A History of Dentistry from the most Ancient Times until the end of the Eighteenth Century. Vincenzo Guerini
In this same page 89 many other remedies corresponding to various indications are prescribed.
| “To strengthen the teeth: | |
| Powder of the fruit of the dum-palm | Part 1 |
| Green lead | ” 1 |
| Honey | ” 1 |
| To be mixed and the teeth rubbed with it.” | |
The following is another remedy for the same purpose:
| “Powder of flint stones | Part 1 |
| Green lead | ” 1 |
| Honey | ” 1 |
| To be rubbed on the teeth.” | |
Next comes a remedy “to cure the growth of uxedu in the teeth,” that is:
| “Dough | Part 1 |
| Beans | ” 1 |
| Honey | ” 1 |
| Verdigris | ” 1 |
| Green lead | ” 1 |
| To be powdered, mixed, and applied on the teeth.” | |
The word uxedu recurs more than thirty-five times in the Ebers’ papyrus, in relation to affections of the most different parts of the body. By confronting all the passages of the papyrus in which one finds the word uxedu, Joachim deduces that it does not indicate any special disease, but has the general signification of “a painful swelling.” According to Geist-Jacobi, by “growth of the uxedu in the teeth” may be understood an alveolar abscess and the consequent swelling of the surrounding parts.
Another remedy is intended for “the cure of the tooth that gnaws unto the upper part of the flesh.”
The translator of the papyrus remarks that by the “upper part of the flesh” is to be understood the gum. The remedy would, therefore, correspond to the indication of curing a tooth “that gnaws or gives pain unto the gum.” But as one sees, even putting it in these words, the meaning is anything but clear. Perhaps the destructive action of the carious process, reaching as far as the gum, is what is here meant to be alluded to. Meanwhile here is the receipt:
| “Cumin | Part 1 |
| Incense | ” 1 |
| Onion | ” 1 |
| To be reduced to a paste, and applied on the tooth.” | |
Besides the remedies already given, the two following are prescribed for strengthening the teeth:
| “Incense | Part 1 |
| Verdigris | ” 1 |
| Green lead | ” 1 |
| Mix and apply on the tooth.” | |
The other is compounded of:
| “Water | Part 1 |
| Absinth | ” 1 |
| To be used as above.” | |
We next find a formula, preceded by this very vague indication: “Chewing remedy for curing the teeth.”
| “Amaa-plant | Part 1 |
| Sweet beer | ” 1 |
| Sut-plant | ” 1 |
| To be masticated and then spit on the ground.” | |
Another masticatory is intended to “strengthen and cure the teeth,” and is compounded thus:
| “Saffron | Part 1 |
| Duat-plant | ” 1 |
| Sweet beer | ” 1 |
| To be masticated and then spit on the ground.” | |
Finally, we have a medicament “for curing the gnawing of the blood in the tooth.” It is complicated enough, being compounded with:
| “The fruit of the gebu | Part ⅓2 |
| Onion | ” ⅙4 |
| Cake | ” 1/16 |
| Dough | ” ⅛ |
| Anest-plant | ” ⅓2 |
| Water | ” ½ |
| One leaves it to stand and then chews for four days.” | |
But what meaning is to be attributed to the “gnawing of the blood in the tooth?”
It is almost certain that this figurative expression referred to the pain deriving from caries and pulpitis. It may have had its origin in the observation of two phenomena, that is, first of all, the pulsating character which the pain alluded to often assumes, and the eventual issuing of blood from the cavity of a tooth affected by caries and pulpitis, when the pulp is exposed. At any rate, the Egyptian doctors of remotest antiquity undoubtedly did not ignore the presence of blood in the interior of the tooth.
From what we have related, it clearly appears that at that remote epoch many remedies were already in use for combating dental affections. These must consequently have been frequent enough, which demonstrates the erroneousness of the opinion held by some, who affirm, as does Mummery,6 that in ancient times diseases of the teeth were extremely rare.
Besides this, it is fully evident, from the