The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-17
HISTORICAL TOOTHACHES
o,,v INTERESTING LOBE ABOUT
sOA COMMENTING AILMENT.

-si.yons and SuDeFeIiOAO
Dresms, Rhymes and Other
1o-nedies against the Malay
-, the London Standard
aa5lass to quote the trite aphorlsm
IL Is ne' -,ost perfect philosophy will not
'na 1s,s one TO bear the toothache patientiy'
Su@o' ailments are, in minor way more
70. .'rn,anting, yet few excite less sympathy.
torine ~ s,4Fsrer is a favorite object for
Nay ~ writer and artist to exercise
tne 90. - are pleased to call" their wit
"nA' ~ toothache has had important
LIZ lnsa,uences 10 instance only one wen
49,, 80. example, was not poor Desdemonas
Know I;roctlv caused by lagos raging
la'o :, ver no i'll which natural flesh Is
tOo'4. hos been more widely experienced,
no, INT none during the course OF many
aHI has more folk lore clustered.
ce htuiiL;o without number, just as for the
h llie'-lo,, coldn-another, as Byron SAID or
II. 1tS9aa,dkerchiefs of the weaknesses OF
pO0Aoi,,- have since the earliest days been
nn.u.n ,nTd by the wisdom or otnerwlse OF
sugges'ot AID it need not be added
our Immense amount of superstition has
tnae O., snl,Iaradded. The hazel twhose name
Deel a ,,Iaces of the ''wych-hazel" suft-
~ shows the mag influence ATTRIBUTED
" +ba tree) for instance, burnt into ashes
IN some districts, was given as potloh'
+rbile in others passing twlg over cne
"Hn. "a tooth was held to be sovereign
remedy in each case. however, IaIsn ~
t III Tsredy was an integral part of the
t 1no Others have pinned their faith to
-, ,aner twisted round hazel ashe', the
pno hang then inhaled. Ancient tradi-
4,nn-and by the way, in a SORT OF un-
sciantifc gulse this very ancient TRADITION
o. eo,,avbat akin to the modern theory of
-,icrohes in so many diseases-neld In
n.,S climes that toothache was pro-
dncsd nv a worm at the root of the tooth.
~ some of the Midlands and on the borders
If the northern counties there used to be
curions process for relief from the malady
which was based on this belief. Different
herbs. according to tradltlon OF very olo
or,gin were collected and put into mug,
a red hot cinder then being added. the suf-
ferer at the same time inhaling the smoke,
and afterward exhaling it into glass of
water wherein the worm, according to
theory. ought to have been perceived, hav-
inc Ieen eyicted by the smoke. Whether
imagination ever succeeded IN seeing the
counterfeit preSentment of the reptile we are
NOT aware. This is the old original process,
INT there is a modification in the use of
boiling water in place of the cinder. Refer
ences could be found, did space permit, in
the facts for this very old belief as to the
worm. For the belief is widespread Indeed,
and has been found extending from Europe
to China, while among the German peas
autry belief long existed that the wood of
tie pear tree, or, as some think, an imagl-
nary Dryad inhabiting it, possessed charm
against the malady. Charms, of course,
against toothache we're among the stock-in-
trade of the medieval family sorcerer, 'and
the white witches of the west of England,
as well as wise women" in many other
quarters, were no doubt, and possibly are
in some parts now, supposed to be possessed
Of them. One Of the cheapest and most
easily practiced charms with which we are
acquainted belongs to the south of Eng
land and particularly to Sussex. 1t con-
sists in putting on the right boot, stocking
and trouser before the left one.
There are, by the way, a good many
varying superstitions on the other topics
connected with this matter Of right, left,
clothing, steps, and so on. Another charm
very ancient and, seeing how much use
less bird slaughter is to be deprecated, one
far more honored in the breach than the
observance-is that of hanging a swallow
not swift nor house nor sand martin,
but dead swallow-round the neck of the
sufferer from toothache; while more harm
less idea, at any rate, aud probably one
which Is qulye as ettcacious, is to carry
constantly small potato In the pocket,
which, by the way, we have known done
for very long period, as an intensely be-
lleved-in panacea against rheumatism. The
Idea as to the swallow seems a very old one,
Tor we find it, with notifications, among
the items of pharmacy valued by the
oaxons. Among these the prescription was
compounded by burning the unfortunate
swallow to ashes, and these were mixed
Win money, OF which nasty mixture the
Pauent was to eat very often. Possibly if
ne or she were of delicate stomach the
anticipation Of having to swallow this might
nave such an effect on the sufferer as some.
Slhes Is produced by the brass plate on the
usntlSts door, and so the remedy might be
elucaclouS In some parts of midland and
southern England the mole takes in popular
5Hsenatlon the swallows place, but the re-
,uo'ahV creature has its paws cut off, which
are then placed in a ba and worn round
tne patients neck nor must the collocation
VI Tue paws be forgotten, for if the tooth
w on the right side so must the right paw
w piaceu III position, and Vice versa. The
hn oIe' inueeu, as to toothache is supposed to
naYe Vne same effect as the mouse in whoon.
.ls cough, For in many parts an ancient
auu repulslve belief exists that a mouse
o Jig9 IN butter and eaten by the unhappy
.uli1Ien Is sovereign remedy. We know
p rboeaay OF an instance some years ago
srans tue unhappy children we're forced to
hail. tpls slckenlng remedy. That the
tba T- SlouIu stlu be popular one among
M LeIucaVeo Is not much to be wondered
NJ w. "Tu one uears IN mind the descrintion
two oo -oaVusolne remedies little more than
oftbo rn asuiles ago forced down the throat
MacanIaI.i ouuu Oharles H., as pictured by
of .Eay and this, too, under the advica
a. Ga Uue most distinguished phvsicisns nf ~
hoy: Unpleasant remedies. Indeed sear,,
I9o. .uo wisdom Of our ancestors to have hean
tbooPS on the modern sinl1Lin si,niJ,6,Io
49, considered the proper treatment Of
inc ~ unpleasant malady. Thus. accord
formsroooo lIe authorities, the CHASTITY ner-
new. Vi placing one end of a stick in a
tooth on =. grave and resting the aching
inc ~ VI inc other, and then t6erewith Tnsb
mos TUG ae StlcK Into the earth, was held 10 he
which bo,i Iorth a splinter from a pihhet
remedv ~ oooy swinging in chains was a
4 moon Jra anQ as the journey under the fnII
well be tbo ~ eh part of the process. il NAV
at the dra aS tne sudden fright on arriving
q tauisbipg0 nn III Object vas very potent in
here Is slsdP a't LOT time at any rate
ing the snfFo. oeIet still current that pass
The hole or ote, II a young one, through
useful wbila 'u I opening IN the ash tree is
which il e much more curious idea ord
eastern 10 not without some conntarT go ''! ~
nails and l,aIuItlons, is that of narino ~
bark Of s pacing them carefully inside the
main a. oI oak tree, where. whila 49,, Sn wy
t0rment a. OeAef is that no toothooLoJ 11