My Scottish Relatives....can you help???

[KerryannH]

Hi Sarah,
thankyou for your help and interest.
I, too, have looked at the 1841, 51 & 61 census and wondered about the change of occupation.

It got me wondering....*how likely would it be for someone to change occupations into such a different field? (esp. when he has a family to support and 'so many mouths to feed' *could he have received 'patronage' from someone or embarked on a late apprentiship? *could the 1841/51 census family be a different family to that on the 1861 census? (It could be possible taking into account the Scottish naming patterns.... )

Anyway...one thing I'm certain of is I will have to buy credits at SP and validate the information given here and continue 'chasing dead people'.

So thankyou once more Sarah and everyone else who has helped.
Kerryann

[WilmaM]

I don't know if 'dentists' in the 1800's actually qualified as such?

Or were they simply guys with the right size of pliers and the guts to yank the offending tooth out 8-[

Does anyone know?

[Currie]

This 1837 Gargle, sorry, Google Book has all you ever needed to know about Dentistry of the day. It’s probably a good read if you like that sort of thing. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=I1c ... =1#PPA3,M1

DENTAL PRACTICE;
or,
OBSERVATIONS
on
The qualifications of the Surgeon-Dentist— Dental quackery—Nature and extent of the duties of the dentist in the first and second dentition— The defective teeth of the present day compared with those of the last century, owing to empiricism— Regulation and management of the teeth— The present absurd and destructive practice of filing teeth— Treatment of tooth-ache— Extraction of teeth— New extracting instruments invented by the author, illustrated by Plates. — Third dentition— Importance of artificial teeth— Philosophical principles on which they are formed— And on the duty of the Surgeon-Dentists and Mechanical-Dentists, each by
themselves, to unite in associations, for the purpose of abating dental quackery.

by
JOHN GRAY,
MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN LONDON.
25, OLD BURLINGTON STREET,
LONDON.
1837.

Don’t do any of this at home,
Alan

[SarahND]

And on the duty of the Surgeon-Dentists and Mechanical-Dentists

Ah! Mechanical Dentist That must be what he was (whatever that is... )
Sarah

[Currie]

Sorry Sarah, that was about an English Dentist. It was much more difficult to be a Scottish Dentist. They needed to have particularly good negotiating skills, as can be seen here: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/20230.htm

Alan

[SarahND]

Alan...
I'm staying away!

Sarah

[KerryannH]

Sarah & Currie,
I've just had a quick 'read' of Dental Practice or Observations...by John Gray and I think this explains what seems to be the change of career from mechanic to dentist.

"The mechanical must always preceed the surgical education, for it has been observed he who is not an expert mechanic at the age of twenty will never afterwards be able to aquire the manual dexterity that is necessary for the fabrication of artifical teeth: whereas in the aquirement of surgical education, so much more serious thought and riper judgement are requisite, that the student reaps comparatively but little benefit from his studies before that age."

So would I be correct in thinking that ggg-grandfather George, who was described as a Machine maker Journeyman on th e 1841 census, took his trade on the road supplying "artifical teeth" to those who required his services? Then later in life as he developed his skills moved into the area of Surgical dentistry?

If this is the case and he was an 'educated man' ...it sure beats my English ggg-grandfather who was tried for murder in the Aus. colony in 1823 (One of three known convicts and I'm not entering into any Scot v Eng 'rivalries"....I love youse all!!! and besides they made me who I am. )

Now to read about Dentistry Practices further...oh and thanks again Currie & Sarah.
Kerryann