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was for this reason doubtless that Nicepporus taught,— if one

dream he sees teeth drop out, it portends the death of a
friend.*
For forming the voice (hence infants do not speak
II.
before the mouth is filled with teeth), especially for expressing
certain letters the incisive teeth are essential. f Hence tooth-
less persons are unable to pronounce such letters as T and
R, where the tongue presses against the front teeth. The
loss of the front (incisive) teeth also injures the fulness of the
voice, (according to Galenus,) so that the speech becomes
slower, less articulate, and attended with effort. Hence per-
sons who have lost these teeth, procure artificial ones firmly
set with gold wire.
III. For ornament.—Toothless persons are deformed.J
IV. For abating garrulity, as Homer thought. ||
V. In brutes also for fighting where man uses the hands.§
VI. In brutes also for marking the age, as is well known
from the inspection of the mouth of horses.**

* "Primus et primarius. esl»ad cibos comminuendos. Unde edentuli
sorbila tautum lioriunl ; quart! ob causam dejectos denies videre malum
Nicephero, et in somniis vulgo amici casum prasagit."
t Ad vocem formandam (hinc infantes non loquuntur, antequam os
dentibus plenum) precipue ad literas quasdam experimendas incisorii con-
ferunt. Hinc edentuli litteras quasdam pronunciare nequeunt, v. g. T. et
R. ubi lingua ampliata prioribus dentibus inniti debet. Alioquin incisori-
orum amissio lasdit vocis explicationem, teste Galeno, ut sermo tardior, et
minus clarus facilisque. Hinc edentuli arete dentes institios sibi procur-
ant, aureo fdo vinciendos."
" Ad Ornatum. Edentuli enim deformes sunt."
X
§ " Homerus putat ad compescendam garrulitatem."
" In brutisetiam ad pugoam, ubi homo manibus utiber."'
j|
** "Tisdem brutis ad actatum desigaaudam. Equorum enim statem
inspectum os prodit.