430 PLINT*S NATUEAL HTSTOEY. [Book XXX. 
CHAP. 8. THE OTHER REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIVING CREATFRES, 
CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE RESPECTIVE DISEASES. REMEDIICS 
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, I 
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 the 
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 Yenus'^^ bath, is remarkably useful. 
See B. xii. c. 51. 
52 It is doubtful what is meant by this male white " water-serpent. 
In 13. xxxii. c. 26, be appears to include it among the fislies. 
*3 See B. xiv. c. 108. 
