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92 FIRST PERIOD—ANTIQUITY

Among the vegetable remedies in those times considered of use
against odontalgia, the principal ones are mentioned in Chapter CV of
Book XXV:
"It is beneficial against toothache to chew the root of panax, and
likewise to wash the teeth with its juice. It is also useful to chew the
root of hvoscvamus soaked in vinegar, or else that of the polemonium.
It is also beneficial to chew the roots of the plantain, or to wash the teeth
in a decoction of plantain in vinegar. A decoction of the leaves is also
useful, not onh' in the case of simple toothache, but also when the gums
are tender and easih' bleed. The seed of the same plant cures inflamma-
tions and abscesses of the gums. The aristolochia strengthens the gums
and the teeth. The same effect may be produced by masticating the
verbena with its root, or by washing the mouth with a decoction of it
in wine or vinegar. Similarly the roots of the cinquefoil are helpful when
boiled down to a third, in wine or vinegar; however, they must first be
washed in salt water or brine. The decoction must be kept for a long
time in the mouth.
"Instead of using the decoction of cinquefoil, some prefer to rub the
loose teeth with the ashes of this plant. Besides the above-mentioned
remedies, the root of the verbascum boiled in wine, hyssop, and the
juice of the peucedanum with opium are also employed; and it is also
beneficial to pour into the nostrils, on the side opposite to that of the sick
tooth, some drops of the juice of anagallis.
"It is said that if senecio be taken from the earth, and the aching
tooth be touched three times with it, spitting alternatively three times,
and then the herb be replanted in the same spot, so that it may continue
to live, the tooth will never give pain any more."*
"In the fuller's thistle," an herb which grows near rivers, is found a
small worm, which has the power of curing dental pains, when the said
worm is killed by rubbing it on the teeth, or when it is closed up with
"^
wax in the hollow teeth.
"Apollonius writes that a very efficacious remedy for pains in the
gums is to scratch them with the tooth of a man who has suffered a
violent death."'
"
It is considered very beneficial for toothache to bite off a piece from
wood which has been struck by lightning, and to touch the sick tooth
with it; but whilst biting off the little piece of wood, it is necessary to keep
both hands behind the back."'
" Kxperience teaches that against the bad odor of the breath it is
useful to wash the mouth with pure wine before sleeping, and that to

' ^i'P- t^'vi. ^ Dipsacus fullonum.
'
<-':'P- cviii. ' Lih. xxviii, cap. ii. ^ lji,_ xxviii, cap. xi.