Life at American gold mines in northern Korea [2]: Pulling teeth

In the summer of 1900, American miner Rush McCargar found himself enduring the typical rigors of life at a gold mine in northern Korea. While his colleagues took the day off, McCargar and his fellow mill men were compelled to continue working. However, the primary source of his frustration was not the labor, but rather a persistent toothache that had plagued him since December.

Despite attempting various home remedies, the toothache remained stubbornly persistent. McCargar even contemplated the drastic measure of extracting the offending tooth himself. However, the nearest dental forceps were located more than 20 miles away, making self-extraction an impractical solution. Faced with this uncomfortable predicament, McCargar decided to endure the pain, choosing to "grin and bear it."

Fortuitously, an American dentist from Nagasaki arrived at the mine during the latter part of July, offering his dental services to the beleaguered miners. Recognizing the urgent need for dental care, the miners readily accepted the dentist's offer, understanding that this temporary relief would greatly benefit their overall well-being. As McCargar later penned in a letter to his family, "the arrival of the dentist proved to be a saving grace amidst the otherwise grueling conditions of mine life."