Life at American gold mines in northern Korea [2]: Pulling teeth
“It is the night of the Fourth [of July] and I am working the same as usual,” complained Rush McCargar, a 25-year-old American employed by the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company (OCMC) in northern Korea in 1900. “The engineers, machinists, carpenters, miners, and office force had the day off, but we who are unfortunate enough to be mill men have to work just the same.” But it wasn’t work that…
![Life at American gold mines in northern Korea [2]: Pulling teeth](/img/1163902)
Rush McCargar, a 25-year-old American worker at the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company (OCMC) in northern Korea during the summer of 1900, was struggling with a persistent toothache. Unlike his fellow mill men, who had the day off, McCargar was required to continue working despite his discomfort. The pain had been bothering him since December, and despite trying various home remedies, he found no relief. In desperation, he contemplated extracting the tooth himself, but the nearest forceps were over 20 miles away.
Fortunately, the situation improved at the end of July when an American dentist from Nagasaki made a temporary visit to the mines. McCargar, along with other miners, readily accepted the dentist's services in exchange for payment. After the visit, McCargar was much relieved, as he shared in a letter to his family.
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- Life at American gold mines in northern Korea [2]: Pulling teeth koreatimes.co.kr
