Tes iatrikes kartos, or, A treatise de morborum capitis essentiis & pronosticis adorned with above three hundred choice and rare observations ... / by Robert Bayfield ...

CAP. CXVII. De Odontalgia, seu Dentium dolore.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a sad and grievous sence of pain in the teeth, proceeding from the solution of continuity in them by reason of hu∣mors.

The Prognostick is divers, according to the variety of causes: For that pain which comes from a hot, thin, watery, sharp, and salt humor, is more violent, but sooner at an end. Qui ve∣ro ab humore frigido & pituitoso excitatur, miti∣or est, sed multo diuturnior. There is good hope of cure if there be a kinde of pus or purulent matter gathered together in the ear. A Tu∣mor also arising in the gums or jaws takes a∣way the pain of the teeth: Dolores dentium in∣tentissimi aliquando ad syncopen, Interdum ad Epilepsiam aegrum deducere solent.

Uxor Domini Lemon, Castoriensis, dolore denti∣um à seroso humore procedente maximè turbata, habuit, remotionis causa, hoc sequens medicamentum: ℞ Calomelanos, gr. xv. resinae jalappae, gr. viii. conservae rosarum rubr. ʒ i. ss. misce. It purged her so effectually that the pain went away in the working, and returned no more: It is a most in∣comparable remedie wherewith I have helped a great number of people of the pain of the teeth, and other diseases arising from serous humors. Indeed the words of Carolus Piso first moved me to make trial of it in pains of the teeth; for he reports, that himself being troubled with the tooth-ach for many days, half an hour after he had taken a purging medicine, vomited up above a pint of cleer water, with such success, that for ten years after he was never troubled with it. By which experience, he always prescribed medi∣cines that purge water to them who were so troubled, and with very good success. More∣over, He striveth to prove that it comes from this cause, by this sign, because they who have the tooth-ach, do continually spet.

Domina Thompson, annos circiter 25. nata, vehementi dentium dolore à tenui sed calido hu∣more emanante laborans sic levata fuit. ℞ Lau∣dani opiat, gr. iv. lapidis bezoardici orientalis, gr. i. f. pil. She took it in a little conserve of red Roses at her entrance into bed; it procured rest, quite removed the pain, and so prevented

a Fever, and other symptomes, which I excee∣dingly feared.

Samuel Formius, a most experienced Chirur∣gion of Montpelier, declares, that he hath freed an infinite company of people from the tooth∣ach, by putting a little Cotton-Wool wet in oil of Box wood, into their hollow tooth: This oil is drawn in a Retort, with a reverberating heat; first, infusing the dust thereof in white-Wine twenty four hours, and then stilling all together: First, there comes away an acid water, which doth good in the tooth-ach, onely by washing the teeth therewith; after that comes the oil, which is to be diligently preserved.

Gabriel Hardvinus reports, that he hath seen the tooth-ach cured with salt of Ash-wood, with which a womans Thimble, or some such imple∣ment is filled, and applied to the artery of the temple where the Pulsation is felt; and within a short time it makes a knot in the Artery, where∣by the Flux is intercepted.

A certain Lady cruelly tormented with the tooth-ach, proceeding chiefly from a Scorbu∣tick humor, was helped by the use of the follow∣ing prescription: ℞ Aquae cochleariae, ℥ vi. aquae rosarum rubr. plantaginis, ana, ℥ iii. mellis rosacei, mellis morum, ana, ℥ i. spirit. vitrioli, q. s. ut a∣cidum sit remedium. Of this she took in her mouth, which freed her from the tooth-ach, and took down the swelling of her gums, which were filled with black blood.

A certain Nobleman was cruelly vexed with pain of his teeth, and very much molest∣ed with the swelling of his gums, which was re∣moved by the following Remedies: ℞ Pil. de succino Cratonis, ʒ iii. f. pil. num. 18. Of these he took three every morning and night for three days, which purged very well. This Gar∣garism was used: ℞ Decocti cortic. guaiaci, decocti Hordei, ana, ℥ iv. syrupi mororum, mel∣lis rosacei, ana, ℥ ii. spirit. vitrioli, ut acidus sit, In this also there was often in a day a piece of Spunge wet, and applied to the pained gums: by these medicines he was delivered from all his sym∣ptoms: The second day he could eat meat, and the third day he was perfectly healed.

Formius tells us, that he hath happily used this following medicament.

℞ Sem. plantaginis, ʒ ii. tormentillae, ʒ iii. rad. hyoscyami albi, ℈ iv. omnia exsiccata redi∣gantur in pulverem subtillissimum, addendo opii granum unum, includantur in nodulis, qui mace∣rentur in decocto sequenti. ℞ Flor. sambuci, m. i. rosarum rubr. p. ii. Bulliant in aceto ad usum supradictum. These Nodules being steeped in the said decoction are peeled and gently pres∣sed between the teeth, and within a while much moisture flows out of their mouth, and the pain is taken away.

Simeon Jacoz, a most expert Physician, ex∣ceedingly tormented with the tooth-ach, and

a troublesome Ptyalism, took eight grains of Resina benedicta, with which being very well and gently purged, he voided in great quantity the superfluous serosity in seven stools, and the day following he found himself free from the foresaid pains and troublesome spittings: But not long after the pain of his teeth, and Pty∣alism returned, which went away within twenty four hours, upon his taking the foresaid Medi∣cine, and so he was perfectly cured.

Permultos curavi dentium dolore laborantes u∣su Apophlegmatismi descripti supra capite 16. de Vertigine.

A decoction of the roots of the great Net∣tle, with a little Nutmeg and Saffion, made, in equal parts, of Wine and Vinegar, and held warm in the mouth, doth wonderfully draw the humors forth; but, at first, the pain will seem to increase; but afterward it will be mitigated, and cease.

A Country man troubled with the tooth-ach was perswaded by another, to rub his tooth with a leaf or two of Elleboraster; he unwittingly rubbed all the teeth on that side, and presently almost all his teeth fell out: Therefore if any will try this medicine, let him first defend the other teeth with soft Wax.

In a cold Defluxion, the juyce of Garlick, mixed with Treacle, and dropt warm into the

ear, on the same side, doth wonderfully asswage the pain of the teeth.

A Nettle bruised and laid to the jaw, doth quickly asswage the pain, when it is swell'd.

Many Topicks made of Narcoticks are in use; but these two following are the best:

℞ Opii, myrrhae, & ladani, ana. ʒ i. Pulverizen∣tur, & cum vino albo decoquantur in formam lini∣menti, which put with Lint into the tooth.

The other is, the Emplaister of Riverius, chief Physician to Henry the great; It is thus made: ℞ Nucum cupressi, rosarum rubr. seminis nastur∣tii torrefacti, Mastiches, terrae sigillatae, ana, ℥ i. ss. Macerentur in aceto rosaceo per horas 24. postea siccentur, & adde opii in aqua vitae dissoluti, ʒ iii. picis navalis, colophoniae, ana, ʒ i. cerae flavae in oleis expressis, seminum hyoscyami & papaveris. albi, liquatae, q. s. Fiat Emplastrum; apply it to the Arteries, and the part affected with pain.

A certain Gentlewoman of a cholerick Com∣plexion, being seven months gone with child, and recovered newly of an acute disease, was ta∣ken with so fierce a tooth-ach, that all remedies being tried in vain, she lay many days and nights without rest, crying out and weeping▪ At last (when as she was brought almost to de∣speration) there was given her four grains of Laudanum; which having taken with a little Confectio de Hyacintho, after a quarter of an

hour, she fell into a quiet sleep for some hours, and being awaked, and void of pain, she passed the rest of her childing time without any grief.