The nitrous oxide "dream" of Cora Gray: a dental anesthesia story of 1884.

In the September 1884 issue of Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly magazine, a fictional dramatic short story was published concerning the dental use of nitrous oxide. Entitled, "Cora Gray," it was written by the well-known American journalist and poet John Whittaker Watson (1815-1848), who authored hundreds of sentimental, tragic and dramatic poems, serials and stories concerning the destitute lives and deaths of downtrodden young women of that time. His greatest poetic effort, "Beautiful Snow," (1869) tells of a young prostitute who freezes to death in a snow bank.

The 1790 desecration of John Milton's bones, hair and teeth in a London church.

John Milton (1608-1674), England's epic poet and a champion of civil and religious liberties, has gone down in history as one of the world's greatest philosophers, scholars and authors. Although by age 44 he had become totally blind, he steadfastly continued to write and eventually composed his poetic masterpieces, "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained." In 1674, John Milton died of kidney failure at age 66.

The unicorn and the narwhal: a tale of the tooth.

From as far back as the early Roman era, detailed descriptions and artistic images of the unicorn have been imagined. In Europe, the Mediterranean and the Far East, this creature became accepted as real. Although such an animal had never actually been seen, it was said to have the appearance of a horse, the beard and cloven hooves of a goat, the tail of a lion, and a single, spear-like horn protruding from the center of its forehead.

Retail promotions and perceptions of R.J. Reynolds' novel dissolvable tobacco in a US test market.

Background: With declining cigarette sales, tobacco manufacturers have been developing and marketing new smokeless products, such as R. J. Reynolds' dissolvable tobacco, Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs.

"The old family toothbrush": Stotesbury's whimsy.

Edward Townsend Stotesbury (1849-1938), a prominent Philadelphia tycoon, made his millions as an investment banker and financier. In 1927, his fortune was estimated to be $100 million. In 1912, at age 63, Stotesbury, then a widower for over thirty years, married a captivating Chicago widow, Eva Roberts Cromwell.

Your tooth it ain't so purty but it's gen-u-ine: Cole Porter's comic song "Snagtooth Gertie".

Cole Porter (1891-1964), an American musical icon, has been internationally acknowledged as one of the most cosmopolitan, sophisticated, elegant and influential composer-lyricists of the 20th century. Born in Indiana and raised in wealth and privilege, he attended both Yale and Harvard universities where he honed his song-writing skills. In his 800 tunes, many of which became smash hits, he blended fresh, witty, urbane and colloquial lyrics with catchy, singable melodies.

Mosquitoes, flies and dental cavities: Dr. Howard Riley Raper's public campaign to prevent toothache.

Dr. Howard Riley Raper (1886-1978) was an early oral health pioneer and dental roentgenology faculty member of the Indiana Dental College (IDC) who single-handedly introduced key concepts in radiology to dentistry. Due to his efforts, IDC became in 1910-11 the first dental school to have a regular course in dental radiology.

A survey of United States periodontists' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to tobacco-cessation interventions.

Background: Because of the clear causal relationship between smoking and periodontal disease, and the negative effect of smoking on wound healing, it is of great importance to evaluate the tobacco-cessation interventions provided by periodontal practices. The use of tobacco-cessation interventions in clinical practice can be measured by whether the practitioner uses any of the "5 A's" defined by the 2008 United States Public Health Services Clinical Practice Guideline.

Methods: Surveys were mailed to 1,000 active members of the American Academy of Periodontology.

John Peter Zenger's fight for freedom of the press: halitosis exposed.

In the fall of 1732, William Cosby, a member of the British aristocracy, became the colonial governor of New York. As an incompetent, tyrannical and self-serving ruler, he quickly alienated the citizens of New York and, as a result, a core group instigated a broad-based popular uprising against him. In November 1733, John Peter Zenger (1697-1746) published his first issue of the New York Weekly Journal, which would soon become a political organ of those who attempted to bring Cosby down.

Dental engravings created after works by Adriaen Brouwer: 17th century Flemish genre artist.

Adriene Brouwer (1605/6-1638), a Flemish genre and landscape painter, was prototypical Bohemian. An artist who lived and acted with disregard for conventional rules of behavior, he produced works which often shocked the staid citizenry of his times. This article examines two dentally-oriented etchings crafted by Brouwer.

David Farrar Mitchell: dental researcher & educator.

David Farrar Mitchell, DDS, PhD (1918-1975), was a pioneer in aviation dentistry and a leader in dental education, service and research. In the mid-1940's, he was the first dental officer assigned to the School of Aviation Medicine (SAM) in San Antonio, Texas, a unique, Army Air Corps organization for research and teaching. From 1942-1946, as a trained dental researcher and oral pathologist, he published works on dental problems afflicting military aviators, especially those associated with high altitude flying.