CHAP. 105.—REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE TEETH.
The following are remedies for diseases of the teeth: root
of panaces,[1] chewed, that of the chironion in particular, and
juice of panaces, used as a collutory; root, too, of henbane,
chewed with vinegar, and root of polemonia.[2] The root of
plantago is chewed for a similar purpose, or the teeth are
rinsed with a decoction of the juice mixed with vinegar. The
leaves, too, are said to be useful for the gums, when swollen
with sanious blood, or if there are discharges of blood there-from. The seed, too, of plantago is a cure for abscesses in the
gums, and for gum-boils. Aristolochia has a strengthening
effect upon the gums and teeth; and the same with vervain,
either chewed with the root of that plant, or boiled in wine
and vinegar, the decoction being employed as a gargle. The
same is the case, also, with root of cinquefoil, boiled down to
one third, in wine or vinegar; before it is boiled, however, the
root should be washed in sea or salt water: the decoction, too,
must be kept a considerable time in the mouth. Some persons
prefer cleaning the teeth with ashes of cinquefoil.
Root of verbascum[3] is also boiled in wine, and the decoction
used for rinsing the teeth. The same is done too with hyssop
and juice of peucedanum, mixed with opium; or else the juice
of the root of anagallis,[4] the female plant in particular, is
injected into the nostril on the opposite side to that in which
the pain is felt.