CHAP. 63.—WONDERFUL CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THE
TEETH.
The other animals are born with[1] teeth, whereas man has
them only at the seventh[2] month after his birth. While
other[3] animals keep their teeth to the time of their death,
man, the lion, the beasts of burden, the dog, and the ruminating animals, all change them; the lion and the dog, however, change none[4] but the canine teeth. The canine tooth of
the wolf, on the right side, is held in high esteem as an amulet.[5]
There is no animal that changes the maxillary teeth, which
stand beyond the canine teeth. With man, the last teeth,
which are known as the " genuini," or cheek teeth,[6] come
about the twentieth year, and with many men, and females as
well, so late even as the eightieth; but this only in the case
of those who have not had them in their youth. It is a
well-known fact, that the teeth are sometimes shed in old age,
and replaced by others. Mucianus has stated that he, himself,
saw one Zocles, a native of Samothrace, who had a new set of
teeth when he was past his one hundred and fourth year. In
addition to these facts, in man males have more teeth than
females,[7] which is the case also in sheep, goats, and swine.
Timarchus, the son of Nicocles the Paphian, had a double[8]
row of teeth in his jaws: the same person had a brother also
who never changed his front teeth, and, consequently, wore
them to the very stumps. There is an instance, also, of a man
having a tooth growing in the palate.[9] The canine teeth,[10]
when lost by any accident, are never known to come again.
While in all other animals the teeth grow of a tawny colour
with old age, with the horse, and him only, they become whiter
the older he grows.
1. Very few other animals are born with teeth, in their natural state.
Apes, dogs, and cats are not born with teeth.
2. From the fourth to the eighth month in reality, during which the
four central incisors appear.
3. The only ones that do not change are those which have three molars
on each side of the jaw.
4. This is erroneous: they change the incisors and molars as well.
5. See B. xxviii. c. 78.
6. By us known as the "wisdom" teeth.
7. This is not the fact: they have usually the same number, but there
are exceptions on both sides. The same is also the case with sheep, goats,
and swine.
8. This is not very uncommon.
9. Not at all an uncommon occurrence.
10. Of the second set.