48 Conception, Birth and Infancy in 



The careers of those outstanding citizens Manius Curius Dentatus 

 and Lucius Siccius Dentatus may serve as sufficient evidence. 260 

 On the other hand, the Romans thought that when a girl baby was 

 born possessed of a full array of teeth, it meant destruction to any 

 community to which she might be taken. 261 



Those of my readers who are familiar with Florence and Verona 

 know that in the neighborhood of those two cities the best orris- 

 root has been grown for the manufacture of perfumery. 262 In old 

 Roman days one might see the dried root of this plant suspended 

 from the neck of children for them to bite on during their teething. 

 Similarly today, a finger of orris-root provides baby with a favorite 

 dentaruolo. 263 For the same purpose, however, he may have vari- 

 ous amuletic objects dangling from a necklace. These should ease 

 the discomfort of his tender gums as well as keep him safe against 

 the Evil Eye and against any maleficence of witchcraft. In Ro- 

 man times the first teeth shed by a colt were particularly prized 

 for baby's chewing: 264 they were not merely a physical comforter 

 but had occult value. Other amuletic aids in dentition were grit- 

 like substances from the horns of snails, 265 vipers' brains, 266 the 

 largest teeth of serpents, 266 a stone extracted from the head of a 

 boa, 267 or its brains, 268 a tiny stone or bone said to be found in the 

 head of a slug, 268 and the tooth of a wolf. 269 The latter had the 

 additional occult merit of keeping him, the Romans believed, free 

 from frights. A wolf had once done much for the Latin race by 

 suckling the twin foundlings Romulus and Remus: it might be 

 expected, therefore, according to the reasoning of an ancient nurse, 

 to continue service to the children of Rome even after their suck- 

 ling period. The dolphin was another creature that figured promi- 

 nently in ancient folklore, but I see no special reasons why the 

 ashes that resulted from burning its teeth, when mixed with honey, 

 should make a good fricative for baby's gums. Touching them 

 with a tooth of this fish is also recommended. 270 



We may feel certain that the ancients would have found nothing 

 unreasonable about a current Italian belief that in order to insure 

 a child a fine array of teeth in a powerful jaw, it is well to suspend 

 from his neck any teeth from such strong-jawed animals as the 

 wild boar, wolf, fox, dog, and bear. Such are common amulets. 271 

 In order to speed up his teething, baby's gums are rubbed with the 

 brains of a hare, possibly, as Zeno Zanetti suggests, because that 



