The text discusses the importance of teeth in aesthetics, describing how missing or discolored teeth can affect appearance. It also recounts a humorous tale of a doctor whose dentistry was tested during laughter, and the dangers of a potentially lethal bite. A separate incident involves a man bitten by a thief, leading to a fatal infection.
Maxilla and Service of the
Speaking and laughing are uniquely dependent on the front long teeth. When these teeth are darkened, unevenly spaced, or missing in some places, or chipped and broken, they can greatly disfigure a face. Even a woman who is not otherwise unattractive can have her beauty tarnished. The large front teeth, when knocked out, can sometimes be replaced by the craft of dentistry with ivory, thus restoring some semblance of beauty and allowing the person to eat. Some use fine gold wire for this purpose, while others put the replacement teeth loosely in place. This latter method often subjects the teeth to falling out, typically needing to be removed and adjusted before sleep.
We knew a doctor who, while dining, told a humorous story of a lady who removed a fish bone from her throat with the help of a special enema, and laughed so hard that all his inserted teeth fell onto his plate. Amidst the laughter, he struggled to gather them and return them to their rightful place in his mouth. Teeth from irate people are often poisonous and biting can further endanger the sufferer.
An officer in Amsterdam, while capturing a thief, was bitten on his thumb, which after several days turned gangrenous and resulted in death, leaving behind a foul-smelling corpse. The body had to be tightly sealed in a coffin.
Translation Notes:
1. "Genees-Heer" refers to a doctor or healer.2. "Klifterie" refers to an old medical enema device used during that era.
3. "Quaksalverens" likely refers to an outdated or dubious remedy. This reflects on the outdated methods of healthcare mentioned in the text.