Doc Holiday: Famous Dentist of History

When you need a dentist, can you imagine calling Doc Holiday? In the late 1870's John Henry Holiday, usually called Doc, had set up a dental practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Aside from this traditional professional, he spent his time gambling, participating in gun fights and spending time with his famous friend, Wyatt Earp. While he started out working on his fellow townspeople's teeth, his life ended at the young age of 36.

Education and the Early Days

Born in 1851, it was not until he was 19 that he started his education to become a dentist. In 1870, he left home to study for a dental degree and by 1872 he had earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He was only 20 years old. Soon after graduation he began to work with a classmate but ended up going home to Georgia to work in the office of another local dentist.

Health Concerns

During this time, a dentist would not be concerned about catching tuberculosis. At the time, it was called consumption and people had no idea that it could be spread through coughing or even sneezing on another person. It was not until 1885 when the discovery was made that tuberculosis was contagious. At this point, there is no definitive information about whether or not Doc Holiday contracted the disease from his mother or a dental patient.

At one point, his cough became a concern for potential patients. Even without the definitive evidence of the disease being contagious, people were worried. This led to him leaving his position as a dentist and turning toward a life of gambling. At the time, it was much more profitable and interestingly enough, the income was more consistent.

Advertising

Primary sources indicate that Doc Holiday still considered himself a dentist in 1878. He placed an ad in the Doge City newspaper letting potential patients know that if they were unsatisfied with the service the he provided, he would give them their money back. This is the last known time that Doc Holiday performed any dental work however, there is no proof that he did not continue to take care of patients until his demise on November 8, 1887.

When most people hear about Doc Holiday, they don't realize that his original professional involved taking care of dental patients. He traded in his tools for a deck of cards and his trusty gun. In fact, on July 7, 1877, it was reported in the local paper that he had died from the serious wounds he received as a result of an altercation with Henry Kahn, another gambler.