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56 FIRST PERIOD—ANTIQUITY
In the same book there is a passage in which Hippocrates warns against
the use of origanum, as harmful to the teeth and eyes:
"Origanum in drinks is harmful to affections of the eyes, and also
"^
to the teeth.
Farther on a case of necrosis of the jaw is mentioned:
"Cardias, the son of Metrodorus, by reason of pains in the teeth was
subject to mortification ot the jaw. Excrescences of a fleshy kind formed
on the gums, that grew most rapidly; the suppuration was moderate;
the molars fell out and afterward the jaw itself."
Some passages in the Epidemics,^ and in other books of Hippocrates,
even when not referring directly to pathological conditions of the teeth,
are of value as demonstrating what importance the author attaches to
the dental organs, and to the phenomena of which they may possibly
become the site.
In establishing the diagnosis of a malady, he recommends searching
for its point of departure; for example, if it has begun with a headache,
an earache, a pain in the side, and adds, that in some cases the nature
of the malady is revealed by the teeth, in some others by swelling of
the glands.^ The truth and importance of this observation are not to
be doubted.
In fevers, Hippocrates considers it an unfavorable sign if there be a
deposit of viscous matter on the teeth, especially when the patient keeps
his mouth half open, that is, when he lies in a state of stupor.'^
Other prognostics drawn from the teeth or the gums are the following:
"Grmding of the teeth in those who have not this habit when in full
health, gives reason to fear a furious delirium and death; but if the
patient, already delirious, presents this sign, it is an absolutely fatal one.''
It is also a most unfavorable sign when the teeth get very dry."
"Necrosis of a tooth heals the abscess formed at the gum.^ This
is very easily explained by the fall of the tooth. But Hippocrates knew
very well that the affection does not always take such a favorable course;
he therefore adds, immediately after:
" In the case of necrosis of a tooth the supervening of a strong fever
with delirium gives reason to fear a fatal exit. If, notwithstanding this,
' Page 1229. ^ De morbis vulgaribus, lib. vii, p. 1238.
' The title of these seven books of Hippocrates might cause a false idea to be conceived.
They do not precisely treat of epidemics in the sense given to the word in the present day;
instead, they describe the maladies which predominated during four years, in successive
periods of time, according with the variations of the atmospheric conditions. (See Litre,
Introduction to the books on Epidemics.)
^ De morbis vulgaribus, lib. 1 1 76.
iii, p. 1009; lib. vi, section iii, p.
' De morbis vulgaribus lib. iv, p. I138 ; Aphorisms, lib. iv, No. 53, p. 1251.
" Coacae praenotiones, No. 235, p. 157 Pr.xdictoruni, lib. i, No. 48, p. 71.
;
^ Coacae praenotiones, No. 236; p. 157.
56 FIRST PERIOD—ANTIQUITY
In the same book there is a passage in which Hippocrates warns against
the use of origanum, as harmful to the teeth and eyes:
"Origanum in drinks is harmful to affections of the eyes, and also
"^
to the teeth.
Farther on a case of necrosis of the jaw is mentioned:
"Cardias, the son of Metrodorus, by reason of pains in the teeth was
subject to mortification ot the jaw. Excrescences of a fleshy kind formed
on the gums, that grew most rapidly; the suppuration was moderate;
the molars fell out and afterward the jaw itself."
Some passages in the Epidemics,^ and in other books of Hippocrates,
even when not referring directly to pathological conditions of the teeth,
are of value as demonstrating what importance the author attaches to
the dental organs, and to the phenomena of which they may possibly
become the site.
In establishing the diagnosis of a malady, he recommends searching
for its point of departure; for example, if it has begun with a headache,
an earache, a pain in the side, and adds, that in some cases the nature
of the malady is revealed by the teeth, in some others by swelling of
the glands.^ The truth and importance of this observation are not to
be doubted.
In fevers, Hippocrates considers it an unfavorable sign if there be a
deposit of viscous matter on the teeth, especially when the patient keeps
his mouth half open, that is, when he lies in a state of stupor.'^
Other prognostics drawn from the teeth or the gums are the following:
"Grmding of the teeth in those who have not this habit when in full
health, gives reason to fear a furious delirium and death; but if the
patient, already delirious, presents this sign, it is an absolutely fatal one.''
It is also a most unfavorable sign when the teeth get very dry."
"Necrosis of a tooth heals the abscess formed at the gum.^ This
is very easily explained by the fall of the tooth. But Hippocrates knew
very well that the affection does not always take such a favorable course;
he therefore adds, immediately after:
" In the case of necrosis of a tooth the supervening of a strong fever
with delirium gives reason to fear a fatal exit. If, notwithstanding this,
' Page 1229. ^ De morbis vulgaribus, lib. vii, p. 1238.
' The title of these seven books of Hippocrates might cause a false idea to be conceived.
They do not precisely treat of epidemics in the sense given to the word in the present day;
instead, they describe the maladies which predominated during four years, in successive
periods of time, according with the variations of the atmospheric conditions. (See Litre,
Introduction to the books on Epidemics.)
^ De morbis vulgaribus, lib. 1 1 76.
iii, p. 1009; lib. vi, section iii, p.
' De morbis vulgaribus lib. iv, p. I138 ; Aphorisms, lib. iv, No. 53, p. 1251.
" Coacae praenotiones, No. 235, p. 157 Pr.xdictoruni, lib. i, No. 48, p. 71.
;
^ Coacae praenotiones, No. 236; p. 157.
