430 pliny's natural history. [Book XXX. 



CHAP. 8. THE OTHER REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIVING CREATURES, 



CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE RESPECTIVE DISEASES. REMEDIKS 

 FOR TOOTH-ACHE. 



But to proceed with the remedies for tooth-ache — the magi- 

 cians tell us, that it may be cured by using the ashes of the 

 head of a dog that has died in a state of madness. The head, 

 however, must be burnt without the flesh, and the ashes 

 injected with oil of cyprus^^ into the ear on the side affected. 

 Por the same purpose also, the left eye-tooth of a dog is used, 

 the gum of the affected tooth being lanced with it ; one of tlie 

 vertebrae also of a dragon or of an enhydris, which is a male 

 white serpent.^^ The eye-tooth, too, of this last, is used for 

 scarifying the gums ; and when the pain affects the teeth of the 

 upper jaw, they attach to the patient two of the upper teeth of 

 the serpent, and, similarly, two of the lower ones for tooth-ache 

 in the lower jaw. Persons who go in pursuit of the crocodile, 

 anoint themselves with the fat of this animal. The gums are 

 also scarified with the frontal bones of a lizard, taken from 

 it at full moon, and not allowed to touch the ground : or else 

 the mouth is rinsed with a decoction of dogs' teeth in wine, 

 boiled down to one half. 



Ashes of dogs' teeth, mixed with honey, are useful for 

 difficult dentition in children, and a dentifrice is similarly 

 prepared from them. Hollow teeth are plugged with ashes of 

 burnt mouse- dung, or with a lizard's liver, dried. To eat a 

 snake's heart, or to wear it, attached to the body, is considered 

 highly efficacious. There are some among the magicians, who 

 recommend a mouse to be eaten twice a month, as a preventive 

 of tooth- ache. Earth-worms, boiled in oil and injected into 

 the ear on the side affected, afford considerable relief : ashes, 

 too, of burnt earth-worms, introduced into carious teeth, make 

 them come out easily ; and, used as a friction, they allay pains 

 in such of the teeth as are sound : the proper way of burning 

 them is in an earthen potsherd. They are useful, too, boiled 

 with root of the mulberry-tree in squill vinegar, and employed 

 as a collutory for the teeth. The small worm that is found 

 in the plant known as Venus'*' bath, is remarkably useful, 



5' See B. xii. c. 51. 



^'" It is doubtful what is meant by this mnle white "water-serpent." 

 In B. xxxii. c. 26, he appears to include it amoiig the fishes. 

 63 See B. XXV. c. 108. 



