Volume 205 Issue 10, 22 November 2008
CLOCKWORK DRILL - The first clockwork drill invented by George Harrington in 1864. Erado (from the Latin to scrape out),when wound, ran for two minutes but was noisy, cumbersome and heavy. It was intended to supersede the slower long handled and Archimedean drills favoured by Victorian dentists. His revised model, presented to the Odontological Society in 1871 was well received: 'The noise is not enough to produce any annoyance to patients ... we have had one of these little instruments in use for the last three weeks and find it admirable'. Unfortunately for Harrington, American James Morrison introduced his foot engine in the same year which revolutionised drilling. (Photographed at the BDA Museum by Filip Gierlinski. www.filskifoto.com)
Editorial
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