John Tomes

[1] Research with Madder on histology of bone and teeth brought Tomes to the notice of Sir Thomas Watson and James Moncrieff Arnott, who advised him to concentrate on dental surgery.

After the dental licentiateship had been established about twenty years, Tomes, with James Smith Turner, was instrumental in obtaining the Dentists Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict.

[2] After carrying on a good practice for many years, Tomes retired in 1876 to Upwood Gorse, Caterham, in Surrey, where he remained for the rest of his life.

On the occasion of his golden wedding he was presented with an inkstand, and the rest of the money subscribed was devoted to the endowment of a Royal College prize for researches in the field of dental science.

[2] At the Middlesex Hospital, Tomes invented an innovative tooth-extracting forceps with jaws adapted to the forms of the necks of teeth, in place of the dental key.

[5] On 15 February 1844 Tomes married Jane, daughter of Robert Sibley of Great Ormond Street, London, an architect.