that he has been solicited by three different publishers to take the editorship of their respective journals; and a greater number have sought his services as a regular correspondent. In 1844 he wrote three letters for the Utica (N. Y.) Observer, entitled, "A Trip down the Chattahoochee," which were fine specimens of the descriptive style of writing. A poetic address, spoken by a young Miss," at the opening of the New Academy of the Columbus Female Institute," in Jan. 1848, written by Dr. C., is a very good example of an easy versification, containing good sense and sound principles. "The Patriot's Escape," an incident of the Mexican war, published in the Columbus (Ga.) Times and Sentinel, is a felicitous article, showing that he has the poetic faculty in no inconsiderable degree. But we have not space for any of these articles. In the department of lyric poetry, he has occasionally contributed articles. In 1850, an Agricultural Society offered a premium of a Silver Goblet for the two best Songs which should be written for its Fair. The subject of this article took one of the prizes for the following: PRIZE SONG, Written for the Muscogee and Russel Agricultural Fair, Columbus, Ga., 1850. Dedicated to the Plow, Loom and Anvil. BY DR. C. T. CUSHMAN. AIR-"There's a good time coming." I There's a gold mine under, boys, There's a gold mine under, boys It is not California soil, Then "speed the plow," with cheerful brow, (CHORUS.) Oh- there's a gold mine under, boys, A gold mine under, There's a gold mine under, boys— II There's a gold mine shining, boys, There's a gold mine shining, boys- It is but suicidal sloth, To let the North make Southern cloth, (CHORUS.) Oh-there's a gold mine shining, boys, A gold mine shining; There's a gold mine shining, boys, Weave your home-made staple. III There's a gold mine opening, boys, There's a gold mine opening, boys Forge your native metals! Our hills are filled with iron ore, Which coins the "dust" we named before See the gold mine opening! Engines, Anvils, Plows and Looms Are in our soil imbedded; Let's bring them forth in grace and strength, And see the three well wedded! (CHORUS.) Oh- there's a gold mine opening, boys, A gold mine opening; There's a gold mine opening, boys Forge your native metals. IV There are gold mines teeming, boys, There are gold mines teeming, boys— They only want the working! LABOR is the wealth of earth, To every gift it giveth birth, "Tis of God's example! |