CUSTOMS. 249 



by him,, to rub his teeth every morning 

 with a proper withe. It is so particularly 

 inculcated as to specify the racemiferous 

 fig tree as the best kind of twig, which is 

 of a soft fibrous nature, and by being bruised 

 between two stones, makes a good brush 

 for the teeth, containing a mucilaginous 

 fluid which readily unites with the oily 

 particles on the teeth and gums, and is 

 therefore well adapted for the purpose. A 

 fresh twig must be used every morning. 

 These are customs much to be commended 

 in every country, particularly in a hot one, 

 where animal and vegetable matter soon be- 

 comes putrid under any circumstance. I 

 shall here digress a little and remark that 

 Europeans too often accustom themselves 

 to wash their feet many times a-day, in 

 hot water. Although pleasing at the time, 

 and apparently of trifling consequence, it 

 is, I am convinced, a serious evil, by in- 

 creasing the secretions which were before 

 too copious, and if persevered in for a length 

 of time, will add considerably to other un- 



